I am looking at a 50 Ford truck that has a 301 Nailhead with an auto transmission. The guy was told that the motor came from a 66 Skylark and that it runs good. He said the transmission is having problems engaging into gear and is leaking. I asked him if he filled the ****** with fluid and if it helped or not and he said he did not try adding fluid. Not to bash the guy but he did not seem too mechanically inclined so the ****** problem could be A) fix the leak and B) add fluid.<O</O <O</O My questions are:<O</O 1-are the 301s good motors?<O</O 2-what transmissions came behind these? T350?<O</O 3-What transmission options are available for these engines?<O</O 4-any HP and Torque estimates for these motors? It appears to be a 2 barrel carb from the pics I have seen Thanks in advance for you help!</O
In the buick nailhead family there was not a 301, they did have the 401 great engine you would have to have a adaptor to put a 350 transmission behind it
I am know about the 401...had one in a 60 Invicta with a dynaflow and I know about all of the trans that work with these...ie the early Ford stick adapter, the Riv auto adapter etc. This one is one of the alum. block motors that looks like a nailhead. The guy said it is a 301 and I know nothing about these.
The 301 was a later engine ('77-'80) and was an iron block engine, if memory serves. The early aluminum Buick V-8' s were a 215 cubic inch engine. Neither one of these is much of a hot rod engine in my opinion, not saying it can't be done but there are too many other easier ways to go. If it was me I would look at the truck as needing an engine and transmission swap.
If the block is aluminum, it's a 215, built from '61-'63. The 300, introduced in '64, is iron. Neither is a nailhead. 300 engine produced '64-'67. There was no Buick 301. The "Buick" 301 of '77-'80 was actually a Pontiac engine, and was also used in some Oldsmobiles.
Nailheads had distributors in the rear. That could be a 215 or a 300. Google both and you'll see. Post number 11 has a Buick 300 pictured: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273880 And here's a 215 aluminum Buick http://forums.aaca.org/f117/1963-buick-skylark-convertible-215-v8-264369.html
215 was aluminum block and heads, the 300 was iron block aluminum heads. Could also be a 340, that one was basically the 350 Buick with iron heads that looked like the 300s. None of these were "Nailheads" as mentioned before.
The trans would have been a ST300 two speed automatic with switch pitch torque converter. The TH350 should be almost a bolt in, here is a link to the V8Buick webpage. Someone did this swap in a 68 Skylark http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=145223
The 300/340's are good engines, just watch the heads in '64. That was the year of the aluminum head on the iron block, and they had head gasket issues. The post-64 engines used cast iron heads, some with big valves, and last better. If the block is aluminum, it's a 215; aluminum heads on a cast block is a 64 300 or a later 300 with early heads.
There is actually 2 trans options for a 300ci. The ST300 or ST400. Since you have a 2bl, you probably have the ST300.
is the ST300 a good trans? If I get this truck it will be a cruiser so not brake stands or any of that stuff. these are good looking engines.
Here's some info on the ST300. I've never heard anything bad about them http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Turbine_300
I had a 66 Skylark with the 300 and the ST300 and it was great little combo. What I remember is when floored it wouldnt go into 2nd until 65mph! Definitely a peppy little combo and if it's jsut a fun crusier leave it as is. If you go the TH350 route just make sure to get the BOP(Buick, Olds, Pontiac) version as the belhousing bolt pattern is different.
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