Who's the best place for aftermarket parts for the nailhead Buicks 401-425 ? Did the nailheads come with a bellhousing for a stick? If so is there a good source for one on the cheap? I see all kinds of adapters for buttloads of money but I was hoping for something a little cheaper. Here's a good article for reading. http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/howto/4905/ Thanks
YES! Pistons, Rings, Bearings, Oil Pump, Timing Set, Lifters, Valves, Valve Springs, Gaskets, Spark Plugs, Push Rods. You'll want to modify the timing cover to accept one of our National oil seals that elimanates the old rope seal. And the rear main rope seal can be replaced with the late model Buick V6 neoprene seal. Water Pumps are available from Flow-Kooler. As to bellhousings ! ....... take a look at Bob Bendtsens website. http://transmissionadaptors.com/ I'll tell you right up front, these are not a cheap endeavor !
There is a guy named Paul Bowsher making new, improved water pumps, and Tom Telesco produces new mini-starters and is also just about to start shipping out new-design roller-tip rockers for the nailhead. Tom is also an awesome source of knowledge on nailheads, as is Russ Martin. This is Russ' website and phone number: (510)794-7055. Paul and Tom can be found on the Yahoo Nailhead group, which is another great source of information. -Jason
Newbie here, hope you don't mind me jumping in on this, but does the above apply to the 364 blocks too?
Nailhead Parts & Service Auto-fleet parts and Machine 2551 Halls Mill RoadMobile, AL. Joel at 251-478-8441 for Nailhead or any other motor rebuild Bendtsens Transmission Center Inc. (Trans Adapters) 13603 Johnson St NE Ham Lake, MN. </SPAN>55304 Phone: 763-767-4480 Email: [email protected] www.transmissionadapters.com Bobs Automobilia 3352 South El Pomar; Templeton, CA93465 (street) Box 2119; Atascadero, CA93423 (mailing) Phone: 805-434-2963 Fax: 805-434-2626 http://www.bobsautomobilia.com/ Carmen Faso J&C's Parts 7127 Ward Road North Tonawanda, NY14120 Phone: 716-693-4090 Yeah he's not on the net, he doesn't take plastic, but he is definitely the man... CARS, Inc. 205 Pearl Street P.O. Box 5 Neshanic Station, NJ08853 Phone: 908-369-3666 Fax: 908-369-7595 http://www.buick-parts.com/ Egge Machine Company, Inc. 11707 Slauson Ave. Santa Fe Springs, CAUSA 90670 Phone: 562-945-3419 Fax: 562-693-1635 [email protected] [email protected] will get you on the list... O'Brien Truckers 29 A. Young Road Charlton, MA 01507 Phone: 508-248-1555 http://community.webshots.com/user/obtruckers Poston Enterprises 200 Ewing Lane Atmore, AL36502 Phone: 800-635-9781 http://www.postonbuick.com/ Russell Martin http://nailheadbuick.com/ He would be the man to go to on the West Coast for building an engine... He can also be found on the Yahoo Nailhead Group for advice and help... TA Performance Products, Inc. 16167 N. 81st Street, Scottsdale, AZ85260 Phone: 480-922-6807 Fax: 480-922-6811 http://www.taperformance.com/ Email: [email protected] The Buick Farm PO Box 384 Clayton, DE19938 Email: [email protected] http://www.buickfarm.com Tom Telesco for mini-starters and roller rockers.... C/O Classic & Muscle Automotive 465 Glenbrook Rd. Stamford, Ct. 06906-1820 Phone: (203) 324-6045 [email protected] or [email protected] Wheatbelt Antique Auto Rt. 2, Box 178 Carrier, OK 73727 Phone: 580-855-2449 Fax : 580-855-2476 http://www.wheatbeltbuick.com
Also are there any good performance books covering the nailhead? I have searched Amazon and came up empty?
Hey Root, This is probably the best nailhead forum out there: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/NailHeadBuick/ Tom Telesco and some of the other gurus are regular posters there. And yeah, nailhead performance parts definitely ain't cheap. You certainly get a LOT more hp spending the same (hell, maybe even less) money on a Chevy or Ford motor, but hey, I'm pretty sure that this is something we've all come to expect. And I would avoid the offy 2x4 & 3x2 intakes. I believe Telesco or one his associates was the one who put them on flow bench and found that they actually flowed less than the stock units. Good luck.
I know it will be expensive but the "cool factor" outweighs performance per $. I'll probably wish I had built a 283 before I am finished.
here's a few more www.v8buick.com www.buicks,net www.buickstreet.com if you want your dist. converted to hei dave's the man www.davessmallbodyheis.com bob m
Modify? The early 455 seal works with no modification. There are quite a few good threads on here if you search... A whole link to suppliers... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96479&highlight=nailhead+parts I've got a whole binder of stuff I've copied over the years, I can probably scan most of it...
There is also a series of great articles on http://www.webrodder.com on the nailhead. I believe they are all excerpts from a forth coming book by Doc Frohmader.
The Jalopy Journal
