What motor? Flathead vs. Nailhead

I took out my flathead and put in an early hemi.....both traditional!

 

Hmmmmmm......I must admit to being biased to the Flatmotor,....... However, it is YOUR ride, so do it the way YOU want !!!!

Happy Roddin' 4TTRUK

 

Adapters are available to mate the nailhead to a turbo 350 trans. Bendsten's (sp) makes them but again they are around the $700 to $800 dollar range as I recall. You can find them online.
The Centerville Auto Repair web site is full of good nailhead info. Russ is the real deal Nailhead guru.
If your engine is in good running condition then you will be way ahead of the game regardless of which engine you use.
But I would still recommend some carefull measuring in regards to the Nailhead length. Other than lengthing your frame your other option would be to recess your fire wall to allow for the nailhead dist. But then you are cutting into your cockpit space.
My 364 in stock form will put out 300hp and is as strong as a pair of matched mules. It will make that T fly!

 

A lot of difference between a restorer and their concept of what is necessary.

My grandad once told me that I didn't need to change the cam shaft in my roadmaster it would already do the speed limit. Hell a stock Henry J will do the speed limit but that's not the point is it.

 

Nailhead.....................

 

That's until you get it out of the Nursing Home parking lot!

 

I believe as do most posts that either option will be way Kool. If this is your first hot rod I would say go the Nail & work up to the idiosyncrasy of a flat motor with its maintenance & uniquely different aesthetics ! Good luck Wayne

 

Someone asked it earlier, but it wasn't answered. What aprt of tradition are you going after? Forties build? Fifities? early sixties? If late fifties was the answer, I'd stick with the Chevy!

 

Really? Why would you do that? :roll eyes:

Get yourself a 64-66 SP/ST400 and have a great transmission with no silly adapter. Hell get the 401/425 that's bolted to it as well...

 

I'm guessing to answer the era of the build I would like to rep. is the early to mid 50'. The death of the flathead and the birth of the Nail. I guess the Nail would have been the big new thing to get a hold of then also.

 

Show us a picture of the car - that will make a big difference in my mind.

 

To me, it depends a helluva lot on your intended use when rebuild completed, as well as what degree of traditionality you wish to maintain.
If tradition is super important and your intended use is to drive around town, back and forth to cruise ins, etc.. then get a flathead. You just can't beat the appearance of a "full dress" flat head nor duplicate it's sound.
But if you intend to get on the highway and keep up with traffic speed on the Interstate, or be able to accelerate fast enough to get around that slow moving farm truck over on the 2 lane blacktop, then my motto applies:
"Flathead? Been there done that, wore the T-shirt out 50 years ago!"
For my own personal tastes and preference, any US engine with carburetion, not EFI, is fine. Mine is SBC, 2X4s.
But dammit, my 51 yr. old son keeps hounding about "A Ford in a Ford", and reminding me of the 2ea 4.6L 4V DOHC, aluminum block V8 engines I have in my 2 Linc. MKviii parts cars I bought to have for DD parts access.
Sorta tempting when I think of how that DD, a 4000# car, gets 26-28 mpg @ 80mph all day long on the Interstate, and has turned very high 14s in the quarter!
And in a non traditional way, it would look cool as all hell with those wide valve covers hanging out each side like a hemi, but on an engine much shorter, lighter and more efficeient, dead stock.
But no doubt it would get me chased off the HAMB!
Dave

 

Don't get your myths and facts mixed up.
Fact: It was the mouse motor that dethroned the obsoleted Flathead.
Myth: Flatheads still rule.
By the way, Nails are cool looking.

 

Fact: The Caddy's and Oldsmobile OHV V-8's immediately dethroned the flathead on their arrival.

Fact: Every OHV V-8 that came out 49 through the mid 50's beat up on the flathead, including the Nailhead in 53.

 

that's a tough choice, why not buy another project and have both?

 

it's the mouse motor that dethroned the flathead as the most popular engine for hot rodding. The mouse motor is still king and was recently voted #1 V-8 engine.
Flathead was #10, Olds rocket #18, Nailhead #17. The only Caddy engine was 68 to 84 3rd generation at #19. #2 was the rat motor. Chevy rules.
Chevrolet U.S.A-1

 

I say Nailhead.
But then a gain what else would you expect from a Buick kinda guy?

If going flat, how about a Lincoln V-12?

 

I wasn't trying to say that the Nail beat out the Flat. I as just stating that the Flat was no longer available after 53 and the Nail started in 53. That is all I was Stating.

A Hot Rod Lincoln would be cool but, I wouldn't even know where to begin to look for one of those.

 

Heck, a built up early '30s vintage 4 banger would give you plenty of entertainment in a fenderless, stripped down T Roadster.

It'd turn heads, too.

 

flattys are bitchin man. sound bitchin, but then again so do nailheads. either would be cool. if you want something a little quicker id go with the nail. id imagine a nailhead would make the skinny pedal more fun for cheaper. either way have fun, and drive the hell out of it