Hot Rods Wildcat 401 Nailhead in a '57 Chevy

Nail it!

 

Damn it Moriarity, everytime I see a picture of that engine this thing happens and I ruin my screen. Thanks!

(cleaning screen)

Anyway, go with the Nailhead, I have a 401 in my 54 Buick (not as fucking beautiful as some ^^^^^^^^^^), its a rip snorter, and it would kill in a Chevy. (also ^^^^)

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I voted for the Buford...and I agree it'll be more fun and definitely different. Then again, I'm a "six" guy, so we're in the same camp.

 

I'd go with the Nailhead. My 50 Chevy Sedan Delivery doesn't have a belly button either.

 

Do the Nailhead!!!
That Avatar below is Uterly funny !!!

 

I voted nailhead.
Then opening your hood will at least be worth the bother.

 

As long as u don't yank the mill out of a 66 Wildcat Coupe it's fine.

I have two 65 Wildcats, and 4 Tri Chevys. I should swap the engines a bit around

The transmission is fine. It's a TH 400 with a different bolt pattern to fit the Nailhead. They lasted 64-66 I believe.

Thumbs up for the blue car also!

 

Nailhead!!!!!!! Even the 2 speed tranny is a blast to drive when the rubber is smoking......

 

I voted for the Chevy, but after seeing the posts, I've been saved! Hallelujah. I am now a member of the Holy Nailhead into Chevies Church.

 

I've always grown up surrounded by SBCs and after becoming a serious lurker on here, posting every once in a while.. I've become more partial to the Nailhead, Rockets, and Caddies and pretty much prefer those nowadays. It's hard, if not impossible to be original, but it never hurts to aim for being original.

Now if I could just find a Rocket motor..

 

Do the 283 with a 327 crank = 301 bad ass,

and high 9000 RPM's..

have you ever heard a 301 before ,Man they are killer....

Some others on here can speak more about this combo.....

 

^^^I agree.^^^ I'm also one of these biased people though......

 

I'm all for different mills in different makes, but that's in 20's-30's hot rods with open engine compartments. A mid fifties Chevy with a nailhead???? Really???

 

What we have here is a 307 NOT a 301. I have a 57 and if I had a Buick I would put it in.

Pat

 

Build a 400 small block and tell everyone it's a 283 or a 301.

The 400 Chevy will out-run the 401 nailhead.

If you want to be different, run the Buick.

If you want it to run, keep a Chevy small-block in your '57 and bump up the cubic inches over the 283.

 

Nothing pulls like a big block gotta love the torque! 1964 425 nailhead in a model a it screams!!

 

use the 400 tranny w/thetwin-pitch 'converter,the stumps that nail will pull is crazy.till 58 or 9 the guys that were buildin quick shit fron the junkyard were puttin in BPO's and STOMPIN the warm 265-283-301's. then came the W motor,as they say ''the rest is history'' BUICK rule![and i'm a chevy guy]

 

Buick

 

If you have the SP400 trans, use an SP200 converter in it. Bumps the stall speed up quite a bit. Just like using a Vega converter in a TH350...Oh yeah, and run the switch pitch on a toggle.

 

Nailhead or kill yourself.[/bias]

 

You mean 327 with a 283 crank. Got one in the back seat of my '66 Corvair.....Crazy

 

Hurst made a kit to do it back then, my 364 came out of a 5 chevy when i got it and had all the hurst mounts to mount it to the factory mounts.

 

Well, the 301 Chevy is a awsome strip dominator ...this post started with what he has, he has a 283 and the 401 so I say use the 401 because its a cool looking motor and like some one else said its worth looking under the hood then !

 

When I was in the Navy in 1967, I put a 364 in my 57 chevy and it was so neat, I used the 3 spd with an adapter but that was expensive so I would do an automatic now. It ran beautiful, so do it.

 

Thanks so much for all the input guys, I'm going with the 401 for sure. The 283 and the 4 deuces are safe, I'll just keep them aside for another project. I don't have the Buick at my shop yet to check, but where is the oil pan sump on a '66 401? Any issues fitting in a '57 Chevy? Also I'm guessing I don't need really steep gears in the rear to make it go, maybe some 4:11's? These Buick mills make all their torque down low.
-Dean

 

I got a 61 401 with a SP400 going in my project

 

I think its rear in the a bodies and mid in the b and c bodies. Not sure though.
Shoot me a pm me after you get what you want from the Wildcat. I may need some stuff.

 

Just do what you want im sure its been done a 1000 times over. Your not going to invent anything new thats for sure. Hell i run a chevy in my ford like a 1000 other peeps.

 

Nailheads are for sissies!















..

 

Love that '62 Falcon! No one has the balls to set a engine back these days. Let me know if you have any extra Buick speed equipment! Dual quads, valve covers, valley pan, ignition, headers, etc......... maybe another supercharger
-Dean