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Any thoughts on the baby nailhead?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by JimSibley, Dec 18, 2014.

  1. JimSibley
    Joined: Jan 21, 2004
    Posts: 3,848

    JimSibley
    Member

    Does anyone have experience with the little 215 nailhead? I'm thinking of using one in a project. Any
    Words of wisdoms from the hamb?


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  2. Use good head gaskets for it. I had a 62 special 2 door while stationed in Germany in the mid 60s and both gaskets leaked. New head gaskets were expensive and hard to get over there so I just kept adding water when it got low.....every day!
    The olds 215 had a little better setup with 5 head bolts per cylinder instead of the Buick's 4 bolts but modern gaskets and a surfacing of head and block surfaces will be ok.......good top-end power with it's little short stroke and has a nice exhaust note.
     
  3. aircap
    Joined: Mar 10, 2011
    Posts: 1,748

    aircap
    Member

    There's a baby nailhead?
     
  4. JimSibley
    Joined: Jan 21, 2004
    Posts: 3,848

    JimSibley
    Member

    I'm thinking blown, very little boost, open headers and a 4
    Speed. 2 storm bergs on top.


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  5. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    Yes and no. The aluminum 215 cubic inch V8 that was introduced in 1961 model Buick Special, Olds F 85 and Pontiac Tempest, was built in two configurations. One was a Buick version with heads that looked just like a 'nailhead', i.e. Verticle valve covers, but there were other differences, nonetheless a strong family resemblance. That version was also used in Pontiac Tempest in 1961/62. The Olds version had.....guess what....heads that looked just like big block Oldsmobiles. 1963 models Pontiac got an iron 326 vid V8 of typical Pontiac appearance.

    In 1964 models, the Buick got an iron block and 300 cubic inches, but still had the aluminum heads (iron in '65/'66) with the nailhead appearance through 1966 as I recall. Olds got a new engine for '64, a 330 cid iron V8.

    Ray
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2014
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  6. Many parts from the Buick v6s interchange. I wouldn't call them a nail head though, they were the beginning of the new v6s. (just had too many cylinders at first) They later became the Rover v8 and I think topped out at 4.8 liters in the Range Rovers. The only bad thing about them is the funky bell housing pattern that is an orphan. Lots of them have been stuffed into MGs, some from the factory! (MGB-GTV8)
     
  7. drtrcrV-8
    Joined: Jan 6, 2013
    Posts: 1,707

    drtrcrV-8
    Member

    In the early '60s Racer Brown did a 215 Buick with the 215 Olds pistons(different dome shape gave 10:1 compression) added a factory 4bbl manifold & carb, one of his camshaft & lifter kits & open exhausts & dynoed approx. 220 to230 HP @ 6000 Rpm on pump gas...@ streetable to boot!! I think it was in Hotrod magazine somewhere in'62-'63.
     
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  8. edwardlloyd
    Joined: Aug 2, 2003
    Posts: 2,072

    edwardlloyd
    Member
    from Germany

    They're very popular as Rover V8s and were in production until about 10 years ago. They're in all the junkyards in Range Rovers and Discoverys. Tuning parts are available from the UK.
    Their advantage is they're very light.
     
  9. donbatey
    Joined: Sep 14, 2010
    Posts: 46

    donbatey
    Member

    As edwardlloyd said, there is masses of info on the Rover V8 which is essentially the same engine.
     
  10. Dan LaGroux ? is the person to contact. look for his ads in Hemmings motor News. a blower manifold was made by Mickey Thompson, my son has one, but it is not for sale,
     
  11. After 52 years of messing with engines that have no rocker arms or pushrods(flatheads) I decided to expand my horizons(branch out) and would choose the aluminum 215 Buick/Olds and use a stroker crank for more cubic inches.There is a network of these engines around and one can attain 1 h.p. Per cubic inch and they are very light(300 pounds or so?). I have a very unique INTAKE for one of these engines if anyone is interested; uses 2 S.U. Looking carbs(actually Zenith) mounted sideways with the backs of carbs facing each other. flatheadjohn47 Texas 979-595-7324 cell.
     
  12. dechrome
    Joined: Dec 23, 2004
    Posts: 303

    dechrome
    Member

    I put the Olds version in my 39 coupe in 74 and ran it into the mid 80s. Great engine, it was sold to someone in Ok. Later a friend built a Buick version for a vintage sprint car. We made a U-Fab manifold with 4 Holly glass bowl carbs. Car was sold and is in Pa.?
    dechrome
     
  13. Caught a lot of your posts lately......and really like where you're going. I can't wait to see you stand this place on its head. Again.
     
