History Nailhead in a '49-'52 Chevrolet?

I know I once saw an excerpt from a ‘50s magazine article on swapping a Buick Nailhead into a ‘49-‘52 Chevrolet. Does anyone know where and when that piece ran? It’s been bothering me. I always thought that seemed like a great pairing, and I’d like to own the mag.

I think the article ran in '53 or '54.

-Dave

 

Dunno, but Rod & Custom featured an orange '50 Fleetline last year or the year before running a nailhead. Have to think anything but the smallest ones would turn a stock '49-'54 Chevy trans into s**** pieces pretty fast.

 

I think the Spotlite book for engine swaps that Hot Rod released in the early '60s has a nailhead in '49-'54 Chevy swap in it. Seems to me that they cut the LH exhaust manifold in two and had an outlet on each half to solve the steering gear problem.

 

This one? I'm pretty sure the image on the cover (Y-block into a '60 Falcon) is a re-print from the July 1960 issue - were all the swap articles reprints?

-Dave

 

There is a sedan delivery on the board here with one...if I can remember the users name I will add it to this post.

 

Here is my '50 sedan delivery. Its got a 401 Nailhead with the factory 2-4's. It was a tight fit. Lots of tight places but it's in there and it works.......Good.


Here's the car it's in

 

I would love to see a copy of the article if you can find it! I've got an old Trans-Dapt bellhousing to mate a 264ci/322ci Nailhead to the stock Chevy trans. I've got a 3x2 intake too.....now I just need the car and motor

 

That's killer, Lobucrod. Any details on how the swap was accomplished?

ClutchDumpinDan, I'm still looking for the article, but no luck so far.

-Dave

 

no ****???

that is crazy, I have literally grenaded a stock chevy 3 spd with a stock 54 235 which I think only had like 125hp! I know the early nailheads aint nearly as rowdy as the later ones but damn, I would be ginger with it.

drive it like you would a top loader for certain.

when I grenaded my stock 3spd I was changing it out at my old work and my boss said, "what in the hell is that?" to which I replied, "the trans outta my 54" and he said, "I've seen lawn tractors with bigger transmissions than that!"

sometimes we cant argue with logic

 

Couldn't you mount some stouter trans to the '49-'54 bellhousing? A LaSalle 3-speed or V8 T5 perhaps?

I think in the early '50s, when guys were used to treating '39 boxes gingerly behind early overheads, it would have been no problem to avoid blowing up (too many) Chevy 3-speeds with a Nailhead. In the post-Muscle Car world, however, we like to be able to beat up on our transmissions a little more.

-Dave

 

Yeah I got a few details. Here is a link to my photobucket album with about 360 pics I took while building the car. Gotta go way back in the album to like page 14 to see the engine and ****** going in.
http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w127/mharbour/Company Car/

 

well kinda, see the car bell housings (pre 55) took a much smaller trans than the 55 and up cars, now trucks in the late 40's adopted what we know as the standard chevy trans bolt pattern.

also the pre 55 cars had a torque tube so in order to change the trans you also have to change the rear and you also have to relocate the axle as the torque tube rear mounts are in front of the axle not over like most conventional set ups.

so it is completely doable its just a fair amount of work...

 

Built in 1961 in Lubbock Texas this car had a dual quad 364 Nailhead with a 57 Chevy rear.

 

You can damned sure tell these pics were taken around Lubbock. Looks like the view in front of where I used to live.

 

These photos were taken outside of Wilson but the owner and the car lived in Lubbock. Those caps are hanging in the shed and a car club plaque that reads "Pipers Lubbck Tx".

 

Is the owner still around?

 

you have to remember, all buick motors are tourqe monsters.

 

The article you're looking for is in Sept '56 Car Craft. '52 Chev 2dr, '55 322 nailhead, Cad/Lasalle trans, Pontiac diff housing with Olds center section. Refers to article in Aug '56 Hot Rod on open diff conversion.

 

Yes, I bought my 65 Rivi from him and speak with him from time to time just to keep in touch.

 

Thank you!! And I guess that answers any questions about the driveline to go with this swap.

-Dave