The Chrysler Hemi And Buick Nailhead - Two Opposite Solutions To The Same Problem Nets Two Legends
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ม.ค. 2024
- In the post war period gasoline was cheap and plentiful, but quality and consistency was a major problem that kept manufacturers from tuning their engines for optimal performance.
Chrysler decided that the already proven hemispherical combustion chamber was the best way to combat detonation, while Buick engineers took a completely different approach with it's new V8 and the result was the beautiful and legendary Nailhead.
Here's a quick overview of the Nailhead, what makes it different and what make it tick.
#cars #engines #history
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I had a '66 Riviera in Riviera Plum with a 425 nailhead w/Quardrajet and the "Super Turbine" transmission from '84 to '92. It would raise on all four wheels when launched, and never would squat. That tranny was the smoothest shifting automatic I have ever driven. Took it to Milan Dragway for bracket racing and it did a respectable 16.3 in the quarter mile (which is what the car did back when reviewed by the magazines). Long front end, short deck (though, a joke of a trunk!), and graceful, flowing lines. What a car!
I think the Nailhead Buick engines are the absolute best engine for a traditional hotrod build. Sure, small block Chevys have made a niche for themselves in a coupe or roadster, but the Nailhead is so much better looking. Just an absolute work of art.
YES! NAILHEADS! Thanks Uncle Tony. I'm running a 1963 401 in my Model A Ford. Strong like Buffalo, praise be unto Max Balchowski, Tom Ivo and Tony Nancy.
Max Balchowski and his Buicks showed their taillights to a lot of Italian exotics
Some reason u don't run a Ford in your Ford, bet u have a whole drawer full of Ford shirts.
@@buckinbunny Stock sucks.
My buddy who loves Ford’s, gave me a 64 Tempest Custom. It’s all original & hasn’t run since 1996. This 326 engine & 300st transmission is pretty unique to me as it’s the first Pontiac I’ve ever owned.
The 326 is a great engine. My brother recently scored one at a scrap yard in Missouri, saving it from certain destruction.
Scott from Cold War Motors just took one nailhead apart for refreshing. That engine grabbed my attention on the first sight. I would love see how Uncle Tony explains the internals of a nailhead.
Ahhhhh.... I just turned 49. The 8th of this month. My first car was a 65 Skylark Gran Sport 401w/Super Turbine and a Carter AFB. As well as the factory finned aluminum valve covers with "BUICK" in embossed block letters on their sides. All factory equipped. I loved, that car and would love to have another. I remember it idling 700 - 900rpm. Foot on the brake, Put it in gear and it would take off idling at 20 - 25mph. foot on the floorboard. It would each 85 - 90mph, before shifting second gear and would blow the rear tires off when, it did.
First street race i ever seen. My old man, raced a 427 Vette with a manual transmission. Man, that GS, ate that Vette. Vette made 400horsepower but, made somewhere in the neighborhood of 300lb-ft trq. The Buick? it was only rated at 325 horsepower with the advantage of the design being. It produced 435lb-ft trq. I will never forget, how awesome that car sounded or how sharp looking it was.
The car itself, ended up getting crushed but, not before the engine and transmission were removed. I still have them and they have not ever been separated from one another. The engine has not ever been gone in. I also, have just a 425 WILDCAT engine out of a 66 Riviera. All the research i have done. Dictates, Buick not wanting consumers to be wise, on the fact. That it had the same 401 CUBIC INCH engine in it, as the smaller and lighter Skylark.The 425 designation, represented the maximum amount of torque the engine made. Supposedly, the 401 was the biggest of the NAILHEAD engine family.
I have always wanted to rebuild my GS engine and transmission then install them in a Pinto or a Hornet, to hurt people;s feelings with. Install a 3;73 locker equipped 8.8 rear differential. Unfortunately, the only company I know of, that can supply me with a complete master rebuild kit. Is EGGE and the last time I totaled it up. By itself. No new cam, crank or machine shop costs. The rebuild kit alone, would have set me back like, $ 3300-$3400. I will not ever be able to afford building them and installing them in something like, a FACTORY FIVE RACING TYPE 66 COBRA DAYTONA COUPE with all the other projects I have and want to build with enough time in my life. To still be able to enjoy them for what they will be.......
