401 Nailhead..probably a silly question.

[MissHotRodQueen]

Like I said, I'm new to the Buick scene, and I don't know alot about them at the moment(I'm reading up though!!)

I've got a quick question about the Nailhead. On my breather cover, it says "Wildcat Premium" on a sticker. Do they all say that? Whats the deal? Its the original engine in the car(62 lesabre). Just a curiousity.

[buford27]

Buick started calling their motors the "Wildcat" in '58 or '59 and continued with this through '66 I believe. The premium designation may mean it is one of the optional high compression motors as opposed to the base low compression motor or it could also be something they did in Canada rather than showing the numbers. If there are any numbers on the air cleaner they refer to the engine torque rating and not horsepower like most other cars. Usually they say something like "Wildcat 445". The dual quad 425 nailhead was called the "Super Wildcat". Just to confuse things, in '62 Buick made the Wildcat car which was part of the Invicta line, in '63 it became its own line. Buick also made several concept cars called the Wildcat starting with the Wildcat I in 1953, the Wildcat II in 1954, and the Wildcat III in 1955. There was also a Wildcat concept car made in 1985 and a Riviera Wildcat concept car made in 1997.

__________________
Sean Smith
BCA# 42746

[MissHotRodQueen]

Thank you! I was just curious about it because, seeing as the car isn't a wildcat...it was strange. But thank you..I will have to take a look to see if it has numbers on it.

[Stampy]

The motors from this era were designated by their torque rating for some odd reason. You can use that torque rating to figure out the motor size and carb type. My 340 with a 4 barrel carb is designated a "Wildcat 375." I believe that the 401-4 was called the "Wildcat 445" like the previous poster said. Those are the only two I can think of off the top of my head, but I am sure the internet knows the rest. Its really sort of an arbitrary number... don't sweat it if your car is too old or too Canadian to have one.:pp

[MissHotRodQueen]

mine just says wildcat premium...no numbers, I went out and checked.

[buford27]

There should be an engine code stamped on the block at the front of the valley cover below the thermostat housing and towards the passenger side. This site shows where the code is located, it will be upside down when standing at the front of the car looking back:

http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/engine_ident_where.html

There were three engines available, the first two or three digits of the code should tell you which one you have. Here are the engine codes and specs:

2I = base motor, 401 CI, 2-bbl, 10.25:1, 280 bhp, 424 lbs-ft
L2I = optional, 401 CI, 2-bbl, 9.00:1, 265 bhp, 412 lbs-ft
4I = optional, 401 CI, 4-bbl, 10.25:1, 325 bhp, 445 lbs-ft

Does your car have an automatic or manual trans?

__________________
Sean Smith
BCA# 42746

[MissHotRodQueen]

It is automatic. I'm pretty positive its the higher output 2bbl engine. From what I can see.

[Thriller]

Buick started calling their motors the "Wildcat" in '58 or '59 and continued with this through '66 I believe. The premium designation may mean it is one of the optional high compression motors as opposed to the base low compression motor or it could also be something they did in Canada rather than showing the numbers.

My '66 Wildcat is a Canadian car built in Oshawa and it had the Wildcat 445 sticker on the air cleaner.

On the '61 Invicta it is still Wildcat 445, but it is painted on in some fashion...looks neat.

[bhambulldog]

The motors from this era were designated by their torque rating for some odd reason. You can use that torque rating to figure out the motor size and carb type. My 340 with a 4 barrel carb is designated a "Wildcat 375." I believe that the 401-4 was called the "Wildcat 445" like the previous poster said. Those are the only two I can think of off the top of my head, but I am sure the internet knows the rest. Its really sort of an arbitrary number... don't sweat it if your car is too old or too Canadian to have one.:pp
For the nailhead of the three numbers;
Horsepower
Cubic inches
Torque

Torque was the greater number
Bigger is better:TU:
(Edsel did the same, using Torque number as engine designation. The MEL design engine, used in the Edsel, was used for 8 years after, Edsel was canceled.)