Trying to decide which motor to put in my model A coupe. I already have a flathead but would need to stick a decent amount of money in it to get the power and look that I want. Found a complete Nailhead for a pretty decent price the other day and really has me thinking now. Cant beat the looks of the flatty but sure would love the power of that nailhead. Thoughts?
Go with a flathead! I wouldn't put anything else I'm my hot rods from now on. I'm tuning my flathead in my 34 3 window un corked and sounds absolutely killer. I have a nailhead in my 1936 international. The one in my avatar. I love it too but flathead are the absolute most traditional engine you can have.
Well the nailhead will make more zot stock then you will ever get out of the flatty. The flatty is the new SBC.
Nothing wrong with the looks of a nailhead, and even a stone stock 401/425 will chew up all but a Bonneville flathead. Simple matter to run a TH400 behind one, too. Even if you want to run a stick, you can buy a new flywheel and bell housing and still come in less than you'd have in a ground up performance flathead build.
Flathead! Mike is that a 2 row v8-60 radiator?how does it cool?I"ve got one I hope to use for my 31 with 51 merc flatty.
IMHO: Although the nailhead is cool the 2 coolest engines for looks are the Hemi and the Flathead. Seeing that the Hemi is not an option here, I'd go with the Flathead with some bolt-on goodies.
What rear end and tranny do you want to use? If you are going with a Banjo rear, then I think the flathead would be your best bet. If you were open to other rear ends then I would run a 401. As for the 322...my mom has a mildly cammed 322 with a 4 speed in her 39 ford coupe. I drove the car a few times and it has some get up and go. She drives that car all over the place with out any problems too.
Still outrun a flathead unless it's got burnt valves. A few thoughs.....stay away from '53 engines, as they have several '53 only parts to them. Late '55 and all '56 cylinder heads have 1.375 inch exhaust valves, while '53-'early '55 have 1.25 inch exhaust valves. Around the same time they made the valve change, the camshafts changed from forged steel to cast iron. '56 engines that came with factory dual exhausts had some pretty hot looking exhaust manifolds. Don't buy a "322" that's out of a '54 or '55 Special, 'cause really it's a 264. Since the '53-'56 engines were popular hot rod fodder in their day, there is still a fair amount of aftermarket speed equipment floating around for them, moreso than for the later nailheads. On the downside, you can't bolt a TH400 to them like you can the '57-'66 blocks.
if you are building to be as period correct as this site is dedicated too, look at it this way In the mid 50's when these Hot Rods were being built as is generally thought to have been built at that time (according to all the experts here on HAMB) If you were a young guy building a Hot Rod, which engine would YOU have opted for? the little flat head or the big OHV Buick? Consider that from someone that used to build these cars when in High School in So Cal in the late 50's early 60's. Look at all the hot rods FROM that era. what were they running?? Cad v-8, Chevy v-8, Olds rockets, Chrysler hemi, Buick Nailheads, even a few fords here and there.. (that ought to piss a bunch of people off) But if you want to be on the bandwagon with what these young guys (mostly) here, that know how it was before they were born then opt for the engine they envision. don't get me wrong here, Flatties are a great engine, just not comparable to a built OHV if equally built. Just saying how it was, if that is part of the consideration of what you are trying to do. Been there,......done that.... LOTS of times.
It depends whether you just want to have a really cool "traditional" hotrod (flathead power!) - or have a really cool "traditional" hotrod - with enough power to make you get religion on every powershiftD)!!! - (nailhead power!). Mart3406 ---------------- P.S. Another way to think about this too....just ask yourself - "WWTID?" (- ie - "What would Tommy Ivo Do?")!!! ==========================
nailheads can build some really awsome engines and there is plenty of nostalgic parts to dress them up with. when dressed up they make really eye-appealing engines and on top of that they are a lot of power & torque stock. We would've loved to go the flathead route with out '36 coupe project but a good solid flathead to start costs a pretty penny and on top of that they cost a pretty penny to rebuild and dress up. We just dont have that kind of cash...so we went for big power at stock and an engine that was clean, clean, clean. Nailheads were first made in the 50's, so no matter what you chose to run...both the nailhead and the flathead are very traditional. Keep in mind that a lot of region's hot rodding didnt turn into a craze until the early 60's so the nailhead fits in just about everywhere in terms of traditional. Nailheads are pretty easy to work on but the one issue with them is steering clearance in some cars. if you have a good gameplan then it will be fine. Our nailhead in our 36 wont be fired up for at least another year but i can promise you that the stories we've heard about the nailheads is they are a LOT of fun to drive and are pretty reliable to boot. Nailhead all the way. Dare to be different
we have a super clean 401 nailhead for sale in the classified section but we're in CT. that prob wont help you hahaha
Both are beautiful engines....do you want to go? or go slow? HA HA My flathead friends are gonna kill me....... hahahah
When Jim Jacobs built his now iconic 34 3-window in 1973, bucking the trends of the day and going for a traditional look, it was powered by a '57 Buick 364. I can still remember watching (and hearing) it at the Street Rod Nats when I was 19 (with my 289-powered '30 Ford coupe) I love flatheads. I drive a car with a flathead. But in your case, I'd go nailhead.
Nailhead with finned valve covers, finned wire covers, finned valley cover, and a U-Fab intake with bunch of 97's on top....
get another car and use both. I've got a 401 for my 53 chebby pickemup, and a 337 Lincoln flatty for my someday deuce
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