  14. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,796

    Marty Strode
    Member

    I plan on using one in my Fiat/Simca, and was lucky enough to score a complete runner. My luck continued when a friend got me a complete stick setup. They have a great sound and decent power. Another plus is the oil pan is very shallow on the front, making for plenty of clearance. IMG_4965.JPG IMG_5003.JPG
     
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  15. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1419008827.660097.jpg ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1419008862.676685.jpg
    I have a 215 Buick in the Futurian , I made my own blower manifold for the 471. I have yet to run it, maybe some day


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  16. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,755

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    ImageUploadedByH.A.M.B.1419009043.481073.jpg


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  17. That sounds like the MG intake.
     
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  18. I think he is talking about the aluminum engine, maybe I am confused.

    At first I thought that he was talking the 322 built in '54. It was a good engine for its time, I know the Ol' man liked the one he stuffed in the Willys truck when I was still in the oven. he was still chattering on about it on his last Birthday with a bunch of his crones.

    My nailhead experience is 364 and bigger. So no help from the skinny kid. Sorry

    Edit:
    Bad info or memory, the '54 motor was a 264 the 322 didn't come around until '55 or '56.
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2015
  19. Oh my....maybe just a trailer ball, is all you need. Pull that pretty motor around behind you. Wow to both your car and its waiting engine.
     
  20. I have heard that you can bore the cast-in liners out of the block and press in new ones to gain bore size. Someone did a write-up in one of the car mags (might have been Kit Car) outlining the way to get to 5 liters and how to rework the heads for bigger valves, etc.
    BTW, I think the Buick 300 crank is a stroker for the 215
     
  21. Some guy had 2 of them for sale cheap on my local Craigslist, but unfortunately I can't post that stuff here.
     
  22. LAROKE
    Joined: Sep 5, 2007
    Posts: 2,079

    LAROKE
    Member

    While I appreciate the tech achievements of imports, there are few that I would care to own. My friend, Dave Smith's '52 MG TD is one of those exceptions. It has a blown aluminium Buick 215 "nailhead" (as mentioned previously, it looks like a nailhead but the valve train geometry is different) hooked up to an aluminum case Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed and a narrowed Chevy rear end IMG_0237.JPG . He doesn't open it up often but when he does, the 1900 pound ride really scoots along with a most pleasing rumble.
     
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  23. '52 F-3
    Joined: Sep 30, 2007
    Posts: 912

    '52 F-3
    Member

    I have one that's been sitting along time, I was consider rebuilding and using. my research led me to the Rover V-8's (link to widipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_V8_engine ) has some good basic info.
    I was considering buying a new rover engine and rebuild using older Buick exterior parts. I believe some old aluminum casting had some issues
     
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  24. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    A few years back , I put a 215 into an MGB . The car is a real sleeper - looks totally stock from the outside , but the engine is warmed-over with a T-5 behind it , running back into a narrowed posi S-10 rear . The car is a real hoot !
     
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  25. earlymopar
    Joined: Feb 26, 2007
    Posts: 1,608

    earlymopar
    Member

    You're correct Steve. Using the 300 crank and aluminum heads with a few other mods, you end up with a very light 5 liter V-8 (well-before today's modular engines got there). The 300 heads are not easy to come by but still out there. A lot of the home built aircraft guys use them too so we have some competition for parts!

    - EM
     
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  26. metal man
    Joined: Dec 4, 2005
    Posts: 2,955

    metal man
    Member

    No. It's not a nailhead at all, different engine family. The valve covers are flat ( only on top), so they get called that sometimes. Neat little engines.

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  27. Ned Ludd
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 5,025

    Ned Ludd
    Member

    The MGB V8 manifold had the carbs breathing from the rear. The normal Rover manifold had the carbs sideways and angled up slightly.

    Rover:
    [​IMG]

    MGB:
    [​IMG]

    I'm not sure about North American specs but elsewhere these engines were some of the earliest to use SU HIF6 carbs, which are wonderful carbs to use on blow-through supercharged applications. Even the factory set the MG Metro Turbo up that way.
     
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  28. JimSibley
    Joined: Jan 21, 2004
    Posts: 3,848

    JimSibley
    Member

    So, if I rebuild one stock, balence it, match port and add a blower spinning under to produce 3-4 lbs of boost and run it through full length exhaust should the little guy stay together?


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  29. Jim, I think you would be OK. I would look at aftermarket rocker arms, the stock alloy ones could be a problem
     
  30. Devin
    Joined: Dec 28, 2004
    Posts: 2,369

    Devin
    Member
    from Napa, CA

    Funny, I just saw this on eBay:
    http://m.ebay.com/itm/111551385831?nav=SEARCH


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