what years did they make them and what kind of cars would i most likely find one in ? i went to a small show last night and got the hot rod itch again , if i can't find a 354 or 392 hemi then i'd like to use a nailhead . the only thing as cool ,looks wise , to a hemi is the nailhead. heres the one i saw last night http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/upload2/1794559-nailhead1.jpg thanks guys
That looks like Pete Flavens Chevy coupe. He runs a 364" out of a 57-61. Nailheads were run from 53-66 in the full size cars. The CI ranges from 264-322-364-401-425.
I don't think using a Nailhead is "settling" at all....IMO, the Dual Quad 425 was a better motor hands down than any Hemi ever was.......the only thing a Hemi has over any motor is it's famous notoriety. If the Nailhead was made by Chevy, just imagine how much more acceptable it would be to use one.....and how much better the aftermarket parts availability would be. I'm thinking like aftermarket heads that could breathe a little better? :Brow:
Well if they ever made aftermarket heads they'd be like the ARDUNs where for flatheads. It wouldn't be a nailhead becuase they would fix that horrible port design! I loved my nailhead but from a technical standpoint, that engine was serverly limited by its head design so any decent aftermarket head would probably straighten that out and it just wouldn't look like a nailhead anymore.
i'm not even going to dignify that with anymore than a ... Thanks for the info ... nailhead better than a hemi :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :error: :error:
:laugh: You're entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to mine. You Mopar guys are all alike, you think the Hemi is God or something. When anybody dares criticize, then here it comes. :sleep: All the Hemi has going for it is it's popularity. Fact is the Dual Quad 425 is Buicks version of the Hemi. I'll give you 4 good reasons why I said it's better: 1) Nailhead parts may be expensive, but the Hemi itself costs more than a completely finished car. 2) Unless I'm mistaken, isn't the Hemi heavier than a Nailhead? 3) The Nailhead looks much cooler under the hood, hands down, over any other motor I've come across. 4) although the stock Hemi is rated at 425 HP and 490 torque, the torque is what gets you going and 465 from a stock Nailhead is nothing to sneeze at. Even the Mopar guys admit the 440 has more potential than the 426. My bet is that a nicely built Nailhead could compete very well with both of them. The Buick 455's do great against the 440's. Lack of parts availability in the past has prevented the true potential of the Nailhead from from being discovered......perhaps that will change in the future. Just my opinion.........here it comes, I can take it! :boring:
agreed, you have to remember that nailheads are often underappreciated, sence not many people that aren't buick lovers know much about them
pot MEET kettle ou: again you are not going to bait me to :ball: or :af: on a buick site just as i wouldn't do it to you on a mopar site . throw your narrowmindedness at someone else that gives a ...
i can't let this go though .... :error: :error: :error: :Comp: what are you insane ??? both engines have their place but when you compare the GARBAGE heads that chrysler has in STOCK form for the big block wedge vs. the Hemi , there is no comparision ... you obviously have little to no big block MOPAR engine knowledge . i know little about buicks but i know not to go picking a fight with a 455 Stage 1 unless i KNOW i'm loaded for bear . when i said i would SETTLE (obviously the WRONGchoice of words??) it was looks wise , nothing looks cooler under the hood of a hot rod than a HEMI or a NAILHEAD . i'm a mopar guy , hemi is choice one , but i'm not going to pay a premium for one , second choice in coolness factor is the nailhead , but i'm not going to pay an arm and a leg for one of them either ...
Well here comes the personal atttacks......I said I can take it......I wasn't baiting you, nor do I care if you disagree. I only have one question.......why did you come on here asking about Nailheads if you like Hemi's so much? Just put God under your hood and forget about it. :Brow:
I'm totally devoted to Buicks, but I really appreciate hearing somebody who obviously is a Mopar fan that still likes any Buick part. I like just about every muscle car out there, so when a guy comes to this sight and askes a simple question, whats the big deal. You know Buicks are underated and will probably never have the ratings that the all mighty Hemi has. I think John is just asking a question, not looking for a fight. I've heard alot worse than "I'll settle for a Nailhead" when it comes to our Buicks. I seem to hear "Look at the Puuuick over there" alot.
calling you narrowminded was a personal attack , oh please ... why did i come here asking about nailheads ??? because this is a buick site and i know little about buicks. you're the one that started with your buick is holier than thou attitude after my poor choice of the word SETTLE ...
thanks , and for the record i also think that buicks are underated , if i wasn't into mopars i would probably be driving a buick , i had a chance to get a 445 stage1 way back for the paultry sum of 800 that had a cracked piston that rattled when cold , i was 17 or 18 and didn't really have the money at the time , plus at that time i was a chevy guy ou: i like all old cars , its just that my preferred choice is Mopar . i'm a moderator on a mopar site and i visit very few other sites , i have V8buick bookmarked :TU:
dang... and I thought I was going to catch crap for saying that the nailhead heads suck and any self respecting head designer is going to fix that at the cost of them actually looking like nailhead heads.
Well then........excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me! :rant: I never said my Buick is holier than anything.....my OPINION is that I like the Nailhead better than a Hemi.......you're the one who got all bent out of shape! If I had a Mopar I'd have a Hemi in it.......but I don't have one.....mine's a Buick....so I have Buicks "Hemi" in mine. What's the big deal anyway?????? Good gosh. ou:
I own 2 nailheads and have owned many more than that in the past..however i dont think the nailhead is better than a hemi and in my opinion the hemi is certainly more attractive in a street rod. also far more hp potential with a hemi than a nailhead. we can dream about newer better parts being made for the nailhead and play the what if game but the numbers dont lie..i'm a diehard Buick Nut but plain and simple in my opinion the hemi is a better engineered and higher powered engine than the nailhead in stock form.
John, that car is actually an early '30s Chevy. It has similar lines to a 30-31 Ford Model 'A' but Ford did not offer a three window until 32 and the lines are much more rounded.I think it is a 31. It runs a 37 Ford truck grille but that is about all that is Ford. It is indeed one Mr. Peter Flavens car. I am not bashing you, I am just trying to help. As far as the best looking motors in an early car, (in no particular order) a full dressed flatty, a Nailhead with all finned or chromed components, the 331-392 hemis, and also the Chevy 'W' motors with multicarbs and finned valve covers. I feel hemis are too expensive and unnecessary in early cars. Even a 401-425 in a 2200 pound car with buggy suspension is too much. Now if you want something slick, an early Caddy with a Lasalle floorshift tranny, that is sweet. Maybe throw on a 371 huffer and twin 2bbls, some Edmunds air cleaners and handmade outside headers with plenty o' chrome... My pops 31 roadster runs a 265 and a 32 box and rear, it goes good enough for the keyed axles and non supported pinion. I have a 322 with tons of goofy speed equipment I am planning on an early car for. I think I am gonna go for a 30-31 tub for a family cruiser. If I can help with anything or info, just PM me, I realy don't need to hear the argument over who has the best motor out there. It is obvoius as they ran it for almost 45 years....
