aftermarket nailhead camshafts?

[trey]

ok, i did a search, and didnt come up with anything.

just got a 364 nailhead, and was wondering if anyone sells a good cam for it. maybe some rockers too. or anything else. all i can find so far is intake parts. thanks

trey

[Tman]

What are you using it for trey? Nailheads have apretty healthy cam stock. My boss has a 401 in his A thats sounds/runs great.

[trey]

its going in da dodge.

i didnt know if they had any lump to them or not. never heard one run. ill fix that real soon.

trey

[suedesled]

Hey Trey, I have several cams from Schneider and Isky in varying grinds. The stock 63 GS cam is the best grind that was available OEM but depending on your needs or wants we can supply you with some mild to radical stuff. I can also suppy you with adjustable rockers if you are interested but unless you are running a solid lifter cam they really aren't necessary. www.nwspeedequipment.com (http://www.nwspeedequipment.com)

[trey]

do you guys have the parts on your site? i cant find them.

the reason i ask about rockers, is because i have aluminum on one side, and steel on the other. id rather they be the same, just because i know whats under there.

trey

[suedesled]

I only have the intake and the risers on the site right now. There is a lot of info to put on the site. Nailheads are my personal obsession as well so a lot of what I have will never be on the site beacause it is NOS parts. Like the rockers. I have several sets of aluminum rockers if you need them.

[zman]

There are a couple of decent aftermarket cams available, but I suggest you try it out with the stock one first. They are pretty decent and have good lump to them at idle. But if you do swap the key is don't get a grind with narrow lobe spacing, insist on 112 to 114, it'll make all the difference .

[Cadillacin Marcus]

Nielson Cams 801-451-7745 over 45 years of grinding, nice guy excellent prices super knowledgeable...

[Cadillacin Marcus]

Zman you are on the money there.. that goes double for Cadillacs as well.... you go any narrower and you will just kill the torque on those Nailheads and Cads... I run a 222@.050 .475" lift 112 on the Cads,my buddy runs almost the same grind in his 425 Nailhead it has a little more lift...

[ESnacky6]

try Poston or TAPerformance.....

[suedesled]

Actually Marcus. The narrower lobe center will build more Hp and torque to a point. Buick's most powerful combo was in the 63-65 GS and used 109* lobe center. The problem is that you loose manifold vacuum and driveabilty goes down the drain. The 401 from 1959-61 also used a 109* All other applications where 114*. Jerry at Scheider built my cam on a 110* lobe center and it runs great. I will post some timeslips next weekend.

[Fraz]

Interesting info. Love my rebuilt-but-stock 401 now, once it's warmed up well it just goes rumpity bumpity, especially when it's in gear. Straight pipes make it sound meaner too.

[Brad54]

I don't remember the years off the top of my head, but I think the 322 and 364s ran steel 1.5:1 rockers, while the early 401s ran steel 1.6, and the later 401s and 425s ran aluminum 1.6:1 rockers.
I'm looking for a set of dirt cheap aluminum rockers for my 322. Every time I find a later Nailhead in the bone yards, the rockers are already missing!
-Brad

[suedesled]

There out there and I have a few sets but there not dirt cheap for the same reason you just noted. But if you PM me I can give you a price I don't want to advertise.

[Cadillacin Marcus]

Yes, but doesnt the smaller lobe seps move the torque band higher up the RPM range? Someone told me the Nailheads also used a high lift camshaft from factory on stock engines...???

[trey]

so that means i have 1.6 on one side and 1.5 on the other? i guess ill have to look and see if i can find just one side, and not an entire set.

trey

[zman]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, but doesnt the smaller lobe seps move the torque band higher up the RPM range? Someone told me the Nailheads also used a high lift camshaft from factory on stock engines...???

[/ QUOTE ]

They do have fairly high lift stock. And the reason to have more lobe seperation is to keep the power down in the low to mids. The narrower lobes don't make any more power they only push it up the RPM range. Which the Nailhead can't take advantage of. There is a reason that the 425 made 445 ft/lbs of torque at 2800 rpm.

[suedesled]

The lift was between 439 and 441 with durations ranging only slightly from 290 - 299. The closer lobe seperation creates more over lap. This allows for better cylinder evacuation. My car has broken 2 U-joints and 2 spiders in the diff. Although I haven't dyno tested it yet I would venture to say there has been no ill effect on the torque. I plan to go to the track next weekend but weather has been all but cooperative. I will update you on the outcome.

[zman]

The big difference is going to be on a street motor where you want and need the low and mids. I would venture to say if you graphed the dyno runs the area underneath the curve is going to yield the same overall area, but that the lower seperation is going to push the power up a little in the bandwidth. As much as I love Nailheads they just don't flow real well, even with a bunch of work you are working against the inherent design. That design is what makes them such great street motors, brutal torque down low where you use it. I'll dyno my '57 with the 425 when it's all back together but will work on a smooth thick powerband and not go for big numbers...

[metalshapes]

I am going to drop a '61 401 in my Special.
What kind of cam should I be looking for?
I am guessing the car will be about 1800Lb.
It is going to get a wide ratio Super T10, and I think it has an old Merc rear end ( but I am not sure it can be used, it is rusted solid.)
Do these engines need a lot of head work?
My plan was to just use it stock, and then hop it up later...

[zman]

[ QUOTE ]

Do these engines need a lot of head work?


[/ QUOTE ]

That's a debate for the ages. It'll pull whatever a really high gear in stock form. The ports are rather small stock, but have really good velocity, hence all the bottom end torques. Though they do run out of air pretty quick. There are only a couple of guys that most of the Nailhead group guys trust. One of the best is http://gesslerheadporting.com/ But be careful if you use someone not familiar with nailheads as the heads can be ruined really easy. They don't need hardened seats for one thing.

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
The ports are rather small stock, but have really good velocity

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Zman,
So maybe 4 small Webers and some Headers would be a good start?

[zman]

The one thing they do like is carbs. The hot ticket for the GS guys is the 800cfm Quadrajet on the '66 Quadrajet manifold. Don't be afraid to give it some carb. As for the heads on mine, I'm actually going to just have them cleaned up a little and a 3 angle valve job. Got a set of 1.6 rockers, a GS cam and a set of TA headers.

[65riv401]

hi guys....

this is exactly what i need right now... i'm planning to rebuild my 401 this winter and i need to start ordering the parts. thanks.

[Richard D]

What kind of power/torque can you build on PUMP gas (regular would be nice, at $3.00 a gallon)with a Q-jet, affordable headwork, and a lopey but streetable cam?

[zman]

400+ ft. lbs. of torque without any work..... more if you work on it....
A good ignition is going to be very important in that equation as well...

[PBRmeASAP]

400+ ft. lbs. of torque without any work..... more if you work on it....
A good ignition is going to be very important in that equation as well...


what would you define as 'good ignition'? aftermarket? stock with a pentronix and hot coil?

[zman]

I'd say aftermarket or a small body HEI conversion. Either one will help you deal with using regular and getting complete combustion and less chance of pinging.

[PBRmeASAP]

I'd say aftermarket or a small body HEI conversion. Either one will help you deal with using regular and getting complete combustion and less chance of pinging.

thanks...