Thread: Any Nailhead fans here?

Tweet

My brother has a 56 nailhead in his 55 Ford PU, I tell him all the time he needs to pull it out and put a small block ford in it, I do not tell him it's only because I want the nail head for my T.

Just watch with the earlier motors it can get pretty expensive putting an automatic trans on one, they usually only came with manuals so flex plates are almost non-existent ,but if anyone knows better let me know.

Dave,

A lot of guys got to read that over four or five years. Unfortunately, it was because we were breaking out . . . We ran "naked" with no electronics, and had a real tough time keeping it at 8.90.

That car did win an IHRA national event in Quick Rod.

Originally Posted by ssnitro90

Were nailheads an option or standard. Cause I know a guy that has a junkyard full of old cars and he has several 55,56,57 buicks amongst other things

To the best of my knowledge, the nailhead was the only V8 offered by Buick during those years.

Originally Posted by Ron B.

Just watch with the earlier motors it can get pretty expensive putting an automatic trans on one, they usually only came with manuals so flex plates are almost non-existent ,but if anyone knows better let me know.

Well, I wouldn't call it cheap but then again what is? Anyway, here is a link to a kit for adapting auto-tranny's to the nailhead.

'53-'66 Buick Nailhead Transmission Adapters

Don't know if that answers the question, but if you're looking for something like this, here you go.

Cheers,
Dutch

They were the standard engine in Buicks from '53 on up, until the 430's came out later on in the '60's. Buick pretty much had 8 cylinder cars since the '40's, and maybe always. I just don't know for sure about that.


Don

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Nailheads belong in a vintage rod with no hood . . . or in any vintage Buick.

We need more Buick, Olds, Caddy and Pontiac rods.

and MoPar I am doing my part

Jack

Never owned, never built a nailhead, but a big fan. Just my opinion, but I think the 3 most striking engines ever, old Hemi (I am little prejudice here ), the Buick nailhead, and the Ford/Mercury flathead V8, not necessairly in that order.

Jack

Originally Posted by moparjack44

I think the 3 most striking engines ever, old Hemi (I am little prejudice here ), the Buick nailhead, and the Ford/Mercury flathead V8, not necessairly in that order.

You forgot the Cadi flatty... exhaust routed out the top of the engine... those are Kewl.

Here's a nice shot of a nailhead in Tommy Ivo's digger, but I'm still looking for one with a big blower sittin' on top.

Dave, in your pile of nailhead parts, Do you have an intake for a 364?

Originally Posted by lucforce

Dave, in your pile of nailhead parts, Do you have an intake for a 364?

Nope, mine are the bigguns... 401 and 425's

Thanks anyway, I thought it was worth a shot.

I hate to say it, but my brother has a few, just not for sale. He had a huge collection of all different nailhead manifolds (about 30 of them) and sold it all off except a few favs. You do know that a 401 manifold can easily be modified to fit on the 364. There is only a half inch or so difference and most 364s you see will have 401 manifolds on them. The very best performance manifold ever for the 401 was the Edelbrock B262 two four barrel.

Brian

Heres my brothers car with that very manifold on it.

That shot of Ivo, that happens to be in my home town of Fremont Ca at the Fremont dragstrip if I am not mistaken.

Brian

Originally Posted by hotrodnailhead

I don't currently own one, but I've built a few, and I'm a big fan.

I'm looking for a picture of a blown nailhead, front view, for a tattoo I'm working on.

Thanks.

How about this one?

Brian