Small block Buick motor from 1964-67. The two barrel version had 310 torque (as identified by the air cleaner), and the four barrel is 355 torque, 250 horsepower. The four barrel was available until '65. In 1964 only, these engines (at least the four barrel) featured aluminum heads and, if I recollect correctly, an aluminum intake manifold. The next year, it was switched fully to cast iron. In your situation, your Electra should not have come out of the factory with that motor. The only fullsize to carry the 300ci was the LeSabre. Hope this helps, Wayne
Engine The 300 aint a nailhead. :Smarty: All nailheads have the distributer in the back. If a Buick engine doesnt have the distributer in the back it is not a nailhead. :Brow: The 300s resemble the nail heads in that their rocker arm covers set more straight up than others. Good little engines. Lots of fun to rod up. :3gears:
I didnt think buick made a 300 nailhead. I think i found a picture of a T with a 300 buick in one of my old books. The distributor is in front and its at a 45 degree angle. I imagine speed parts are pretty tough to find for the 300 buick, considering every part on it is probably unique to that motor. Thanks for the help. -nick
300 engine Nick, The 300 has lots of hot rod potential. I built one up years ago. There was an "optional" version that had 11.1 pistons, 4bbl. carb. low restriction exhausts. ect. It will do fine within its limits. [5500 to 6000 rpm] [cast iron crank and mallable iron rods.] There is quite a bit of speed equipment available for it now, there wasnt when I was racing. I had more fun, raced more and broke less when I was running a 300 than at any time in my life. My car was a 64 lark coupe with a switch pitch st300 in it. Buick advertised that engine at 250 hp which put it into a real good class at the strip. [it puts out more] Postons Buick Parts has stuff for them and TA Performance. Plus a lot of common gm stuff will work . Cast iron block, aluminum heads, intake,and timing gear cover. the 2 bbl. eng had 9.1 cr. the 4bbl 10.25 cr. and the optional 11.1 The exhaust manifolds are free flowing and headers are available. Due to the small cubes use a short diff gear about 3.55 or 3.90 and a posi.
Front distributor nailhead We saw a buick convertible wildcat (we think) we stopped and opend the hood and when i saw it i couldnt beilive it, it was a red nailhead and the distributor was in the front. If i hadnt a saw it i would never beilive it.
In 1967 it would have been a fo' thirdee under the hood, explaining the red and distributor in the front. :Smarty:
hey joe, what he's not telling you is that the bell housing was pointed at the radiator. :laugh: it was a red nailhead and the distributor was in the front. If i hadnt a saw it i would never beilive it. didn't happen dude. the 215 and 300 (maybe some 340's) have valve covers that are stamped to make it look like they're mounted on a horizontal head surface but they're not. front mounted distro excludes all nailheads.
The 300 engines are sometimes refered to as PINHEAH motors. Look a lot like a Nailhead by the valve covers. Many parts from the 340 and the 350 motors are interchangeable. The 1964 Heads and intake are Alum. and do not interchange with the 65-66-67 300 motors. Extremely light motor and can be built to make a lot of HP. Jim Schilf palbuick
Nail head....to be or not to be? What's a nail head...what is not a nail head. o No: I was told that that big block buick got it's name because the valve circumference was very small vs the competition...so if the 300CI had a similar small valve set up I guess you could call it a nail head right? (I do not know if the 300ci has similar valve characteristic or not) Out of curiosity who gave the 401 the nail head title anyway?
nailheads Mic, The nail heads were called that by the hot rodders for years, because Buick chose to use a smaller diameter exhaust valve due to head design. The cumbustion chamber on them is a pent roof or semi hemi design depending on which ever term you chose to use. However when you choose to compare the valves with other makes they are not really that small.'And add to that buick knew the valves were on the smallish side so they designed the system to handel it.[hotter cams,tuliped valves, etc.] You see, you can offset smaller valves somewhat if the cam lifts higher and holds the valve open longer. Nail head Buicks were known for having hotter "stock" cams than the other cars. Sure chevy put hot cams in their performance engines but I am talking production run here. But there is another advantage to smaller exhaust valves. They dont burn as much. I cant remember when I have seen a nail head with a burnd ex. valve. In performance they do a lot better than a lot of people think they will. I have beat a lot of hemis on the street with a strong running nailer. This was back in the late 60s when engines still had compression and you could still buy real gasoline. All nailheads will have the rocker covers straight up and the dist in the back.
Out of curiosity who gave the 401 the nail head title anyway? all Nailheads are derivations from the 322 which was in production from 53-56. the 401 was relatively recent and ran from 59-66.
lost P M WELLLLL, the pm that was sent to me got lost in my machine , send it again and I will answer asap.
