409? or 401? Imput Wanted

I'm building a 30 Model A on deuce rails kinda lakes style. Kind of modeling after the "rolling bones" style of car. I have a low mile 409 with 6-2 barrels. and a fresh rebuilt 401 nailhead with 6-2 barrels. Now if I want to keep with the 40's-50's lakes car look would a 409 look out of place since W motors didn't come out till '58. Or should I stick in the 401 since they came out in the early 50's. I like the looks of both engines. Opinions?

 

for lake-style use the nailhead

 

A 401 technically is not period correct either. someone with a keen eye could probably tell the difference between a 401 and an earlier small nailhead...and a 409 is a better looking motor(in my opinion).

 

Use the Nailhead; sell me the 409.

 

Both style engines are from the 50's and that's your criteria. I think either would be fine but there is just something about a nailhead and those flat valve covers. If you really get stuck, flip a coin, or build motor mounts for both and switch off every year.

Frank

 

no sell me the 409! just jokeing.

how much would i be looking to pay for a 396 or a 409 in not to bad a shape?

 

Don't be a fool ..stay in skool use the 409 !

 

Dump the 409 and buy a spare nailhead way better engine.nuff said

 

Ditch the '09..... and bring it to Iola for me to pick up.....hahaha.. either are cool

 

Keep both motors build 2 cars!

 

Nailheads are nice enough...and dressed out, they look pretty good.
But a 409 stops you in your tracks.

I've got a '54 Buick that I'm building a 322 with weiand 2x4, chrome valve covers, chrome spark plug covers, and lots of other period accents: factory cast-iron tube headers, chrome water cross over and valley pan, polished aluminum thermostat housing, and '57 Corvette-style air cleaners.

And I've got a '57 Chevy gasser wagon I'm building a 480-inch 409 with 2x4 and finned Edelbrock valve covers. Fender well headers, and the old Mopar Max Wedge/Race Hemi mini velocity stacks.

Now, which engine are you going to look at for a while, and which one is going to give you whip lash while you're walking past it as you snap your head around to get a better look?

Brad

 

401 for the coupe...409 for a Impala lead sled

 

ditch the nailhead, not only is the 409 probably going to run harder it will defenetly get attention from gockers. not a motor you see alot of, the nail head has been overdone in my opinion, really now that you can buy those dumb ass valve cover, covers to make a SBC look like one.

 

first... it's gawkers...

second... you obviously have no clue about what a Nailhead can do... Maybe when you go back to school to learn to spell you should look into a thing called torque...

third.. Fake Nailhead valve covers.. .yeah right... they have Hemi and they have Olds... pics please...