So, if anyone is interested in them. My name is Wade King Silvia. I am on FaceBook and Instagram. You can call or text me at (910)279-2197, as well. I am ready to let some things go. In order to build other things I have and want to have time to enjoy raising complete hell in. Why i am still capable of being able to do so. I am also, on the coastal region of NC. In close proximity of Jacksonville and have the Marine Base Camp Lejuene, all but, located in my backyard.
My family business, was a salvage yard for 37 years. S0, I have also acquired some other interesting stuff. I could probably, be persuaded, to let go of. If your seriously, interested or hell, your curiosity, has been slightly, piqued. Get in touch with me. Because if nothing else. I like swapping stories, build dreams and learning what kind of interesting stuff, other people have had stashed away for several decades.
My grandfather was a ford man through and through but made an exception for nailhead engines. Says alot to me.
I had a 65 Wildcat convertible with the 401 and a switch pitch. You are right to say the torque was magic. This was around 15 years ago when I had the car. I was 29. My brother who was 19 told me he took it for a rip up the road and back when I was away. He said he reached the end of the road and ripped a hook. He said the sound and power was one of the coolest things he has ever experienced.
I remember the nailhead as a go to engine for jet boats and v-drives of the 70's and 80's. Worked as a dock boy 40 some years ago and was always intrigued by the look and sound of them.
Funny enough I just saw a video today about how they used 400 nailheads as the starter engines for the SR71 blackbird....and at one point in the 60s they had gone through so many that there were no more available in any junkyard in the country. At that point they switched to bb chevys
I grew up working on many nailheads as a kid in the late 60's and through the 70's. Huge soft spot for that engine! Another consideration in the design of the Nailhead was they needed to make it fit into a a space designed for a straight 8 engine.
Yup. You should have seen my 61. That was well after the debut of the Nailhead, but the front frame rails were so close together that most other V8s just wouldn't fit. That car's frame definitely looks like it was designed for a Straight 8.
The original start carts for the Y-12/A-12/SR-71 was powered by two Buick Nailheads. An odd setup that had a physical driveshaft to crank the J-58's. They had to rev the snot out of them and ended up blowing many up. After replacements dried up they switched to big block chevys. They finally put air starters on them which used standard huffer carts and retired the old system entirely.
,,, Correct .
I understand that they blew up when the overunning clutch device that was supposed to decouple the starting unit driveshaft from the jet engine failed to decouple when the jet fired up and the Buick WAAAY over revved! That called the start carts “The Buick”. Even after they changed over to the Big block Chev. 😉
@@alexanderzubar9593 ,,, amazing info , ain't nothing reciprocating gonna hang in there with that monster jet ,,, !
I saw one of those nailhead-powered start carts at an air museum - I think it's at The Museum of Flight at Boeing Field in Seattle.
Those mfers removed many nailheads from the earth
I knew a lady that her late husband was actually a engineer for GM that was involved in the Buick 425 duel 4 barrel 425 and bought a brand new Riviera in Arlington Texas and she was an employee that I worked with and such a sweet lady. The car was so clean and she drove it every day to work until she finally passed.
Buick lover here. My 65 Gran Sport was bored 60 over and ran 11.5 to 1 J&E pistons, Iski mid race cam, 1.7 to 1 rorckers, hooker headers, offenhauser high rise dual quad manafold, 3.73 gear and a turbo400 from a riviera. Frist run at us30 i sucked both air filter onto the carbs about 30 from the starting tree.
Had a 65 GS with power slide in high school. So what did it run?
Best run I think back then low 13's. Goldsmiths in Griffith, In😅 had check the block for us and said it should be fine for the 60 overbore in 67.
Cool, I always wondered what they would run. While mine ran strong, it just didn’t seem to run as strong as the GTOs and aftermarket parts were not available 10 yrs later.
Sounds like a beast ✅
I had an old engine builder tell me the Nailhead name came from the small valve heads...so small they looked like nails. He said small valves and ports made velocity and velocity made low end torque.
I've always liked the Nailhead....they dress out really well and make a great looking Hot Rod engine.
Had a chance to check out a set of heads at a swap meet and thought the chambers looked like Pent Roofs...
More Nailhead Content!!!! Please!! I have a 264 in my 55 Buick I love it. It's got a shocking amount of balls for such a tiny motor. I can't wait to find a 322. A 55 Century with a 322 and a 3 speed stick beat the hemis in NASCAR. An uncle Tony Nailhead build would be awesome!!!
