Who knows what years the nailhead was available in a chevy?

 

great photo! nailheads and chrysler "fire power" were the hot rod engines along with the flathead fords back in the late 40's and 50's. then the good ole small block chevy came on the scene and it's never left!

 

The 6-71 really woke up the nailhead - solved the problem of small valves and restrictive exhaust ports, together with a Harman-Collins roller cam. Ran mid-12's with a LaSalle 3-speed and 4.11 axle; ate up a pair of Atlas Bucrons every weekend.

 

Those plug wire covers fooled the he11 out of me, I guess most people tossed 'em, and anyone calling me a "young whipper snapper" sure makes my day, thanks you old geezer......!

 

I remember the Ivo cars from the car magazines of the day.
My first car, a '39 Studebaker President, spare tires on both front fenders, had a 401 nailhead out of a '59 buick, ran the buick bellhousing, and clutch. Lots of Torque, and needed it with the big Stude.

 

'56-'59 Chevy trucks.

Two Buick Nailhead engines were used for the start cart for the SR-71 Blackbird.
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/ag330_sr.htm

 

Your link did not work for me. The one below does.

http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/ag330_sr.htm

Here is one "showing" the Buick.

http://www.hill.af.mil/library/facts...et.asp?id=5758

Plasticman

 

Guess the Cadillac V8 in hot rodding has been forgotten.

 

[QUOTE=DZAUTO;1574806145]Well, when us old timers are gone, SOME of you young whipper snappers gotta be able to answer the questions.

OK, Tom.....since you gave a history lesson, let one old timer to another ask you this question: What significant Sports Racer of the 50s used the Nail Head? The builder/fabricator also went on to work with the cars in the movie, Bullet, with Steve McQueen. Are you, btw, an old Disney movie fan?

 

[QUOTE=Dan Hampton;1574808244]allard...

 

One of my first cars was a '46 Merc Coupe with a '56 Buick nailhead, 3-2's, headers, Columbia 2-speed rear and '39 Buick trans

 

That was going to be my next picture to post that I saw in a rat rod but couldn't find it.I was scratching my head on that engine.

Thanks for all the great info on the nailhead.

 

Caddy powered Allard (sp?) was impressive in it's day.

 

the nailhead does not rev high. but produces a lot of torque. wish i still
had my 66gs. jim

 

Allard?

Nope. Max Balchowsky's Old Yeller (in its many iterations) used the 401 Nailey. I was fortunate enough to crew on the Nagamatsu team at Goodwood back in 2002. A great car and a real crowd pleaser in England. It had to be the most favorite car at the Revival. The English people just loved the old junkyard dog.

http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/Ol...IIToday05.html

 

For those who don't go back far enough (such as Old Yeller), the configuration of the Nailhead headers is just as much a distinctive giveaway as the configuration of SB headers. There is no need to actually see the engine itself to be able to tell what make it is.

And now that this issue have surfaced, I have been half heartedly searching for a COMPLETE (as in air cleaner to pan) 425 2x4 engine. ALL THAT MATTERS is that it is complete and rebuildable. With a .030 over bore and offset grinding of the rod journals .020, it will produce between 435-440 inches. The valve seats can be slightly opened up to accept slightly larger valves, and with the resultant torque, it will easily turn a 2.73-3.08 rear gear. For serious Interstate use, a 2.56 rear would even be acceptable.

Tom Parsons

 

 

Not entirely. Here's my '51 Ford (in 1959) with a '56 Caddy and Hydra-matic, set back ten inches, and freshly-rebuilt '57 Caddy awaiting installation.

 

Bryan,
EXCELLENT!!!!
Thanks for posting that diagram!

Tom Parsons

 

Sorry, I may be wrong, but my source indicated that the original J2 had a Chrysler Hemi and later a Cadillac engine. BTW, the same source indicated that Zora drove one.