Were there any after market high performance heads available for the 401 / 425 Bucik Nailhead ?
Well the answer would be; Buick made less than 30 cast iron 'D' port heads and less than 10 aluminum heads... However; on a garage tour the other day look at what we saw, STEEL heads made back in the mid 60's which were injected on alcohol.
These heads were welded up using an old arc welder with 1/2" plate for the top and bottom of the head with some pretty nice tin work to form the outer structure of the head. Amazing work when you also consider the heads used Chrysler hemi valves, no harden seats as mentioned the motor was injected on alcohol. Due to the large valves, compared to the stock 'nails' used for valves, the top of the piston ended up having a reverse hemi piston. The top of the piston was dished, in essence, the dish also created a cooling effect on the top of the piston where the alcohol would pool and cool the slug and allow for valve clearance.
The rockers consisted of Ford 'Y' block rockers, machined, to accept a roller bearing in place of the original Ford shaft and affixed to custom pedistals.
In the picture with the aluminum valve cover, you will first notice this head looks more like a big block Chev, however; you will clearly see the valley cover.
Next to the Offy breather on the valve cover you will notice a crank timing gear. This motor also ran a "gear drive", custom cut, by the builders father who was also a master machinist....
You will also notice a small 1/2" tube exitting the front of the head, this is the only cooling for the head, remember the motor ran on alcohol, therefore; cooling is not such an issue as with race gas, etc....
The oiling system consisted of a capillary tube along the bottom/out side edge, of the rocker platform assembly which feed each rocker. This capillary tube has been removed for repair.... Oh yes, the oil pump, not a stock factory oil pump, instead a pump manufactured using various aircraft parts ! Sorry I cannot remember the parts, as it did not remotely resemble a Nailhead oil pump.
The aluminum plate timing chain cover, consisting of three plates welded togehter then milled, completed the front of the motor to accept a Hilborn fuel pump.
This motor ran very strong back in the day and WON super modified races....
This motor is not for sale and I promised the owner I would not post his contact information, you will see this motor running again.... Truely an amazing piece of art, imagine if they had a MIG or TIG welder back in the day...
Without vertical valve covers is it really a Nailhead
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post Neil. Do you know if the owner got it running.
Oh ya, it was running, real strong.... It won a few features at Oswego N.Y. when it was installed in a Super Modified back in the late 60's.... The original builder has the motor back now with numerous repairs to be made...
ReplyDeleteSo to answer your question, is it really a Nailhead without the vertical valve covers ? Well is a flathead with Ardun heads really a flathead, is a Jimmy with a Wayne head really a Jimmy, who knows, that is up to the eye of the beholder to determine....
Heck, is a new Brookville deuce really a Deuce... I don't know, but I sure like both.. Cheers....
An Ardun is an Ardun and not a Flathead. A Nailhead is a Nailhead with vertical valve covers. But its interesting the someone would develop and fund these heads for a minimal performance return.
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