If you put a 322 in it, you have to replace the transmission with the 3 speed used in Supers and Roadmasters with stick shift. Its the same unit as the Cadillac/LaSalle unit, except for the tail.
Very interesting, you nailed it Tony . 465 foot pounds of torque, wow , I love those big old engines.
Thank you UTG for the tutorial on the Nailhead 😊
My folks favorite car EVER? Their 59 Buick 401 & Dynaflow. It was flawless until rear-ended in traffic. Well over 100K, but never needed more than tune ups. Great exhaust note too!
I bought a 1965 Riviera with a 401 back in the early '90's when I was young and it was a headturner even back then. I purchased a 1970 Caddy Eldorado a couple years ago with the one year only high compression 500 V-8. That is also an interesting oddball motor people are starting to build.
Been wanting to find an old Eldorado with the 500 big block! Sounds like you’ve had a nice collection.
Back around 90 a classmate dropped a 500 in a 76 firebird.
It was better than what it had ,but alas it wasnt a hi po 70 engine
When I just got out of High School I went to look at a 58 Chevy with a 401 Nailhead in it. My dad took it for a ride and it scared the daylights out of him--he said no I can't buy it!😆
My 1932 Ford Model B three window powered by a 401 Nailhead with points and carburetor competes respectably at Milan Dragway in MI against the young folk with their LS powered cars. Using the Buick super turbine 400 trans with the switch-pitch torque converter that Buick used in 1965 and 1966. High-low stall speed controlled by a switch in the car. Also, pent roof combustion chamber has extremely efficient flame propagation with minimal detonation. High velocity intake flow at low rpm yields gobs of low end torque. Engine good to about 5000 rpm and then it lays over due to contorted exhaust port. Buick engineers in the 50s and 60s were innovative and ahead of their time.
This was a perfect compare/contrast.
OUTSTANDING!!!!
Back in the day when I was going to JC for my first year ('67), one of my buds who worked at an auto parts store had a '49 Ford F1 DeLux (they were step sides) and he slipped a 322 4 bbl Nailhead in. They were great transplant engines because they were narrow and eliminated almost all steering interference. Anyway, that little pickup owned the street for a while. He changed gears and ended up with a corvette rear end. Drove around with cheater slicks. Santa Cruz so no real rain after tax day to worry about. A bit skatey on thick fog days. But the instant torque of a nailhead was a street dream. We eventually got stuff with bigger versions, but that light little truck could haul the mail, anytime, any where 😁
The only engines that could compete on the street at the time in the swap world were the Caddy's. Drive a 67 Skylark with a 401 or a swapped 425 and you'll own the street too. Built motors are most times to hard to "feather" to control traction. The nailhead is a snap to throttle 😊
Fond memory of my mother dusting a TR6 Triumph at a stop light in our 1964 Buick Wildcat 425. And my father trying to get a smooth idle on the tach dwell after a tuneup. Took it to his fellow machinist/drag racer friend who said "John. It's got a factory cam."
I love old engines , and the break down of the principal here is amazing!
the one part of the Nailhead design process that you forgot was that the original Nailhead was designed to swap into the place of the last of the Buick Straight8s. that's the reason for the weird head design and vertical valves on the "wrong" side of the rocker shaft, it was to minimize engine width. this makes the Nail package a good solution for a lot of situations that a Hemi or OHC configuration would never fit into. they've also got forged cranks from the factory.
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there were a few guys who did backwards airflow on these as a solution to the dogleg intake runner.
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regarding Nailhead torque, at one point Buick Nails were being installed in Chevy trucks AND Buick Nailheads powered the first generation start carts for the SR-71 Blackbird program. when Lockheed got into the 1970s and the Nails had been out of production for too long the Skunkworks had to substitute 454s and were still down on torque on the 2nd gen start cart.
A turbochraged nailhead wurde work fine
@@Haffschlappe Supercharged would be better. No turbo lag, less heat, less complexity, and the engine is big enough to overcome the fact that a supercharger is an engine driven accessory, just like an AC compressor.
Great video on the nailhead UT! I owned a 63 LeSabre with a 401 and the 2 speed automatic. Sweet running car, and rode like a lazy boy recliner on the interstate! Only paid 200 bucks for it, man those days are gone!
