So I found a 64 Special in the junkyard, I thought it had a Nailhead in it, it looked like one but I didn't notice that the dizzy was in the front and that it didn't have center bolt heads. I got it home and started looking it over and realized it wasn't a nailhead but a buick "pinhead" or 300 small block. It was the only year that they made it with aluminum heads and intake. What is it worth running, and does anyone have any info or advice about this thing?
They are really a good little motor. Not much available in the way of speed parts. You should be able to find a cam and HEI distributors are available. Header flanges are available too. If you have the aluminum 4 barrel manifold you can upgrade the carb. Has a lot in common with the Buick/Olds/Rover 215. But unlike the 215, which has a unique bell housing, the 300 is standard BOP. Buick 300 cranks, flex plates and water pumps are frequently used on 215 builds. And the 64 heads and intake are the hot set up for larger displacement Rover motors. If you don't use the motor you should be able to get your mony back, and more selling off the desireable parts.
Maybe keep it and use it rather than the Nailhead. They're supposed to have lots of torque, and they're different enough to get a second look. If you've got the ambition to polish all the aluminum they look great. You can get a set of Offy finned valve covers from summit as well. I bought an adapter and plopped a couple of Holley 94's on top if the 4 bbl intake. I polished mine and it looks great......of course I forgot to take pictures. They're nice and light, compact, and not your ho-hum SBC. Just a thought.