Ive been looking at the hamb for about a year but havent really posted anything. Now I finally have something worht posting about. Im debating on building a 322 Buick Nailhead, courtesy of Nick32Vic. I figure if your going to build something, build it cool, fast, and build somthing thats different. The nailhead would definately fall into those categorys. I dont forsee any problems as long as i can find some replacement parts. But if theres anyone who has already built one of knows their way around one, input would be fantastic. If you have even the least bit of information it would be appreciated. thanks, Nick.
You can get most of the parts from kanter including a full engine kit. Vintagespeed.com is one of the few sites I have found that still offers HP cams for the 322. They also have finned valve and valley covers. Good luck with the build. And before someone jumps in your shit about it, read the faq and post an intro...
I would check out TA Performance anf the Yahoo Nailhead group before you looked at vintage speed. There are plenty of good, reliable suppliers you can look to before them. I'm not saying you'll have a bad experience with them, but you should look into the number of complaints that company has. There was a thread posted just a couple days ago that deals exactly with Nailhead parts dealers and info sources. Definitely check out the Yahoo Nailhead group, though. Tom Telesco and Russ Martin on there can answer pretty much any question you will have with nailheads. -Jason
here is a link to all things Nailhead. Enjoy. They are great engines http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137034&&showall=1
Here ya go. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=137034&highlight=nailhead Oops, too slow. Duplicate link.
I think my good friend here, was looking for info on actually re-building a nailhead...completely. Not just bolting on speed parts. Ya know, any experience with redoing one...difficultys he may have to overcome, things like that. Help him make this worthwhile cus my dad freaked when i told him we where GIVING the motor to boynamedsue. hahaha. I feel kinda bad. I prolly owe my dad $250 bucks now. oh well. If my buddy gets real interested in this stuff then it will be worth it.
I bought a 1966 Buick chassis manual for about $40 at a swap meet. It has a lot of good details in it.
http://webrodder.com/ has a decent article by Doc F. on rebuilding the Nailhead. There's the Rod and Custom "Build a Better Buick" articles. A bunch of stuff, most of it has been discussed at length in previous posts as well as on the Yahoo Nailhead groups... Archives are very cool...
EXCELLENT point! I have a shop manual for my '54, one for a '55 and another for '56, since I like the 322s. I also have a Motors manual that covers them (nice, since it also gives lots of engine specs that have come in handy from a bench racing/general knowledge standpoint). Another thing that's damn handy is the Technical Service Bulletins of the era. I've got the boiled-down-to-one-small-book version for '55 and '56, and a friend of mine pony'd up for the full, unabridged version of '54 TSBs on ebay. They've got TONS of good info in them. The factory sent printed TSBs out to the dealers each month, and I guess at the end of the year they edited them and printed a small manual of them. The full set of monthlys in the binder is what he has. Brad
I built a 322 with mild cam last year. Ask and I'll help if I can. Valve train is different on 264/322's than later Nailheads. Judd
I have a 1963 401 nailhead for sale in the swap meat section. From a runnng car. Also have dynaglide trany for it. Adam 508-951-4869
The Jalopy Journal