Currently helping a buddy of mine with a nailhead related project. Guy bought a half finished 50 merc that had supposedly been chopped by some famous merc chopping guy. anyway, the body was pretty rough and we had to undo about 60% of what the previous owners had done. Such as assembling the fire wall from little pieces of random sheet metal held together by machine screws, self tappers and assorted bolts. Then covering it in sound deadener on both sides.
Anyway, this thing had a buick nailhead in it. Which we pulled out so we could paint the engine bay (this was before discovering the firewall). On the stand we tried to turn it by hand and it' would only make it about 60 degrees or so. So we tore it down and found it was actually pretty well built with some really nice parts. Pop up pistons, nice head work, and what seemed to be a stroker kit because the reason it wouldn't turn was the crank was hitting the oil pump. So that got clearance and things went back together. It's not running yet, but now the car is all the same color and we are getting really close to it making noise. Hoping to have it at viva this year, 2024.
You gotta lotta knowledge sir.
Uk 🇬🇧 follower ..
Keep the great work up..
Back in the mid 70’s I picked up a basket case fire bird ,with all the extra parts was a switch pitch turbo 400 . I put the car together & built the engine,a400 with a fairly aggressive cam from comp. It had to idle about 900 rpm,s & being an automatic Did not do that very well. After trying to tune it so it was more manageable at stop lights ( I definitely picked the wrong cam for a street car with an auto trans ) I hooked up the switch pitch to the brake light switch & it unloaded the engine while at stop lights,definitely made it more drivable,I lucked out. These types of things definitely made me look ahead when working on projects.love your knowledge & channel
Take a 53 Roadmaster and nail it at a light, no other car acted like (dynaflow) it or sounded like it! They were cool. Really excellent explanation of the origins of those engines. Never heard it before.
One other thing Buick did with the Nailhead to reduce pre-ignition in addition to quench area was they also incorporated machined combustion chambers instead of simple cast chambers.
Great engines indeed....
It's about time You are going to cover the Nailhead . I asked for this Three Years ago ,,, better late than never ...
In high school, one of my buddies had a 425 Riviera with the dual quads. Like Tony said, there was no badging so in traffic it looked like any other mild, midsized GM but it was a rocket off the line.
Yep. Buick made 454 non-GS dual quad 65 Rivs. Your baddy had a 1 of 454 made. Rare beast.
@@jholthenrichs Not a 454. It was a '65 or '66 (Can't remember the year) 425.
@@mikew6765 you need to re-read what he said
@@mikew6765One of four hundred and fifty four total made, with that setup
@@455buick6 I see now. Guess I read it too fast. Thanks for the stats. I'm more of a MoPar guy but I always liked that gen of Rivieras and also liked the body style of the '71 & '72.
An old engine builder friend told me that the Nailhead got it's name from the small diameter valve heads...they looked like nails. He said small valves and ports make velocity and velocity makes low end torque.
I've always liked Nailheads because they dress out really well...they make a great looking Hot Rod engine.
I had a chance to check out a set of heads at a swap meet and the chambers looked like the Pentroof chambers on the Drake Indy engines to me....
Two nailheads were used as starter motors for the SR-71 blackbird!
I am Mopar guy, but soft spot for the 401 Nailhead. And the Polyhead, and slant six.
The nailhead is really interesting and unique engine. It’s wild how far and how fast engine tech moved from the 50’s to 60’s.
The Nailhead makes a glorious sound.
My very first "hot rod", a 1940 Ford Coupe, had a 1955 Roadmaster 322 V8 in it. Almost every aspect of the build was a class in how not to build a hot rod, but the car would hook up and fly when you nailed it (for as long as the transmission held together - '53 Mercury 3-speed standard shift). The car would lift and carry the front wheels for about 25 yards off the line.. Best time I ever got was a 14:23 at 88.g MPH. Of course, most of the time the car did not have either second gear or first gear (sometimes neither) operational... But it would embarrass GTOs, Mustangs, Cameros and 'Vettes all day long.... Loved that car.
