Buick nailhead help

garletts · Sep 4, 2013

I'm in Los Angeles and my 61 Buick with a 364 Nailhead is at my friends house in Van Nuys. The car was running fine until it was backfiring through the carb. It had 4 bad lobes on the camshaft and was still running. I have changed my camshaft, cam bearings, timing gears, chain, lifters, rods, and couldn't get my car started. I did not degree the cam when I put it in. I was told by Elgin and the guy I bought it from that I should not have to.

I got the right firing. I put the timing chain and gears in tdc and according to the manual. I have checked the timing, it has good compression, firing stroke, correct firing order and cant get my car running good. I then changed my carter carb with an Eldebrock 1406 and it started but the rpms are too low, It will idle with the carb held wide open and the valves are hardly moving. The stock nonadjustable rockers are in it. Some of the new rods from Egges seem too loose against the rocker arms. The valves don't look like they are moving very much.
I have been trying to get it going for over a few weeks. I made sure all the cam bearing holes lined up. I put in a stock 401 cam E-564-S from northern auto parts, Vl-3 lifters, 364 push rods from Egges. Cylinder 1 on the passenger side is on the firing stroke, the rotor is facing 1, and timing is at 12. I got a 1406 Eldebrock carb. Flame thrower coil, Petronix points which were in the motor before and worked. New plug wires, distributor cap and ac 45s plugs. I soaked the lifters in oil first but did not pump them. I thinking maybe the lifters are not pumping up but I don't know why they wouldn't by now when the car has started. They lifters are VL-3 's according to the box.
I tried again to get it going with no luck. It will turn over but it will barely idle. I looked at it with the valve cover off and they are barely moving. I have read so much at this point but I don't where to go from here. I thought I did everything right, timing, firing order, etc. Everybody has a different idea but nothing is working so far. My next step is to tear it apart again or find a shop. I haven't been able to find a shop that wants to work on a nailhead or is familiar with them.

I took the valley pan off, the cam is still good. I turned the oil pump shaft with a drill and screw driver. And there is pressure of 45 to 50 on the oil sensor but I don't see any oil coming up through the engine. I'm not sure what the oil path is on the nailhead. Do I need have an old distributor shaft to move the oil through the engine? Also the push rods are loose against the rockers. There seems like there is too much play. I feel like the none adjustable stock rockers should be tighter against the rods, Im wondering if the rockers are worn but again the car ran before with a bad cam. Some of the push rods are very noticeably loose. I pulled a new lifter out and there was no oil in it.
This is a daily driver and you know what it's like not having a car in LA. I'm becoming very desperate and grasping at straws I need help or someone that can come look at it with me in Van Nuys to figure it out or a nailhead knowledgeable mechanic that I can bring it to in southern California close to Los Angeles area.
Steff Garletts 323-605-3795

kiwicaddy · Sep 4, 2013

I'm not a mechanic or a nailhead expert but know a little about motors and at a first guess I suspect the pushrods are too short if there is play and the rockers are not adjustable? Check the length against the old ones. Cheers, John

slimpick · Sep 4, 2013

I've messed with a couple of nailheads. I always make sure oil gets to all rockers when assembling an engine. Take off both rocker covers and run the oil pump with your drill. Make sure oil drips off all rockers.
I'd put a dial indicator on the end of the pushrod to check that you have the correct lift from the cam.
Your rocker shafts could be worn out. If you run the oil pump and don't get oil dripping from all rockers, then the rocker shafts are probably shot.
The oil comes up through the head. It goes around one of the four bolts that attaches the rocker assembly to the head.

31Vicky with a hemi · Sep 4, 2013

Dry lifters, loose pushrods, loose rockers aren't good , probably the source of your problems - nor do they lead to good compression.
What is the cranking compression ? All You said it was good

Was the cam re ground? If so the pushrods will need to be longer than stock.
How do the new to old lifters compare in length? Same with push rods?

If it was running before and had proper fitting pushrods before the change, you need to look at the base circle of the cam and length of the lifters and pushrods.

Underdog1981 · Sep 18, 2013

I believe u said u put in a stock 401 cam and u have a 364 block???? Mayb the push rods are to short. Look at ur stock cam u took out and see if higher lift to it.

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sunbeam · Sep 18, 2013

From looking at a 1963 motors manual Buick feeds the lifters and the rockers from the front cam bearing. Now here's the part you are not going to like. From the manual the camshaft is supported in five steel-backed Babbitt- lined bearings which are pressed into the block. The bearings must be lined-reamed to size after being pressed into place. Since this operation requires special equipment the original bearings should be retained unless severely damaged.

jackontheloose · Oct 20, 2013

There is a 'nailhead guy' out there in CA. Look in the Hemmings in the services and Buick parts sections. He will have several Buick Nailhead ads and has no problem talking and answering questions and he is very knowledgeable. You will know him by his ads. He often also advertises a monthly parts special. I'm sorry I can't tell you exactly who he is, but if you spend an hour scanning those sections, I'm confident you will find him.

Barring that, see if you can't find an old man retired mechanic. I've always had good luck talkin' to the old boys. They know tricks even our dads don't know.

Good luck!

CayoRV · Oct 20, 2013

Russ Martin at Centerville Auto Repair. He will answer your questions, one of if not the best with Nailheads.

Chuck

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Buick nailhead help

garletts
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kiwicaddy
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from Auckland NZ

slimpick
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31Vicky with a hemi
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from cleveland ohio

Underdog1981
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sunbeam
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CayoRV
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from S.W. Michigan, Watervliet

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garletts
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from cleveland ohio

Underdog1981
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from Owensboro, kentucky

sunbeam
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from Kingman Kansas

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from saint louis

CayoRV
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from S.W. Michigan, Watervliet