Both 264/322 nailheads and 364/401/425 have a similar appearance and shape on the bellhousing, just the 264/322 series is smaller diameter. I can't tell from the pics which one you have, but it does look like nailhead.
The 322 and 264 is actually bigger than the 364-425. Judging by the bolt pattern you have a 322 bellhousing. The later was drille for a chevy style pattern with the lower right hole spaced way out.
Suedesled is the expert, I was mixed up, knowing that there was a size difference. Sounds like you have the opposite bellhousing of what you want.
Measure across the holes, and I'll tell you if it's the same as the 264/322 bell I've got in my shop on the floor. Tell me specifically which holes you measured to. -Brad
What Suede said... The later style looks like this: Slightly smaller in diameter and takes the later style 4speeds.
So the one in the photograph you provided is the one I need. I must say, I've not seen this one before. Let me guess, almost impossible to find?
If that one turns out to be the size you DON'T need, let me know. They actually made two for the 322--one for the Special, which had a smaller trans, and one for the Super which had a bigger transmission. I think the one for the Super is deeper (taller when laid flat on the ground) I'd like to have one for the Super. Thanks, -Brad
Yes, probably. This one is from a 65-66 Buick GS car. Suede is suppose to repop bellhousings soon, check with him.
The Gs bellhousings are pretty rare animals. The shaft style bell is usually found on the 57-60 manual trans. cars. Very few of those as well. The best I can do is the new bell I am finshing that will use the chevy style fork and fits the chev trans.
Nope, I am the only one! Bendtsens adapter wirks with the Chevy bellhousing and makes the motor nearly 10" longer than if you use a buick bell.
i can verify that suede knows of what he speaks. when i first started looking for a bellhousing i thought that one of the scattershield or adapter companies would have what i needed. not so. i was lucky enough to snag an original buick bellhousing and flywheel. on one e-bay auction my last bid was $376.00 for just the bellhousing. i gave up at that point, as that was already 2-3 times what i thought it should have been worth. but i knew they were rare so i kept bidding. eventually i did find one priced more reasonable, but i can't count how many folks have tried to buy it from me, most for what i think is exorbitant sums. i just can't make people believe that it's just not for sale at any price. i've quit telling folks that i have it. it's just not worth the hassles it creates. my friends know i have it and when anyone else asks where one is i just say "i don't know." i don't know what price suede will have on his, but i bet he'll sell a ton of them.
I traded gramps out of this nailhead, finally. He got it out of a bus with low milage. He said he didn't get the tranny but he later picked up one for a car. I get it too if he can find it. I have to take a day and go help him dig it out of there... Can you tell anything about this bellhousing from my crappy pic? While we're on bellhousings, he says he remembers nailhead adapters that relocate the starter to the other side. Where do you get one of these jewels? EDIT: those pics are horrible and not a good angle to tell much......I'll get some better pics when I get it here in the open in my garage...
Well, since we've got a 364 Nailhead, a 9" and a Tall T 2dr Sedan, I guess I'll need one of your bellhousings. When do you plan on having it on the retail?
Hi,ask gramps if it came out of the Back of a bus. If it is;it is REVERSE ROTATION!!!!!!!!!!! I learned that the hard way.
Gramps' Nailhead looks like a 322 LoadMaster. GMC and Chevy big trucks used the 322 Buick engines from '57-'59. All I can really see to identify it as that is the stamped valve covers, so I could be wrong. I've OFTEN wondered about the truck bellhousings though! Even if you can't use the bell, you've got the flywheel there, and that's a good start. Adapters show up on Ebay pretty regularly. -Brad
Hmmmm, I'll check on the rotation thing....he didn't say it was a pusher but he didn't say otherwise, either.... I went to a Buick site that I found on here and ran the #, 1175109, is off of a head. Their info.... 1175109 56-59 322* And the asterick is a chev truck..... http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/nailhead_casting_numbers.html EDIT: Brad, when I get it, I can take some better pics and some measurement for you....maybe put your curiosity to rest...
I will finish the bellhousing tommorrow and friday. I plan to ignore the phone calls for me so I can do this! They will retail for 269.99 with a pilot bushing of your choice. (Dynaflow or 400 crank.) Should have pics on the site by Friday. I will start taking orders on Mon. with delivery of 10-14 bus. days.
Btt. Sorry I missed this post when it was fresh. When I was talking (email) to Sammy he said you would be doing flywheels to go with the bells. Is that correct? Price? Thanks Pete
I just picked up a nailhead 322ci. It was a '56-'59 Chev truck engine. It came with a 13" clutch plate, The bolt pattern on the back looks like a Borg-Warner with a 5" centre hole. Does anyone have any though's as to what transmission might fit ??
So '56 Special 322 bell doesn't interchange to a '57 Special 364 low-comp motor? I can get a complete '56 setup, the whole works trans/bell/clutch/pedals/column, not sure on the price yet, motor has the heads off and probably needs a rebuild though. Buddy has a 364 thats supposed to run... you can see where my thinking was going here. On the other hand I can get another '76 Pontiac 400 beater motor and I have an aluminum bell for one of those here. Maybe that would be easier to put together -
No, the 322 bellhousing will not fit the 364. The give away to the application/motor size for the original bellhousing shown in this thread is the two undrilled bosses on the top of the bellhousing. These were only there on the 264-322. later 322 did not use these from the factory. The trannny which fits it would be a selector type BOP. Only the later 401-425 bellhousings took the Chevy/Ford pattern trans. The early (364/early401) took a similar trans as the 322.I don' think Buick went to 4spd or Chevy 3spd until around 63.
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