Thanks for this video and the memories. I'm a Buick guy from way back (although my current car is a Pontiac G8). When I was a kid, my pop had a 66 Riviera GS with a 465 Wildcat with dual quads (2 Carter AFBs). My god that car was fast! My first car was a 68 GS400 and my second car was a 65 GS with a 425 nailhead (was it a Wildcat? I can't remember). Soo much torque in that little GS. My 68 had posi, the 65 did not and I just loved shredding my tires, one at a time, on Gratiot Ave in Detroit. When GM killed Pontiac and the G8 along with it, I was hoping they would resurrect the car as the new Riviera. I would have sold the G8 in a heartbeat just to have a Buick Marque as a tribute to my pop.
This is one of my favorite UTG videos! Thanks for all the info, I knew nothing about nail heads and now I want to find a 425 on Hemmings!
Thanks again for the good work tony
Dear Tony,
When I worked at Forberg Engines we would get the odd nailhead or two to rebuild and I used to describe the combustion chamber as being like a 4-valve pent roof chamber minus a couple of valves. Definitely appreciated the other details about exhaust passages and fuel quality as design concerns. Frankly, I'd forgotten about how much fuels varied but, when we were just young go-fasters Chevron 110 octane (believe that was the motor method value at the time) at the white pump was the gas of choice. Remember when you could tell which one to use based on the color ? There was regular, premium and hi-test. Wow have times changed.
And for an easy souping, we could just have heads planed. More power and especially more torque across the board, UNlike hotter cams.
The DyNamic Duo strikes again ‼️🦹🏻♂️⛽️🦸🏼♂️
😁
Yes Uncle Tony the Nail head Buick had an aristocratic look when all decked out! I always liked them too.👍🏻
The nailheads were great engines. The 425 was introduced in 64 and was backed by the Super Turbine 400 transmission.. I had this combination in both of my 64 Rivieras and had the 401 Dynaflow in my 59 LeSabre. I still have a disassembled 425 and a Super Turbine 400 in storage.
Give it to UT maybe he can find a project
@@gulfy09 I have a project it will be going into already
@@todddenio3200 I was just kidding around
If memory is correct, you could get the 425 in 63, just not with dual quads, and of course, with either Dynaflow or a manual trans.
@@jamesbosworth4191 in 63 the biggest engine you could get in a Buick including the Riviera was the 401 and the transmission was the Dynaflow. The 425 was NEW for 64 and was not offered with the dual quads until 65.
6:02 I thought name came from the fact that valves were much smaller "like the size of nailhead".
I think it's because the valve point straight up, like starting nails in a board.
@@redmondjp You are the one who is correct.
Great vid!
Love the Nailhead!
Thanks!
You failed to mention that, like the hemi, the nailhead has the spark plug in the center of the combustion chamber (I think you meant to say it, but never did). Also, the intake valve and runner setup is identical to the hemi. Buick had built a hemi engine for one of the late 40's show cars. When they were designing the nailhead they sort of kept the intake setup but not the exhaust. I've got a 401 in a 28 Model A. It really makes that old car scoot.
Nailheads were also used extensively in roundy round racing on dirt. The Buicks would really pull off the corner.
NAILED IT !!
I'm pretty sure I need one of those.
Sounds like we both do lol
Geeking out! Keep the videos coming!
You should do a video on the switch pitch torque converter
The first year only , 1953, the 322 Nailhead was not the "Pentaroof" combustion chamber. It was much larger with no quench area and dome pistons. '54 was the beginning of the Pentaroof combustion chamber with the quench area and was used thru '66. The 425 did come out some time in mid '63 for the Riv only and continued till the last year, '66 optional in the Electra and Wildcats. . The 401 was available till '66 also. For more torque at launch with the Dynaflow just put in in Low and shift it up at 50 MPH. I have a '63 LeSabre 401 two barrel. 40 eyars ago I beat a SS 396 at Thompson Dragway .
I used to have fun doing that too! Only thing you have to remember is to back off the throttle when upshifting, or else you will soon ruin the HI clutch. You are right about the 53. If you didn't have high octane in it, it would hammer under load.
I have memories of my Dads 1959 Electra 225, had a 401 with the dynaflo tyranny . A hair line crack in one cylinder did it in , He liked to push it hard !
100% true story, senior year h.s. cruising Broadway with a buddy in his dad's 66 LeSabre 4 door work car, pick up 2 girls, buddy tries to impress girls and backs out rapidly and slams it into low, instead of spinning the tires it twisted the driveshaft into two pieces and it sounded like a bomb went off under the car, girls gone fast we get some buddies and with people sitting on the decklid of one car a other on the hood of the push car we extended our legs and pushed the car 3-4 miles back to the buddies house and parked it in the usual parking spot, buddy doesn't say anything to the parents, dad tries to go to work next day, starts fine won't move, long story shortened up, last time he got to use Dad's car....ahh to be 17 again!
Love wen these two get together. And yes Buick is so overlooked wen it comes to performance. Had a 71 rev 455 . And with a little tinkering . She wold lay down the 11 from just a stomp torque for days. O and uncle Cathy you okay love ??? Haven’t seen nor heard from you in a while. Miss ya honey. Keep jamming tony and good luck 🥝.
Thanks Tony, great video and information. Over 15 years ago when I used to look at slideshows of cars from shows, I distinctly remember the numerous Nailheads I saw on deuce rails with 30-32 roadster bodies on them. Those were really cool. I also love the 401 Nailhead 65 GS Rivera.
I never knew it was the rocker shafts that gave the Nailhead it's name, I was always told it was due to the small diameter valves.
I've always heard a lot of hype on the 430 wildcat, I'd like to hear more about it if you know anything about it Tony...Thanks for the info, great video!!!
Thanks for another great video.
Hey!! Them those Door handles I've seen on Kiwi's Channel!!
I got a few!!!
About time Uncle Tony!!
Thanks Tony! As a Mopar guy, I do totally love everything Buick! Glad I am not the only one!
Excellent video! New follower, dad loved both of those types of motors.
I’ve been wanting a Nailhead to build for years. Just for something different that runs strong and only true hot rodders would know what it is. Really cool engine. I started researching Nailheads when I found TV Tommy Ivo ran them. I knew they had to be good if he ran them. He could afford anything he wanted. It’s fascinating to see what engines drag racers used before the 426 Hemi, and Big Block Chevy were in production.
Hats off to you fellas on this one and I really look forward to seeing Kiwi's Journey unfold on this.
Good video professor UT.
Yay! Road trip! Drive it if you got it!
So Wise , Thank You
Uncle Tony : love the impromptu drop in at Kiwis! I love the old Buick Nail heads too! I was blessed with Buicks for some reason! When my Uncle Tom bought a new car he gave his 56 Buick special to my Mom and I , she did not drive so that fell to me , it had a 225 in it , you could not kill that thing! See it for a pick up truck! Packed with drywall tools and aluminum folding horses! It would hold two drywall crews in it and just sail down the freeway! Ended up selling it to a guy that wanted to restore it! It deserved that! My Aunt bought two Buicks! A 1964 wild cat and a 1966 wild cat both hauled ass! Unfortunately I had to sell those too both ended up being wrapped around telephone poles! Would love to have the motors out of both cars! I would love to have an early Hemi for my 49 Plymouth business coupe! But they are all premium priced motors now! But still building the 318 LA that came in the 49 street rod! Using some of the techniques used by you and Vizard! …..regards Mad Mike S. From the land of freezing Ass cold❄🌨🥶⛄……….
More history and knowledge from Professor UT. Thanks, Tony!! 👍💪😎
Kiwi will need his Ugg boots for that trip
Big fan of the nailhead...
1965 Riviera my favorite car of all time.
Get one Tony...you'll love it!
I had a 68 four door wildcat what a boat the good old day's for sure.
Assuming a set of typical iron exhaust manifolds i wonder if those long ports did anything to help low end torque in terms of resonance? Theres a good two inches of legnth there, not much compared to long tube headers or even shorties, but compared to typical pre muscle car iron logs they might make a measurable difference.
UTG,,
Much luv from Buffalo NY.
Hope all is well boss
I think it has a "pent roof" combustion chamber, the shape of which is common in 4 valve engines for the past 30 years, The most interesting thing I've read about them is that the engine is based on Harley Earl's Lesabre concept car of 1951, with 216 cubic inches, supercharged and a 2 valve hemi/pent roof combustion chamber - the "XP300" engine.. The exhaust valves were horizontal, yes, parallel to the ground and the intake valves were vertical. The valve cover was every bit as big as the Chrysler hemi of that era. The exhaust pushrods went BETWEEN the cylinders to reach the other side of the head. Well, the bean counters got to work, and only the vertical valve arrangement survived, giving us the famous "Nailhead". Lots of overlap in the stock cams to make at least some horsepower, a low LSA (109 degrees) to make torque, and a resulting wild "pa-tuka, pa-tuka" exhaust sound is just music to my ears. The Nailhead is about art, not power.
