I've recently stumbled across a 401 Nailhead out of a Buick Wildcat for sale and a 331 out of a 55 Caddy. Just looking for input/opinions on which one you think would be better for my Model A Sedan. I'm going for a traditional look. Things I would like comments on: 1. More traditional? 2. Adaptability to a T5 tranny? 3. Cost to rebuild? 4. Performance (aka frying tires)
Both are pretty trad, but I'd forget the T5, 'specially if you're wanting to "fry the tires". Not sure about the 331, but the 401 puts out a lot more torque than the T5 can handle. The 401 is probably 3x the cost of a SBC to build, at least it did me about 5 years ago. Imagine the 331 is pretty near the same.
Thanks, for the input TagMan. I'm curious about your T5 statement. They put those behind Mustangs and they seem to hold up. Can you elaborate on your T5 experience?
No persoanl experience - just what I've read. Check out the "Search" feature using"T5" and you'll find a wealth of info. Highest ratings for torque I've seen for a T5 were well under what a 401 puts out.
Mustangs don't make 400+ ft.lbs of torque damn near off of idle... I'd say if you don't abuse it to bad, and run tires that will not hook real hard it'll probably last alright. No promises though....
Run the 331 Cad motor. It looks great dressed up, and you can still find a lot of old speed equipment for it.
I have a 331 in my ride with a 4X2 intake . Where can you find speed parts ??? Intakes go fo 1000 plus.
Nailheads are expensive but have tons of torque there are a couple of tranny adapters but not a whole lot to choose from. Slowly more and more shit has been coming out for them probably cause nailhead rule. Don't know much about caddy engines but I've seen some dressed up pretty nice, but the a fully dressed nailhead now that's a thing to behold, finned plug, valley and valve covers. good lord makes me swoon, but I may be a bit partial. Which is cheaper to rebuild. Thats what I'd figure out both good choices for traditional.
Amen to that. I have the 401-325 hp/445ft.lbs. in my 5700lb. 62' Electra 225 and it will light the tires at will. Both mills are traditional, and both are pricey to do up. They both have the look too, but one thing to consider is I think the Buick is lighter than the Cad. By how much I'm not sure.
I have a 401 in my 55 Buick and a 331 in my 30 Model A. Im kinda a Buick man and lean towards that way. I can tell you know that the Nailhead is way way way cheaper and easier to locate speed equipment and adapting transs of all types. Youll be way happier with the nailhead. Everyone seems to be doing Caddys now, dont know why. So after all that said go Nailhead. You cant beat the torque...especially if your goal is wasting sets of tires
Nailheads and mutiple carbs, and finned rocker aarm covers, sparkplug covers, valley pan, or a motor with rocker arm covers that say "Cadillac"-not a hard choice for me. (The Caddy's are nice, but...they're not a nailhead.) Plus more cubic inches.
i'd build the nailhead. th400's are available with the nailhead bolt pattern. they're not common but what is for a nailhead? mike
The only thing i dont like about cadillacs... nothing! They look damn sexy with script or finned valve covers, multi carb intakes, and even the stock exhaust manifolds look good. Plus, like Ryan said, they just fit perfectly in between the frame rails of an early rod. The nice thing about the cad motors is that the smaller displacement can be bored out to a lot bigger, a 390 is basically a factory overbored 331, so you can go as crazy as you want. Things are on the pricey side for cad motors, but thats because they still arent as prevelant as sbc, flatheads, and nailheads, and they add instant cool. Im putting a bored out '55 331 in my A coupe, wilcap makes adapters to put a t5 behind'em. If you want it to handle power, putting an s10 tailhousing on a camaro box isnt difficult, i've done it, but you'd be surprised how the s10's can hold up. Im not gonna touch the insides of my s10 t5, just gonna run it stock, and it'll be more than able to handle the cad motor, even when i slip in some tire frying clutch drops and power shifts. Good luck man, GO CAD!!!!
yeah brandokust those dime a dozen nailheads. everbodys got one. Well all my cars but they are all Buicks.(despite my screen name)
ALLRIGHT! Who told you about the coupe body I snuck into the garage a couple of months ago? You didn't tell my wife did you? Yeah, Nailhead in the Sedan and Caddy in the Coupe, sounds good to me. Does anybody know if you can put a T5 behind a Nailhead? Would you need an adapter or is the Buick B.O.P. the same as the GM B.O.P.?
Here is where you can get a bellhousing for the Nailhead to a 'hand-shaker'....... http://www.transmissionadapters.com/
Caddy has history (along with olds rocket) as being among the first OHV transplants in hot rods. Buick for performance. Either way you can't really go wrong.
I'd vote for the nailhead. Great torque for smokin' the tires, and in my opinion they're better looking when "fully dressed". No personal experience, but I'd guess there's more "goodies" available for the Buford.
As far as bolt on parts availability, the Buick's got the edge. The Cadillac's got the starter on the passenger side, which frees up steering gear clearance. Too bad the 331 you found is a '55; the '49-'54 blocks are easier to find standard shift flywheels and bell housings for.
Go with the nailhead....they have more power and a real distinct look. I just finished this one and will be mating it to a Super T-10: As for transmissions, a built T-5 may hold-up but personally I'd go with something stronger (M-22, Borg Warner, etc). -Lee www.atomicpinup.com
caddy motors run about $3500-4500 to have rebuilt completely. I have a 53 331 that's out of my car right now that I can't decide what to do with. Hop up parts are around if you look and are willing to pay. EELCO is starting to make some bits again.
Cadillac engines are fairly easy to find speed parts for. I have one in my 55 cad and it has plenty of tourque and power even in a 2 and a half ton car. the 55 331's have 250 horse by the way.
The thing to remember with the nailhead-it's a flinkin'flankin' LONG motor. Stay away from the triple groove pulleys, if you have a choice, that way you'll be able to get the motor closer to the front crossmember. Even with that, you're gonna need to recess the firewall in a big way, even if you're running a streched frame. My nail cost an assfull of money to build, and I mean an ASSFULL. I did have a custom cam, head work, heat risers welded shut, balanced, etc., and needed all new rocker shafts, but damn expensive.
Maybe 2 adaptors' My brother used to build nailhead jeeps in reno nevada.. also a lot of wierd engine-trans swaps. sometimes he would have to buy 2 adaptors engine a to transmission b then b to c to get it to work a engine with c trans.
I had a hot rod with a nailhead in it and it was cool but I sold it and went with a caddy. I think the nailhead is becoming too common in the current trend.
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