Buick "Nailhead V8"
Buick first generation of V8 lasted from 1953 through 1956. It was an OHV/pushrod engine like the then new Oldsmobile "Rocket V8" engine. This engine became known as the "Nailhead" for its unusual vertical position of its small sized valves - that looked like nails. The Nailhead V8 family employed a camshaft with higher lift and longer duration to offset the smaller sized valves and arguably restrictive intake and exhaust port areas. The small size valves and intake runners made for engines with a lot of torque with many exceeding the 1 ft-lb per cubic inch, which was exceptional for the day.
264
The 264 inĀ¬? (4.3 L) 264 was a direct replacement for the 263 straight-8 in Buick's large cars. It was produced in 1954 and 1955.
322
The larger 322 inĀ¬? (5.3 L) 322 was used by Buick from 1953 through 1956, primarily in 'senior' series cars.
Nailhead V8
Buick's second variation of this V8 was also named Nailhead. It was produced from 1957 through 1966.
364
Apparently the smallest displacement Nailhead, the 264, was dropped when Buick introduced its new small displacement V8. Buick, like most of its competitors, continued to expand their durable V8 engine to larger displacements such as the 364 inĀ¬? (4.125in bore)x(3.40in stroke)=(6.0 L) 364.
400
The next member of the family was the 401 inĀ¬? (6.6 L) 400. This was actually a 401 that had been redesignated a "400" in order to meet GM directives for maximum displacement engines in mid-size cars.
Another Buick "400" engine was a member of the 400/430/455 family and was produced from 1967 to 1969.
401
The 401 inĀ¬? (6.6 L) 401 was Buick's muscle car powerplant of choice, and was found in the company's Skylark Gran Sport and Buick Wildcat, among others. As unlikely as it seems, the air cleaner for the engine is annotated with "Wildcat 375" "Wildcat 410" "Wildcat 445" these inscriptions indicated not the inĀ¬? but the ftĀ¬?lbf. of torque produced by the engine. The "Wildcat 410" was the 2-barrel carburated engine that was standard on the 1962-63 LeSabre. The "Wildcat 375" was a no cost option on the 62-63 LeSabre that had lower compression to run on regular fuel (another Buick V8 had "Wildcat 375" written on its air cleaner but it wasn't a "Nailhead", it was the 4 barrel version of the 66-67 small block Buick 340). The "Wildcat 445" had a single 4 barrel carb. It was the standard engine on the Invicta, 1959-66 Electra, 1962-66 Buick Wildcat, 1963 Riviera and 1965 Riviera (the 64 and 66 Riviera models had a 425 inĀ¬? engine with a single 4 barrel carb. named "Wildcat 465" as standard equipment).
In an effort to overcome the "restrictive" exhaust port design, Buick enthusiast drag racers in the sixties adapted superchargers with a custom camshaft to feed intake air in through the exhaust ports and used the larger intake ports for exhaust outlets. Perhaps this feat of ingenuity, and the unusual appearance of the engine modified in this manner, also intimidated rival racers and added to the Nailhead V8 legend that lives upon this page of US auto history.
425
425 inĀ¬? (7.0 L) 425 This was the largest version of the "nailhead". It began as an option in 1963 on the Riviera and it was later available on the Wildcat and Electra models too. The 1964 and 1966 Riviera had the 425 engine as standard equipment. 4 barrel carburetion was standard on all 425 "Nailheads" that were called "Wildcat 465". The "465" sticker on the air cleaner did not denote engine displacement as many though, it denoted the torque rating. It was possible to order two 4 barrel carbs, which were delivered in the trunk along with the intake manifold and installed by the dealer. This version was called "Super Wildcat" and it was standard on the 1965 Riviera Gran Sport and the 1966 Wildcat GS.
Custom nailhead pic: http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/howto/4905/index.html
Bob
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