I love nail heads, I want a 215 terribly bad. I currently have a 63, 401 on a test stand that came out of my Riviera for rebuild. Really cool and well built motors!
When I took auto shop in comm college in 1985, there was a 2X4 425 with the cast valve covers just sitting on a table in the shop. I fell in love with it and convinced the instructor to sell it to me...for $200.00.
I had a Chevy LUV I set up for it, but never ended up installing it (I caught Mopar disease).
These are the kinds of videos that i love when your make them. I learn so much, and am fascinated by your knowledge.
Leave the ev shit alone. I know it's click bait that makes you money, but it's your incredible knowledge of the classics that keep me enthralled.
Great camera work Kiwi! Cut out some of the ugly! Gotta take care of the eyes! Great video. I have heard of the nailheads for years but, I knew nothing about them. Very interesting!
had a '55 Buick Century for a while with a 322, a big Quadrajet and a Dynaflow. My dad called it a "Dynaflush"'-after I drove it for a while I figured out why. The trans was kind of mushy in it's throttle response.
Unless you manually put it in LO, it operated entirely in HI, sort of like Chrysler's Fluid Drive, but with only 1 speed in LO, 1 in HI.
So just after your video, the crew at Coldwamotors dropped a video of Scott and all the agents doing a Nailhead teardown, and I was amazed at the way the main (thrust/seal) bearing was fitted and had to be walked out with a jig!
/watch?v=Zu5JLv0GErM?t=2696
And kathy banana is trolling Kiwi.. perfect 😆
I had a friend in high school he bought a 55 Buick special with a 322 nailhead and he pulled for a big block chevy. I lost my mind whats wrong with you those are awesome engines
I'm friends with Dennis Manner. He was the Buick engineer that designed the dual quad intake manifold and also worked on the Stahe1 and Stage2 programs. He was in the dyno room when the Stage1 was tested. Sorry to burst everyone's bubble (and to humiliate all the stock 425 horse Chevy and Chrysler owners) but the S1 peaked at 376 HP. Yep. All those hemis and LS6 Chevelles rated at 425 HP got beat by a Buick with 50 less HP.
Didja see the 65 dual quad Riv GS that just sold for 300K at Mecum? My buddy has one of the 454 non-GS dual quad 65 Rivs Buick made. Same color as the one that just sold. Champagne. What beautiful cars. My other buddy bought a 64 Riv new and drag raced it until 2010 when he realized the frame was tweaked from the thousands of launches he made.. He still drives it on weekends.
I agree Tony, those are good looking engines.
Thanks
Dana "60" Glass. I'm glad you love the Buick nailheads. They were designed for big heavy cruisers, and had to be built strong, but by '65-'66 the design of the motor had run its course, so Buick designed a lighter block casting but had a lot of nickle in the cast iron for strength. In '67 came the 400/430 then later 455. Could talk all day about these engines as well as the switch pitch transmissions.
After driving a 5.0 coyote daily in my work truck for over three years and with 80k on it. I don't think I'd want a 5.0 coyote! All the spark knock, timing chain slap, cam phaser and lifter tick noise. I have lost faith in the longevity this engine may provide.
Friend of mine had a 64 Gran Sport 401 with cherry bombs. One of the best sounding exhausts, had a great rap to it.
Kiwis adventure sounds fantastic, safe travels! 😊
Kiwi for the win!!! We love ya Kiwi!!!!
Nice vid. FYI.. something is either unique or not. You mean 'unusual'. Unique by definition is something that no other thing resembles. One of a kind. Something can be very unusual. Unique either is, or not.
I am a die hard MoPar guy, but I LOOOOOVE me some nailhead Buicks. So cool looking
I grew up on the outer banks of NC and it would break your heart how many of those Buicks ended up in boats with salt water being pumped through them.
Love it !!!
Buicks made their name with TQ… my favorite piece of Buick Tech from that period of time was the switch pitch torque converter. Basically made the power glide into a 3 speed. Just a cool piece of kit.
I’m a riviera lover. I had a 65. Crazy torque once my tuner did the carb and curved the distributor.lol