I've been toying with different idea's for the power train on my 55. Right now car is bagged with modern brakes disc up front & drum rear, master boster etc she has 322 with rebuilt dynaflow then i got then latest issue of drive magzine from the local parts store, cover story is LS Engine Swaps ins and out of putting an LS in your ride. This has got me thinking some evil thoughts! Now I have a 425 nailhead waiting to be sent off for a rebuild shipping is going to cost 750 one way to Tom then 3 or more grand to rebuild then mods for the 425 with a dyna into the 55 , LS swap is not cheap by any means but lots hp and reliability my car is just about ready to go off for paint this fall so i need to decide which way i'm going to go . LS with new trans and rear end new wiring etc or 425 with dyna and orignal rear end Car is going to be pistachio green with white top and red interior I'm looking for your guys advice here before I start to spend my hard earn cash. Cheers Will ou:
if your sending your engine to tom, its going to be reliable. nailheads are beautiful. its all a matter of what YOU want and can afford to do, but that is my opinion.
, I rebuilt my 322 nail 36 years ago. Today I put 65 miles on it. It Ran GREAT!!! Every time I stopped at a light folks wanted to know what i had in it. It's great fun to tell 'em: "nailhead and dynaflow" Let Tom rebuild it for you. That's going to look Great!!!!
I agree, a nailhead can make for a very reliable car with plenty of power. It's your car, and it's a ton of your money so do what you want but keep in mind that you always need to think of resale value. The nailhead should keep the value up on the car better. You would have a little bigger buying audience with the nailhead.
You get that 425 rebuilt and its safe to say it will outlast any LSX engine and make plenty of power AND look infinitely better. IMO nothing in the world looks better than a nice clean nailhead under the hood. Plus you want the torque for your big buick, no need for a high revving engine. Dynaflow is smooth and very reliable.
Will I vote for the 425 as well. Thats what I am doing for my 56. I know it wont be cheap for you, or me here in NZ but how cool to have a big Nailhead in a 50's car. No doubt the LS will be reliable, probably cheaper and provide good power, but I prefer the look of the old motor under the hood, and something different. I like to see a complimentary theme in a car build, paint colour, wheel style, stance, and engine choice all contribute. Your personal preferences, budget, and time frame will dictate the answer for you. You will also need to modify your original torque tube rear as well using the later dynaflow. Ross
Hmmm. At first I thought Nailhead, however, the LS and O.D. trans would make a very nice cruiser. They also look cool (as does the 425) and get fairly cheap h.p. with bolt ons. Endless over the counter support. On a full custom like yours? LS.
I have an LS1 and a T56 6-speed already in my '55 (I bought an unfinished project). Though I think it would run great, I've 99.9% decided that I need to put a Buick engine in the car. Keep in mind that the engine mounts are done, trans crossmember is done and the clutch pedals with the hydraulics are already done, so it's a BIG committment for me to change directions. I just feel a more traditional engine is the right way to go for the car. I think either way, you can't go wrong, but I'd vote for the 425. Eric
My vote is towards the Buick; if it's all properly rebuilt it'll probably outlast you if you only put 1 or 2,000 miles on it a year. Let Tom rebuild it; - it'll be better than the factory built it, and it'll easily last another 100,000 miles.
425 it is then, though i might go with a different trans i love the dyna but i just had it rebuilt a year ago and she leaking again:rant:
Will,I'm glad that you decided to keep the Nailhead. I think that is the way to go,10 years from now the LS is not going to be the hot engine that it is now,there will probably be something new or more efficient to stuff in the old cars.The same happened with the late '80's TPI's and mid '90's LT1's(not to mention the "crate motor" craze).The Nailhead will be the timeless look for that Buick in my opinion.Ten or twenty years from now,if you still have the car,it will still look "right".We want pictures.:beer Consider adding your name to your signature,it may help those of us with CRS.
I'm with Hecotor. The nailhead is like the Ford flathead V8. It's an engine that will be loved and admired for generations to come. Not just for Buick's either, it's the engine of choice for many streetrods with exposed engines.
How much of a leak? They're going to leak. Mine leaks a spot about the size of a quarter ($0.25) every time I park it.
To each his own. I like the green with white, but I think a red interior will make the car look a bit Christmas tree-ish.
I didn't say green and red are a bad combination, just a bit Christmasy. A martini with an olive/pimento goes well on Christmas! I would still think a bit about the red interior, though. You want people to be calling your Buick "The olive?" :laugh: :laugh:
"just a bit Christmasy" It would be that. :beers2: I've thought about a 55 Buick with, Nailhead green body, Black top, red wheels. And, Black and Nailhead green interior with, red welting.
