425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Laid_Out_50 · 09-14-2009, 01:36 AM

I was just wondeing if this engine fits into a 50 AD truck. I found one for 1200 with turbo 400 trans

nickp51chevy · 09-14-2009, 01:46 AM

Anything is possible with a little fabrication.

Laid_Out_50 · 09-14-2009, 09:06 AM

Who would put a 425 Nailhead in there truck. I know the SBC 350 has been done once or twice just wanting to do something difference

robin58 · 09-14-2009, 09:23 AM

I think it would be an awesome swap. You would most likely have to do some firewall recess work and manufacture a transmission hump, but well worth it for the "different" factor.

sn33kyp3t3 · 09-14-2009, 11:02 AM

Hells ya, go for it. I mean, if you don't mind fabricating, and hunting down parts.

I wanted to do an early 70's pontiac 400, but the only one I found was in horrible shape.

2ndGenRR · 09-14-2009, 12:37 PM

That's the exact swap I was considering for my '52. It's different, nailheads make oodles of torque and they are narrower than big blocks due to head design. Find a 200R4 and you have an easy overdrive trans swap. Go for it!

mr48chev · 09-14-2009, 07:18 PM

It would make a good swap. with the right rear end the truck would be able to show the big dogs the way home.

I'd have to want it to be in great shape for that price though. If it needs to be rebuilt you will learn real quickly while the "belly button" 350 Chev is the most popular engine to swap.
I'd figure out what gear ratio was in the donor vehicle and stay pretty close to that ratio. The overdrive transmissions are nice but it is hard to beat a 400 for reliability and they are easy to have fixed if the need comes up. Plus with that being a Buick/Olds/Pontiac/ Cadillac bell housing transmissions are easy to find used in good shape.

Laid_Out_50 · 09-15-2009, 01:21 AM

I am going to go with the Nailhead instead of the Caddy 390.. It's going to cost me more to get running and looking good but I think it would be more of an eye catcher when I open the hood.

bighaas79 · 09-18-2009, 10:26 PM

need to get a tri power for that nail head too!

Number 9 · 09-26-2009, 04:43 PM

Had a nail head 364 in a 50 f1. Very quick. A 425 will be a blast.
I would do it again in my 59 3100 if I already didn't have my 0
mile 327.

Laid_Out_50 · 09-28-2009, 10:42 AM

Here it is it's a '61 401 nailhead

bondobob · 10-02-2009, 04:52 PM

Pick up the latest issue of "Hot Rod Deluxe". Terrific article on rebuilding/hot rodding a nail head. Cool motor. I'm thinking dual quads!!

09-14-2009, 01:36 AM	#1
Laid_Out_50 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area Cali Posts: 270	425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat I was just wondeing if this engine fits into a 50 AD truck. I found one for 1200 with turbo 400 trans

09-14-2009, 01:46 AM	#2
nickp51chevy Registered Chevy Owner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Snohomish, wa Posts: 1,557	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Anything is possible with a little fabrication. __________________ Love is fleeting, but Chevy trucks are forever!!!! 1970 Chevy CST C10 long box 350/400 2008 Chevy Silverado short box 4x4 Had; 1951 Chevy short box 307/T5 1988 Chevy shot box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C20 long box 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 350/350

09-14-2009, 09:06 AM	#3
Laid_Out_50 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area Cali Posts: 270	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Who would put a 425 Nailhead in there truck. I know the SBC 350 has been done once or twice just wanting to do something difference

09-14-2009, 09:23 AM	#4
robin58 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 763	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat I think it would be an awesome swap. You would most likely have to do some firewall recess work and manufacture a transmission hump, but well worth it for the "different" factor.

09-14-2009, 11:02 AM	#5
sn33kyp3t3 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 75	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Hells ya, go for it. I mean, if you don't mind fabricating, and hunting down parts. I wanted to do an early 70's pontiac 400, but the only one I found was in horrible shape.

09-14-2009, 12:37 PM	#6
2ndGenRR Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lowell, Michigan Posts: 159	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat That's the exact swap I was considering for my '52. It's different, nailheads make oodles of torque and they are narrower than big blocks due to head design. Find a 200R4 and you have an easy overdrive trans swap. Go for it! __________________ The Stable: 1952 GMC 1/2 ton, 5-window...Owned since age 16...that was awhile ago! Torn apart and waiting for my boys to get old enough to help me. 1990 Chevy K5, 5.3L, 4L60E, slowly going back together as my dune truck. 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton, 3-window...building to sell. Daily Drivers: 1998 3/4 ton Burb with a 6.5 Turbo Diesel and 1994 1/2 ton Silverado. I grew up in Flint, Michigan so I can't help but to bleed Chevy!

09-14-2009, 07:18 PM	#7
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,404	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat It would make a good swap. with the right rear end the truck would be able to show the big dogs the way home. I'd have to want it to be in great shape for that price though. If it needs to be rebuilt you will learn real quickly while the "belly button" 350 Chev is the most popular engine to swap. I'd figure out what gear ratio was in the donor vehicle and stay pretty close to that ratio. The overdrive transmissions are nice but it is hard to beat a 400 for reliability and they are easy to have fixed if the need comes up. Plus with that being a Buick/Olds/Pontiac/ Cadillac bell housing transmissions are easy to find used in good shape. Last edited by mr48chev; 09-14-2009 at 07:20 PM.

09-15-2009, 01:21 AM	#8
Laid_Out_50 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area Cali Posts: 270	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat I am going to go with the Nailhead instead of the Caddy 390.. It's going to cost me more to get running and looking good but I think it would be more of an eye catcher when I open the hood.

09-18-2009, 10:26 PM	#9
bighaas79 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: manly iowa Posts: 390	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat need to get a tri power for that nail head too!

09-26-2009, 04:43 PM	#10
Number 9 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: boulder creek ca. Posts: 102	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Had a nail head 364 in a 50 f1. Very quick. A 425 will be a blast. I would do it again in my 59 3100 if I already didn't have my 0 mile 327. Last edited by Number 9; 09-26-2009 at 04:44 PM.

09-28-2009, 10:42 AM	#11
Laid_Out_50 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bay Area Cali Posts: 270	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Here it is it's a '61 401 nailhead Last edited by Laid_Out_50; 09-28-2009 at 10:43 AM.

10-02-2009, 04:52 PM	#12
bondobob Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Deep River, Ct Posts: 135	Re: 425 Buick Nailhead Wildcat Pick up the latest issue of "Hot Rod Deluxe". Terrific article on rebuilding/hot rodding a nail head. Cool motor. I'm thinking dual quads!!



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