i recently purschased a 53 with a straight 8 for my son and i for this winters project ,a nailhead also came with the purschase. what do i need to make the swap (straight 8 out nailhead in) and were can i get the parts thanks jimmy :bglasses:
You bought a Special and the 322 "nailhead " came in the Super and Roadmaster. There is no simple exchange. The simplest thing to do is find a Super or Roadmaster, and sell the Special.
old guy need more than that come on old guy by the looks of your car line up you have some engine swaps going on somebody out there has had to make the swap it cant be that hard thanks for the reply jimmy :bglasses:
The reason I said that is that you will need to build engine mounts, and if you are going to run the Dynaflow, you will need the one for the 401 as the straight eight trans and bell housing are different. I guess that the swap is just like any other, but the reason i thought it was easier to get the different series is that when you are done you will have nothing different than what is available on the open market
a dyno flow also came with the purschase i dontnow if its from a 401- i can see your pointabout all the work and having the same thing thats out there- but up here in superior wi there not much around and not much that not all rotted out, i also have a 455 and an auto available now that would make a nice rod what do you think.how about keeeping the straight 8 can a guy get some real hp out of that motor but it has 3 on the tree do i need to swap to an auto. the real problem comes down to my son hes a real "old school" kind of guy (i dont now how he can be old school hes only 12) he did not get that from me i like to rip and tear and change things he did get it from his grandpa his grand pa likes to rip and tear also i respect his opion thou thanks jimmy
If the 401 and the Dynaflow are in usable condition, it should not be too big a problem. If the torque tube has the same pattern and the drive shaft will fit in the Dynaflow ,it should be a straight forward exchange. Yoou will need ,as I stated before, some mount fabrication,and exhaust work. Changing to a 455 will require a complete rear end change as you will need a four link or something to hold it in place. The torque tube does it for the set up that is there, but you will have a regular drive shaft for a 455
thansk for the info sounds like alot of work to swap in the big block can i guy get some hp out of the 322 and do the larger nailhead parts fit on the 322 is the dynoflow the only tranny option i have thanks jimmy
The 322 has a smaller bell housing than the 364-401-425. the larger engines are the same. If you are going to the trouble of mounting a "nailhead "in the car. you should put in the biggest one you can get. the later engines are better than the 322 anyway.
Engine Swap If You Intend to use the Dynaflow go with a 59-63 401 Nailhead. That matchup is compatable. I don't know what year the 322 is , but the 56 322 is the best ( better heads) if it's a 53 or 54 322 it's kind of sluggish. With a 401 You have a lot more options and compatability. A 455 would certainly complicate the installation. Tom Gallagher
can the 56 headsswap onto the 53 322,next question how about front brake conversion to disc ae there any cars out there that the parts swaap to the 53 front thanks for everybody input on my engine swap thanks jimmy
