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.
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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.
Never built one myself, but think they are one of the prettiest engines made, when dressed out. I was going to build a '60 nailhead for a '33 I had in about 1965. I bought the entire running Buick for $ 100, but before I could tear it down a buddy of mine got married, and needed a car. He begged and begged me to sell him the Buick, but I ended up giving it to him as a wedding gift. :(
Wish I had that engine now.
Don
Yup, love them old nailheads!!! Got 2 complete engines and some spare parts too go with them.... Don't know of any blown pics, might try a google search for Nailhead Engines and see what comes up...
Always heard the term "nailhead" is that any flat head, just buicks or what?
Just V8 Buicks, the ones with the vertical valve covers, circa 1953 to 1966 I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by chevydrivin
Nailheads are not flat heads, they are overhead valves. The term nailhead refers to the angle of the valves when the heads are on the engine, a very unique look!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by chevydrivin
My ever-deteriorating memory tell me the term "nailhead" came as a result of the head design of the earliest Buick V8 engines.
These engines, with their narrow vertical valve covers, just gotta be the handsomest engines ever made, but the valve size was pretty limited by the design of the heads. The small valves look like nails, hence the nickname "nailhead". In fact we used to hear them referred to as "nail-valve engines" sometimes.
I wish I had one. I don't need one, but that doesn't matter. I wish I had one anyway.
Jim
Yup, got some pics of one in my gallery..Neat engines
Nailheads belong in a vintage rod with no hood . . . or in any vintage Buick.
We need more Buick, Olds, Caddy and Pontiac rods.
I'm beginning to think my next hoodless and fenderless rod might just have a V-10 Ford with 5 downdraft Webers...... Unique is what we seek, but bizarre is what we are!!!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:
didn't the '51 Lesabre concept car have a nailhead? not that it matters, it was a concept car and that engine didn't appear production until '53, as you said.. but I do know that '67 Riv's were offered with nailheads but after that they had the 430'sQuote:
Originally Posted by techinspector1
Dave,
Funny you should mention it . . . .
:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: Way Kewl, Jack!!!! Had the same on the hood of a sprinter back in mid 70's.... One of the guys had decals made with the car number and that saying.... Sure as heck wish I would have kept one.... Oh well...
i've got a '55 nailhead that was rebuilt 20 years ago, never been run since the rebuild..... just taking up space in my shed..... always been lookin for an old buick to throw it in but if someone makes the right offer who knows
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
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.:3dSMILE: :3dSMILE: :3dSMILE:
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:CRY: :CRY: ,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 . . . :LOL: 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.
To the best of my knowledge, the nailhead was the only V8 offered by Buick during those years.Quote:
Originally Posted by ssnitro90
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron B.
'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
and MoPar:) I am doing my partQuote:
Originally Posted by Henry Rifle
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
You forgot the Cadi flatty... exhaust routed out the top of the engine... those are Kewl.Quote:
Originally Posted by moparjack44
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?
Nope, mine are the bigguns... 401 and 425'sQuote:
Originally Posted by lucforce
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.
http://members.aol.com/whatcouldikno...teringrass.jpg
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
How about this one?Quote:
Originally Posted by hotrodnailhead
Brian
http://members.aol.com/buickfam/ablower.jpg