Art & Inspiration Show Us Your Nailhead!

Featuring an X code (Buick experimental) manifold

 

I did start mine up this week but I have a problem with my oil pressure. I believe it is a defective pump and I will get it sorted soon. Cataract surgery yesterday will slow me down for a few days.

 

425 I put in a 51 Merc a few years ago

 

@rockable The guys from Centerville told me the aftermarket pumps are iffy. They suggested I stick with my factory pump if isn't worn too much.

 

Yeah, I talked to Matt about it and tthatt was his recommendation. I have cleaned up and reassembled the original pump and will install it as soon as I am able. (Don't want to screw up my cataract lens implant.)

 

Here's my project, it's not looking like much yet, progress is slow haha. Love looking at all these Nailheads!

 

here's my 425.

 

You've got that sucker tucked in there tight, don't ya? Sweet!

 

Overhauled by me on a dirt floor 45 years ago. about always starts and runs pretty good:

 

I’ve always wanted a nailhead in one of my hotrods, and the stars aligned when I was given this 65 401. At first I thought it was junk because when I drained the oil, the pan was full of water. But I pressed ahead and it was salvageable. As luck would have it I just happened to be looking for a V8 for my 53F100. Its a blast to drive with the 5 speed transmission.

 

Nice! I love the gold pain job!

 

I couldn't resist throwing the Offy intake & some grungy old 94s on top of my fresh '63 401 for a mock up pic.

 

When I got it from the guy living off grid out in the 40’s….

Then when I got all the extras off and on a stand…

It’s a 63 401 out of a Wildcat. Need to figure out transmission options, want to put it into my wife’s 65 Chevy C-10 Big Window Custom Cab. I’m leaning towards the 700R4 from a 87 GTA TransAm I have laying around.

 

I put a wanted ad up, but if anybody's got an alternator mount for a 401-425, I could use it. Just need the aluminum piece that the bottom of the alt bolts to. Broke mine during disassembly.

 

i might have one i will have to look

 

Great thread, May as well ask here.
Too many years ago I read about what makes nailhead design perform well.
I have forgotten the scheme.

 

Thanks, Chris.

 

The combustion chamber design in the Nailhead allows the use of high compression ratios without detonation, which produces high combustion pressures. This pressure helps develop lots of torque but the cylinder head does not flow lots of air. Therefore, the engine develops great torque up to its maximum rpm of 5000 (give or take) which gives great driveability performance. It will not turn 7000 rpm like a SBC because it can't pump enough air due to it's small valves. Hope tthis helps.

 

Thank you rockable, yes that does it.
YOU hit the Nail on the Head

 

The X was for Export and came with solid lifter and adjustable rockers. The only problem we had was the push rods were longer because of the lifter tubular design to make the lifters light weight. When rapped them up you would bend a pushrod and kick the side out of the lifter . The solution was Isky lifters and pushrods problem solved.

 

I have a 364 in my 30 tudor in Jacksonville nc about 3hrs east, have a hand full
Of nailheads hanging out in the garage lol

 

This is my Nailhead in my 64 Buick Wildcat. It was originally rebuilt by board member DualQuadDave (David Gaines) but then I had to get it re-rebuilt because he didn't thin the oil gallery plugs and it shot metal throughout the engine. I've got another thread where it does 200 HP on the Dyno. Engine is finished in Bill Hirsch late Nailhead green, with a semi-gloss powder coated air cleaner.
View attachment 5984587

 

Nice engines and her is my engins one 401 with Muncie M21 for my -32 Tudor an a 364 with Th 400 for the Mercury coupe an ther is some more of them in storage and one of them is totally rebuilt both the 402 and the Th400. Its good to see that ìm not the only hoarder of them. Micael Lund Umeå Sweden.