need to know if it is possible to turn my 401 into a 650 hp screaming monster? and if so how? please give the dos and dont's of what i need to have.
I'm very curious to see how things go once some people start making performance nailhead builds with Tom Telesco's roller rockers, I read the article on his website and it seems the problem with the rocker ratio decreasing as lobe lift increases on the stock rockers could be a major conrtibutor to why many of these motors haven't made more HP. Also, with rumors flying about possible aluminum heads and new intakes, big HP nailheads could become much more common. In the meantime, I've heard some pretty impressive flow #'s out of ported stock heads from some of the reputable buick builders out there, on par with a cleaned up set of stg. 1's. I would prefer a big HP nailhead to a big HP 400-430-455 (at least until the new blocks come out), since the nailheads have bottom ends that are tough as nails. Good luck on your buildup!
As far as aluminum heads and intakes go, I don't know if it's rumours so much as it is nailhead owners throwing around possibilities and trying to stir up some interest. It's a little bit like the new 455 block(s); for quite a while there was mainly just talk, but the need was there and eventually the companies had enough money and/or enough people willing to put down deposits on blocks. TA would probably be the best bet, but they'll probably be busy with the new 455 block for a little while. The 350 guys also want some heads, so you might be up for a fight for the next spot in line, although if sales go well with the NH headers, that might make TA a little more interested. Even the Cadillac 500 guys are getting aluminum heads and a single plane intake now, so there is hope.
We need to convince Edelbrock to make stuff for the Nailhead agian. If big names jump on the wagon, more will. Niche stuff is nice but Edelbrock still doesn't make heads for the 400-430-455 and there is a decent demand there. I'd like to see a JW ultrabell as much as anything to mate up the modern trannies with the nailhead, the ST400s are drying up and I would love to drop an overdrive behind a 425 one of these days. Just my thoughs owning a 455 and a 425,
Scott, do you have more detail...... I would like to get a set of good flowing heads for my eventual motor build. Do you have any more info about the porting? Flow numbers, etc? Thanks, Dan
