I am interested to hear from anyone who owns or knows of a fat fendered Ford that is running either an Olds Rocket Or Buick Nailhead. I am building a 38 Ford, and am trying to make a decision on whether to paint or powdercoat the ch***is. I am sort of doing the project in 2 stages. Stage 1 will see the car just bolted together, so its a runner, so I can take in a few events in the upcoming NZ summer. I have a flathead which I'll fit. Then for stage 2 (the NZ winter) I want to replace the flathead with something a bit more powerful, but not a sbc. Am thinking either an Olds Rocket or a Nailhead, or maybe even a Pontiac. What I need to know is, will either of these engines fit my ch***is without it having to be modified? I don't want to go getting the ch***is powder coated, only to then have to have it modified, sandbalted, and powdercoated again when the replacement engine goes in. And while we're on the subject, will I need to modify my firewall? Also, what are my options for running a manual gearbox with either engine? Thanks in advance.
I hate to say it but you will save alot of time, effort, and headaches if you build the car one way, one time. I mean, If its a running car you could run it like it is but if you have to build or modify a ch***is for whatever your gonna do now, you should just do it with whatever motor your gonna use for the long term. It will come out alot nicer and you wont have to re-do any motor mounts,etc. I dunno about you but i hate re-doing work that could have been done once. Im sure someone will chime in with gearbox options but you can always buy adapters for most engine/****** from Bendsteins. If i were you I would be patient and try to take a summer off and build the car one way. It might be discouraging not having a car for the summer but in the long run it will be worth it. You can focus and even spend a little extra time on everything if you stick with one engine.
Think about a 49-54 Cad. engine. Cheap adapter plate, flywheel. I see them frequently on ebay. Use your existing trans. Almost a bolt in. Starter in on the right side not to interfere with steering. 6 volt starter is fine with 12v system. Email me if you want to talk. I have a 50 Cad. engine in a 48 Ford.
I agree with Nick's suggestion....build it all at once. It could get messy trying to do it in stages with a powertrain swap. Either a Rocket or Nailhead would be nice motor in a '38. I've had a lot of experience with Buicks and am partial to them; especially the 401s and 425s. They produce a ton of torque and are tough engines having come from the factory with forged steel rods and cranks (the blocks are also hard as hell). The downside it they're expensive to build and mating modern transmissions to them can get costly since you'll need an adaptor kit (Bendsten's, Wilcap, EELCO, etc). I'm guessing a nailhead would fit in a '38 without recessing the firewall, but you may have to run an electric fan. -Lee Atomic Radio www.atomicpinup.com
Hey guys, thanks for your replies. I know what you're saying makes sense. It may not necessarily be next winter that I do an engine swap, as I have other things on the go too, but thats the plan I have in my head at the moment. It may not be for another couple of years, but I'd really like to do it. The reason I want to get the car running asap, is mainly for personal reasons. The car is 70 years old this year, and it was 30 years ago (1978) that my father bought this car (or many of the parts I'll be using) as a planned restoration. Although I'm not using the four door body in the pic (taken in 1978 when it was first bought home), I'll be using most of the parts.
Thanks for this, and for your pm. Its not something I'd considered before, but I'll definitely mull it over.
Hi Steve, the Rocket will fit with a bit of firewall surgery but it will be worth the effort. I am fitting one at present in my '30 hiboy on Duece rails with a '36 "X" member and a three spd column shift out of '48 Mercury using a very simple adapter which I believe are still available in the US. The hard part is finding a manual flywheel . It's nice to see a downunder brother thinking outside the square. Good luck. Cheers Dago.
Hey Steve, I'm running a 401 Nailhead in my '28 A pickup. If you go with the Buick you will have to m***age the firewall some. For your right hand drive '38 the starter motor is on the left side but you will have to adapt a remote oil filter to clear the steering.Good luck chasing up a manual trans.Not trying to put you off! If you want something worthwhile you sometimes need to go the extra mile. Good luck with the project........Napalm Willie...
Have you ever considered an early Hemi? Rockets are tough and you can do a J2 setup. Buicks are narrow so that may work better for you. Cadillacs are tough too. What about a Packard 352 V8, or even a Studebaker? Those are some tough engines. But when it is all said and done, you will have an SBC in it.
Put in a Y-Block up "agin" the original trans. Trim it out to look like a factory "Thunderbird" engine install or some such thing. Saw a `46- `48 Ford coupe done like that one time. Very nice indeed, just like God and Henry intended......
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your help. I am sort of leaning towards the Nailhead, they're just such great looking motors. Having read the above threads, I may actually go with an auto, I think, just to save a few headaches. Will I have to change my front crossmember, or make any other mods to the ch***is to get a Nailhead to fit, other than the engine mounts? Thanks again.
Have you ever looked at Nailhead heads? He certainly is not going with the "flow" if he goes with the Nailhead...
zman, you are correct, especially in this part of the world. There are plenty of sbc and flattie powered hot rods, but Nailhead hot rods are few and far between. But its also a personal preference, as is everything we do in this hobbie, I just think the Nailheads are great looking motors.
I'd love to see some pics of your 28, if possible? How did you adapt the remote oil filter? Did you have to modify the ch***is at all, or was the Nailhead a fit?
He said something about using an automatic. "flow" as in DYNAFLOW, don't go with the flow, please! SP OR ST400'S, good ole transmissions especially SP.
+1 on the ST400 suggestion. You can also mate TH400s to nailheads with a Bendsten adaptor. -Lee Atomic Radio www.atomicpinup.com
I ran a 38 coupe with a 351 clevo, a little bigger than either a rocket or nailer. I am running a nailer now in my A40 G***er. I say go with the Nailhead, it will give you a **** tin more room than most anything else (The 351 was close to being too wide) the Nailhead is nice and narrow, not to mention being second only to the Flat motor in looks. You still have a good HP (not to mention torque that is to die for) motor in a small package and its not the dreaded SBC. Unless you use the flattie you will have to cut the firewall, no way around it. Eelco make adapters for the Nailhead to bolt up a few different cog boxes T5 manual TH400 auto. EElco also make the nicest dress up parts for the Nailhead too! Personally Id do it the way you want from the start, I have done the engine change latter thing myself............er..........sort off. Never actually got around to it in the end and was never happy with the car. Then if you powder coat its no problem. I prefer pain as its easier to fix up paint issues and mods latter don't call for a complete re-do. Cheers, Doc.
Hiya Doc, thanks for the post. I have finally come to my senses and have started looking about for a cheap Nailhead in the CA area, to ship back to NZ, and fit straight up, rather than trying to do the conversion later on. Its going to delay the build somewhat, but as mentioned in a couple of posts on this thread, will reduce the pain further down the track. Got any pics of your A40 g***er Doc?
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