My 95 year old great grandpa recently gave me his 1961 LeSabre, it's got a 364 Nailhead in it and a Dynaflow transmission. Power steering, A/C but no power brakes. It's been sitting in this spot in his garage since 1994, it ran and drove like a champ when he parked it. He said he had lots of plans for it but then my great grandma got sick with cancer and his focus moved to her health, so there it sat. Well anyway, he sold it to me for $1 so I'm going to get it going for him! So I'm going to trailer it to my apartment (I'm 19, live with my girlfriend and have a decent sized garage where I can work on it whenever) and get it running again!!! Here's an album on Imgur of the most current pictures I have of it! http://imgur.com/a/Uyrye I have to get a trailer here soon and haul it home, then I can start working on it. I've already bought a single 4 barrel intake (casting #1173313), a 750cfm Edelbrock carb (#1411 w/ electric choke) I got for $200 and the heat plate to block the exhaust cross heat from burning up the carb, from nailheadbuick.com I'll get better pics when I have the chance to finally haul it home and clean it up!
Welcome to the club. That thing is in great shape! Wonder, why do you want to start changing stuff up on the top side of the engine? Seems it would be more cost and time effective to rebuild / refurbish whats there.
Thanks and yes it is! Well I think I've read through the entire nailheadbuick.com site, which is the most informative site out there for the old Buick Nailhead's, and they strongly recommend putting a 4 barrel on it. Nailhead's are very thirsty engines and a 4bbl is supposed to add 50hp to a 364. That, and I had the Edelbrock 750 sitting around already, I was going to put it on the 400 sbc I'm tearing down and rebuilding but I figured why rebuild the 2bbl when I could throw it on the Buick instead! Also, I got a good deal on the single 4bbl intake too
AWESOME! nice looking car there. My Buick came from my Grandma, I have many memories with her and the car. I could never put a dollar value on it and will never sell it. I imagine your Buick is part of your family too. Enjoy and keep posting the progress. What part of the country you from?
Thanks! Im definitely never selling it either. I definitely will be updating often!! I'm from rural central Minnesota! My hometown has ~1200 people in it
Got it to my apartment!! Here are some more pictures! Here's when we got it out of the garage, had to move the '49 out of the way first: And here it is in it's new home, my apartment's garage! It'll sleep next to the 400 sbc I'm tearing apart and rebuilding, seen to the right <script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script> <script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script><script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script><script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script><script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script><script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script><script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script>
Looks to be mostly solid. It'll look much better after you get her cleaned up. I really like the '49Chevy. What's the story on it?
I really don't know, to be honest. They were both my great grandfathers, (Chevy still is) and they've both been sitting for some time. I believe he said it had a gas tank leak that needed to be fixed. It's a straight 6 and three on the tree. But the clutch and brakes actually felt really good on it when we moved it. I want to get that going again someday too! <script charset="UTF-8" src="chrome://YTAutoHD720p/content/YTAutoHD720p.js" type="application/javascript"></script>
Got some Fel-Pro intake gaskets so I can start throwing the 4bbl intake on as soon as it warms up and stops raining! Also, I got two cans of Buick green paint from classicbuicks.com so I'll wire wheel and paint the intake to make it look nice before it goes back on! I might do the same with the valve covers too.
Got some work done today! Old intake is off, engine is a little more cleaned up, and painted the 4 barrel intake, should go on tomorrow!
Yep I've got the exhaust gas block off plate from nailheadbuick.com already! Just didn't have it in these pictures
Got the intake and carb on, passing gear linkage hooked up, just need some more hose for my vacuum advance, then I'll start changing fluids. And now I've got a question. Can I take the choke cover off my electric choke and put the mechanical one from the old 2bbl carb on it? If not, what do I do with this choke "tube" coming from the exhaust manifold?
Just remove it. It serves no purpose now. I DID NOT MEAN THE PLATE, I MEANT TO BLOCK OFF THE TWO HOLES ENTIRELY. THEY ARE NOT NEEDED FOR THE WAY WE DRIVE OUR CARS TODAY. I even eliminate the heat riser valve with NO adverse effects. These plates even though made of stainless DO STILL ROT OUT!!!!
How do I remove that choke pipe coming up from the passenger exhaust manifold? It doesn't look like it just unscrews easily.... Almost like I'd have to cut it off and weld the hole shut???
The exhaust manifold has a heat transfer tube going through it that the choke tube fits onto. You should be able to remove the choke tube by sliding off, (or cutting if seized) and not have to plug or weld any exhaust holes. My 425 exhaust choke tube goes in the top and out the bottom of the manifold, and I think the 322 is the same. You should get no exhaust leakage with the choke tube removed.
I'd love to know how much power adding a 4bbl will add to your 365? I have the same car, but I'm running the stock 2bbl. You'll have to let me know if you can light the tires up! Kensey Pittsburgh, PA
I will! Can you light them up now? I would think so!! These 364's make good power even with the stock 2bbl!
