Welcome to Club Hot Rod!  The premier site for everything to do with Hot Rod, Customs, Low Riders, Rat Rods, and more. 

  •  » Members from all over the US and the world!
  •  » Help from all over the world for your questions
  •  » Build logs for you and all members
  •  » Blogs
  •  » Image Gallery
  •  » Many thousands of members and hundreds of thousands of posts! 

YES! I want to register an account for free right now!  p.s.: For registered members this ad will NOT show

 

Thread: Any Nailhead fans here?
          
   
   

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 29
  1. #1
    hotrodnailhead's Avatar
    hotrodnailhead is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Phoenix
    Posts
    10

    Any Nailhead fans here?

     



    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.
    there's nuthin' wrong with her, a hundred dollars won't fix.

    www.sinnersaz.com

  2. #2
    Itoldyouso's Avatar
    Itoldyouso is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    fort myers
    Car Year, Make, Model: '27 ford/'39 dodge/ '23 t
    Posts
    11,033

    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

  3. #3
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    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...
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  4. #4
    chevydrivin is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    mccomb
    Car Year, Make, Model: 55 belair: 68 Camaro: 69 F100: 51 M37's
    Posts
    287

    Always heard the term "nailhead" is that any flat head, just buicks or what?

  5. #5
    techinspector1's Avatar
    techinspector1 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Zephyrhills, Florida, USA
    Car Year, Make, Model: '32 Henway
    Posts
    12,423

    Quote Originally Posted by chevydrivin
    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.
    PLANET EARTH, INSANE ASYLUM FOR THE UNIVERSE.

  6. #6
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    Quote Originally Posted by chevydrivin
    Always heard the term "nailhead" is that any flat head, just buicks or what?
    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!!!!!
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  7. #7
    Big Tracks's Avatar
    Big Tracks is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Keller
    Car Year, Make, Model: '79 Dodge Diplomat Coupe
    Posts
    832

    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

  8. #8
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    Yup, got some pics of one in my gallery..Neat engines
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  9. #9
    Henry Rifle's Avatar
    Henry Rifle is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Little Elm
    Car Year, Make, Model: 34 Ford Low Boy w/ZZ430 Clone
    Posts
    3,890

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

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

    Gone to Texas

  10. #10
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    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!!!!!!!
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  11. #11
    Matt167's Avatar
    Matt167 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Prattsville
    Car Year, Make, Model: '51 Chevy Fleetline and a Ratrod project
    Posts
    4,990

    Quote Originally Posted by techinspector1
    Just V8 Buicks, the ones with the vertical valve covers, circa 1953 to 1966 I think.
    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's
    You don't know what you've got til it's gone

    Matt's 1951 Chevy Fleetline- Driver

    1967 Ford Falcon- Sold

    1930's styled hand built ratrod project

    1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle Wolfsburg Edition- sold

  12. #12
    Henry Rifle's Avatar
    Henry Rifle is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Little Elm
    Car Year, Make, Model: 34 Ford Low Boy w/ZZ430 Clone
    Posts
    3,890

    Dave,

    Funny you should mention it . . . .
    Attached Images
    Jack

    Gone to Texas

  13. #13
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    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...
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
    Carroll Shelby

    Learning must be difficult for those who already know it all!!!!

  14. #14
    thesals's Avatar
    thesals is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    san diego
    Car Year, Make, Model: 66 mustangFB, 69 econline Drag Van
    Posts
    1,527

    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
    just because your car is faster, doesn't mean i cant outdrive you... give me a curvy mountain road and i'll beat you any day

  15. #15
    ssnitro90's Avatar
    ssnitro90 is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Tabor
    Car Year, Make, Model: 53 olds 98 deluxe 4 door 54 chevy
    Posts
    3

    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

Reply To Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Links monetized by VigLink