See the 2 different valve layouts of the 455 and the Nail Head heads? A 455 aftermarket aluminum head can be cut in 4 pieces separating the 4 cylinders leaving each combustion chamber in tact. Then swap the 2 center ones with each other and weld them back together. That changes the valve layout to the Nail Head's valve layout. Its a little more involved than that and I have already researched all I need to do to make it happen and am sure I can do it. The thing stopping me is time and $$ to do it. If I already had a set of aluminum heads they would be in 8 pieces right now waiting to be welded back together. I would do an in the car swap to prove it works because the Nail in the car runs good. Ideally I would drive the car to the strip and get some time slips with the factory heads, then do the swap and get some time slips with the new heads.(which heads do you think would be faster?) Derek
That's exactly what I was hinting at when I brought up the welding. I don't always explain it out because I have a tendency to pen out a novel every time I post...I would love to do one like that. This threads gone kinda runaway, like a Keanu Reeves (?) movie about a speeding bus with the same perception of a Blow-up ending, so I was shying away from further Nailhead comments. But... since you brought it up :grin: ; W-2 mopar rockers have appx. .750" offset. You wouldn't be using just one type of rocker set anyways. 440's have maybe half that offset. It looks like one valve would use moderate offset, and the other one, a huge offset. Maybe you mentioned that already... If that doesn't work, why couldn't a guy carve out a rocker stand that orients the rockers at an angle, like a Nascar type head? With 2.0 ratio's the small base circle cam isn't as much of an issue. One could keep a flat tappet cam with more rocker. Schneider has blanks for Nails. There's plenty of meat on 'em, if you let them know what you are doing. As far as the pushrod holes, even in an iron head, as long as there's no water (and if there is, big deal), you could mill out as much of the intake face needed in order to provide a pushrod hole or slightly alter an opening. I would have gone further with this too, time and $$ is an issue here as well. If you've never seen this pic before, don't laugh. It worked well for someone with a similar idea. The same search I did finding those gems I posted previously turned up this master-cobble. At first, I thought WTF?? Apparently an old-timer way back arc-welded together these steel jobbies for his Nailhead. The site says he did pretty well with them. Have to consider the era, but there could be something to learn from here. If he can do that.......
Mickey Thompson had it figured out! Not quite halfway down the page: http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/...-427-ford-hemi-v8-and-its-fascinating-secret/
Alan, good one! Love those rockers. Anyone see the Herbert(?) auction earlier this year? Looked like quite a few billet hemi style heads went for less than the price of the raw stock. Modified bore centers, weird blocks, etc. While we're at it,numerous 4v and ohc conversions have been done. A friend wanted to go wild with a Ford 4-banger. When looking into it I found that 4v Volvo heads were adapted to those with success. So what limits us is simply the decision to make it happen.
Found this on the web, no pushrods or rockers! Probably way to far out there to be of any help; http://www.marinediesels.info/2_stroke_engine_parts/exhaust_valve.htm
F-1 tech... Pneumatic valve springs. Got a ways to go with Buicks before we need this. No rockers or pushrods.
I'll try to answer several of the questions you all had for me, Devon,yes, I have done my homework on the cyl. heads and know the big port heads are like old chevy camel back heads ( can't remember what casting numbers they were) but they would crack if you tried cutting the valve spring pocket to a larger size! Yes, I want your cyl heads! Check your pm Paul, what size of cid you thinking? Pm me.. Yes, I need a flow bench then again, I'll have to buy the wet-flow attachment to actually show better results I'm open to any Ideas but don't think I won't hit any where near my mark because, you all don't know me or the people I know! Underestimating me will be a down fall!
Gary, Share your plan. I'm sorry, but to me it seems your cheese has slipped off its cracker, so to speak. Devon
So far after much discussion it looks like the plan is to use the stock iron block, crank and iron heads and do whatever modifications it takes to make at least 750 hp N/A. Stock rods have been ruled out so aftermarket rods with very light pistons are on the parts list. Gary can correct me if I'm wrong on anything or have missed something. I believe the switch has been made to the canned "Easy Cheese" that stays on the cracker much better. Paul
No, on the Gary's engine build thread. Yes to pmuller and devon, wait and see what is about to come about. 85d, I'm buying the Audie home made flowbench kit and performance trends too, yes, that means I'll have two flowbenches! I'm gonna call several places to see if I can adapt the wet-flow attachments to these benches to even further my quest All I gotta say is, time is on my side and some cash but not a lot. Money is the main issue here! Some lucky person is gonna have this engine in there car to test it outand possible keep it All I want is help! Parts, what ever possible .. I will show the end results and the lucky person can do what ever they want with the engine.
No on the lottery thing! I actually like to do this alittle harder, anyone that has used parts and welling to donate is in the game! All that helps in anyway will be recognised as I post my results ! I am very anxious to do this project but, there is still more to learn. when I say used parts, that means pistons, connecting rods, and anything else imaginable. What is donated will be listed and duplicates will be returned if you wwant them back. The pistons will be probably custom done but anyone that wants to donate their used 494 cubic inch pistons, please do so. I would like high compression pistons though. I just want to show how close I can get to 750 hp or even farther. I'm also looking for a a 455bbb block that is not desirable for building to high horsepower. I want to test another thing, either Twin Turbos or a multi-step nitrous system and test the limits of my knowledge of big block buicks another person will receive this one too but, don't exspect it to last. I want to pull the pin on this one Gary M.
Uh, Gary....this is about Cylinder heads, right? Time to start a new topic about your build, right? Devon PS the carpet is smeared with cheese at this point.
Gary already said "no" on p. 14 I was hoping for more head porting info, but I guess it's now about donating blocks and cranks uzzled:
