Running 322 Nailhead for $800 should I buy it???

I looked at a, 322 Nailhead and Dynaglide trans. I'm not interrested in using the trans, but the motor sound really great and it comes with all kinds of service receipts. The 55 Buick Special has 120'000 miles on it.
The guy wants to put a 350 in it and is asking $800 for the engine and trans, is that crazy money or should I buy it.
Here is a crappy video. The engine ran beautifully after I took this video with my cell phone.
$800 for a nicely running 322, good or bad???
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ive seen running 425 and 401 for 1500 or so so i would say its a little steep but not much, if you want it its probably worth it, i traded a good non running flatty for a 425 nailhead that was pulled apart but a guy turned it in for scrap, im still pissed about it

 

I think it's a great deal, with all the receipts to prove the work. Sounds good on stat-up, no weak cyinders, not a lot of rocker noise. Make sure it's not a 264. They don't have harmonic balancers, 322's do. You probably won't want the dynaflush, but there are lots of other options there. I'd buy it.

 

If it's a '55 Special, it's a 264, providing it's the original engine.

 

Ditto what Heathen said: U.S. '54-'55 Specials came with a 264/2bbl. Canadian Specials came with a 322 though.

Crank, rods, heads, intakes and everything but the block and pistons are the same. Those idiots tooled and cast a seperate block for the 2-year only 264.

-Brad

 

If its a 55 special its a 264. Someone at some point could have put a 4 bbl on it. But 120,000 miles!!! for 800 bucks! Thats just stupid. I would keep looking for a fresher engine. I would make him a lesser offer and see if he bites and maybe even set up someone to but the dynaflow off you before you commit. There are alot of other engines out there. If it were me, Id keep looking.

 

No, the cyl walls aren't thick enough to bore out that far. Besides, if it is a running engine, why take it apart and do all that work. You could just get a rebuilable core for a lot less.
The 264 never came form the factory with a 4bbl but the intakes interchange form 322-264 so the swap is very easy.
Looking to see if the front crank hub is a balancer or does the hub have heavy metal to balance it? If it is a balancer type-322, heavy metal-264

 

To make sure it a 322 and not a 264, what are the block casting numbers for either engine and where are they located?
Thanks
There is a 4 barrel carb on the engine but that could have been easely swapped back in the day.

 

I've seen two casting numbers for 264 blocks, 1391629 and 1391871. The number is cast on the top rear of the block, near the bell housing surface.

 

I paid $150 for my last running 401, look around, they are out there.

 

Its all about what it is worth to you. Do you really want a nailhead and is a 322 something that you want to use? If so than $800 is a great price for a complete running engine with tranny that you heard running in the car. Just my opinion!

I bought my running 401 with tranny for $1200, and I was told by 15 guys about how that was too much and how they saw one for $150 not that long ago. Horse-shit. It is all about what it is worth to you.

 

Do you have a chevy 350 you could swap him?

 

About a year ago I bought a good 364 core with tranny for $250. Everyone thought it was a good deal. Around here $800 would be a good buy but again if it is NOT what your looking for of course it would be worth not as much.

 

You should listen to ther people more often.......especially FIFTEEN other guys...... You can still get 401 and 425 running engines for less than $500, BUICK made a lot of them....

 

who cares if it's a 264? It's complete and runs. Plus, it's less cubes to cool. Oh yeah, BUY that fucker! The plug wire covers and that WCFB are worth some $$. Just my opinion...

 

LOL... where? not here in North Carolina, and if I had to ship it from So Cal it'd double the price.... I guess not only is the weather better but everything is cheaper too.

 

I bought an entire electra with 401 for $275. But that was a smoking deal with no title.

 

Ha, I agree, running motor that you heard, complete, non-sbc for $800, is a decent price and I would go for it dreadman.

 

I'm in the middle of rebuilding a 425 now and it is NOT cheap.. If you want a buick.. better get one that is already done and save a ton of money.

 

I looked into rebuilding a 401 nailhead in my old 63 Buick, i got a qoute for $2000 which ive heard was a pretty good deal, there is supposed to be some old dude in the valley that has been rebuilding em for years [ maybe that guy was talking about Groucho haha ] .

Chris being that you are pretty crazy you might wanna go for that big 401 or 425 engine. i could see you tearing it up on the way to Paso, but with different shocks than the Nash

 

You said it runs great, has paper work! Sounds good! No more searching, your done. Ask him if he'll take???$$$