I have a 55 buick super that still has the 322 nailhead in it. I have been trying find performance upgrades but haven't had any luck. I am looking for any Edelbrock or Holley carburetor that will work on the stock intake manifold or headers. Hell, I may even upgrade the intake manifold if anyone know's of any that will work. I am wanting to keep it a 4bbl, maybe in the future I will add a 3 deuce set up, but for now a newer carb and some headers will do just fine. Thanks.
Why not enjoy the Buick for what it is, they where NEVER intended to be hot rods. You would be better off to sell it to someone that will appreciate what the car is , and then go buy something like a Chevy or mopar. Just my 2 cents worth. :laugh: Mark
he's right. my father has a '56 with a 322 and he wants to put a sbc in it. I call him crazy. all original. dynaflow and all is the way to go.
I would like to keep it all original but the dynaflow trans sucks, rebuilding it is a fortune, parts are harder to come by.....I think a chevy turbo 350 with a shift kit might just be the ticket. As far as the carb, I would like to get a little more gas mileage out of it and better reliability. Headers so I can put dual exhaust to a little more hp. Not really trying to sup this thing up, just make a little bit better.
Have you looked on E bay lately? there are several tri carb set ups and 1 dual quad for the 322. might be an easy way to get the extra hp you wanted. go to "buick nailhead" and have fun looking Mark
322 upgrades You can put a small (600cfm) edelbrock on using an adapter availible through most speed shops. No one makes headers aftermarket for these cars-however I can help you with that! I just finished a set for a board member. If you interested I can build you a set, I would run the 3x2 intake as you can run progressive and only run on the center carb until half throttle. Dualquads are probably too much for most 322's. The only problem with changing the carb is you will have to hook up the kick down for the trans. If you have the oringinal 4bbl carb, a rebuild may be all you need. . Good luck,
like dualquad said ..aftermarket headers are impossible to get... http://www.nwspeedequipment.com/ do a set of intake spacers to aid induction cooling and torque....they also do a reasonably cheap 3x2 intake (like 350 bucks) ready to bolt up some rochesters.. leave it stock.. it wasnt built that way for nothin..jus my 2 cents.. j
Consider the carb rebuild as DualQuad55 suggests. I did that and then tuned the engine for some nice results!! If you don't have time/know-how, Kanter sells rebuilt ones that work well and ready to bolt on. Other thoughts: IGNITION: Consider upgrading your pts/condensor w/ Pertronix (or sim.), but if the original works, leave it. Helps with achieving better/consistent spark. EXHAUST MANIFOLD: I had my headers ceramic coated to reduce engine bay temperatures. Has helped the engine run cooler. Check out Jet-Hot Coaters (jet-hot.com) in Pascagoula, MS...they claim it reduces temperatures by as much as 50%. My mistake was I didn't grinder to them smooth first. You'll get better results from the coating and will be well worth the effort. Good luck...let me know what you decide to do. KEN
For ignition, I am running an MSD AL-6 with an MSD coil on my '55. (!) It was a setup I had leftover from another car. I use the stock points to trigger the MSD box. It works great with my two barrel carb, and Dynaflow! It gives a nice smooth idle, and great throttle response. She starts easier too. I hid the MSD "box" next to the battery, on the back side of the core support, and mounted the coil in the stock location. A few extra wires are the only give-away.---Zach
56 dual exhaust manifolds will work but you'll have to cut holes in the drivers side frame like on a 56 for the pipes. I think there are issues with the brake cylinder also but I know others have converted a 55 to duals so it can be done. An upgrade for a 55 322 would be a 56 4 barrel 322 they have the highest compression of any 322, the biggest valves, the highest lift longest durration cam, and the most free flowing heads.
Hey Judd, are those 56 headers squared or D-shaped? ALso on the 56, does it still have the heat riser valve/weight mechanism on driver's side? I rigged mine to be permanently open and created my own heat rise by wrapping tubing around the psgr-side manifold close to the head.
Ken Yes the exhaust ports changed in 57. The heat riser is on the passenger side in 56. The 55 I had also had riser on the passenger side?
Interesting they must have had options for that. I have a 55 all orig. and the heat riser valve is on the driver side with a crossover pipe that connects to psgr. side before heading back.
Additional info on performance parts for 322 I just noticed this thread so my information my come too late or is already known. Headers... Sanderson makes a great set of block hugger headers for the nailhead. Fit on my 322 just fine with no problems. they sound great, and I used Eastwood high temp coating and it still looks good after a year of running. Carbs..... I have an Edelbrock 650 on a carb adapter plate that reduces it to the smaller 4bbl size on the nailhead. That also works perfect. I had a carb shop rejet specifically for this engine. No problems whatsoever. I also have a 3x2 offy intake that I'll put on some day, but the 4bbl is working so good it may be a long time. I also purchased the trans adapter from Bentsens and have a build GM TH2004R as my trans connected to a Ford 9in rear with "highway" gearing. I am getting great off the line performance and very good highway speeds. My 322 is in a 1937 Buick that I have as a Buick streetrod (all buick except for that rear axle). By the way, don't listen to anyone telling you the TH200 can't handle performance. Unless you are running a fulltime dragster, the TH2004r properly rebuilt is as solid as anything else. And, it fit right in my car without modifiying the crossmembers. I am glad I didn't listen to the people telling me that the 7004R is the only OD trans to consider... they are wrong..
