I posted this on the introduction forum, but thought I would put a specific intro here on the nailhead forum as this is where my specific interest lies. Well, been lurking a while and decided I best sign up. I am into the old nailheads, and old cars mostly, traditional style and not into billet stuff. I created my name from the fact I have a 63 Riviera with a supercharged 401 nailhead. It has an ATI Procharger set-up. I goit it from a friend that actually built it, but it has "opil pressure problems" so i have not actually ran it. I need to pull the engine and figure out what went wrong. I also have a 38 Chevy with a 454 (I know it's that other GM engine) street rod that I built. Has about 450 hp, drivetrain is a 700R4 and a 9-inch. It runs and drives great, needs paint and interior redone. I drive a 37 Chevy truck as my daily driver, it has just a stock 350 Chevy belly button engine and turbo 350 trans with 57 chevy rearend. Just a nice traditional hot rod truck. I also have a 68 GTO that I have had for 23 years, it is all original and stock. It needs new paint and vinyl top. Also have a 92 Chevy dually with a whipple supercharged 454, slammed on the ground, it runs 15.80's street trim. It sits at home mostly unless I need to haul stuff. Personal info: name is Terry, I'm 39 and am a metallurgical engineer. Work on nuclear weapons (really!). So if you have any metal or material questions, I am happy to help out. Extra info on my blown nailhead: it was built by PAE and has the switch pitch trans as well. I will contact you Buick535, you know this engine, you built it for my friend Dan Stoner. I need to pull it out and figure out what went wrong and get it back on the road. I have had the car for about 1 year now and occasionally turn the engine over so it doesn't get stuck. I plan to pull the engine in the next few weeks I hope. Here is a picture of the engine:
Welcome to the board. That is one really cool looking nail head. I really like what was done to the intake to make the super charger work. A few questions. Is that a holly carb under that trick looking air horn Thinga mabober(this is a thechnical term you know)? I know you said you haven't run it but do you know what kind of boost pressure was used on it? Once again that is a really cool looking engine.
Thanks for the compliment. The intake is the stock cast iron one, it does not have anything special done to it. The carb is a 750 Holley, mechanical secondary. That air "thingamabobber" you refer to is required so the pressurized air is fed into the carb. It also seals so the float bowls are pressurized through the vent tubes. I don't know the boost that it makes, but was probably around 6 psi. The engine and trans had about 2000 miles since built, before something messed up. It does turn over, it's not locked up. According to my friend, it made about 550 hp on the dyno when first fired up. I look forward to testing that number!
Hi ya Terry. I'd also like to welcome you to the board. I also own a 401 Nailhead (66 Electra) and I'm also a big fan of the 38 Chevy's so you've certainly got my attention! Care to post a pic of that '38? Is it a coupe? Sounds wild. I can't remember ever having seen a Pro-Charger attached to a Nailhead before. What compression ratio does it run? I guess it has custom pistons in it to lower the compression ratio but force induction on a Nailhead actually makes a lot of sense as the heads are so limited that you'd probably need to 'push' that air into them to get it to breathe. Looking forward to accessing that mettalurgical brain of yours as well. I think you'll be a great asset to this community. Once again. Welcome aboard!
Terry Welcome aboard! I've seen two blown Nailheads before but this is the first Procharger setup I've seen. Nice! If you care to elaborate on the oil pressure problems we're all here to help or learn. If you decide to take her apart please take some pic's and measurements on what modifications were needed for installation. I know this would help my '57 Roadie get down the road a little better.:Brow:
Here is my 38 Chevy Hey Bill, here is a picture of my 38 Chevy, a 2 dr sedan though, not a coupe. As for the pistons in the blown naiulhead engine, they are custom, but I don't know the compression ratio off top of my head. I will have to check the info I got with the engine. I do recall that it has Buick 455 rods. The installation of the procharger is all custom made, a combination of cut and welded factory brackets and modified supercharger brackets. The biggest problem I need to fix is the alternator currently sits just a little too high and hits the hood. Just another item on the list if things to fix!
Engine shot of my 38 Here is the 454 in my 38 Chevy. It is a a very tight fit, with about 1/4 inch clearance everywhere. I love that big block torque though...... I had this engine in my old 70 Camaro drag race car, which was a 10.9-11.0 range 1/4 mile car. When I sold the Camaro, the new owner wanted to run a a SBC, so I decided to out this engine into the 38, it is exactly as i ran it on the track except for the smaller carb (750 mech sec) and more restrictive exhaust. It is a little rough for pure street driving, but I love it. The cam is really big (253 degrees at 0.050 lift) and idles about 1400 in neutral, and 1100 in gear, it won't run good lower. It actually will get about 13 mpg driving on the freeway at 75-80 with the 700R4 trans and 3.70 rear gear.
:TU: Awesome nailhead!!!!!! I can't wait to hear how she runs....this was my other "dream" to do to my 401 second to twin turbos.....i may still go with the blower...for now i'm just gonna try and get her re-ringed. Welcome aboard!
positive vibe i always pictured an early sixties nostalgia style buick with a paxton'd nailhead - you are my hero !!! i'm yankin' the nailhead idea and installing a 350 in the special but the nail ain't leavin' which means the 455 has to get sold. i'm thinkin' '63-'64 lesabre 2-door , like if Harley Earls grand kid was into superstock!! anyway-Terry , thats alot of work and no small amount of jingle . "SWEET" covers it!!
