up front dist.

R

rockingb

Guest
what are all these nailheads, or look alike nailheads with the distributors up front?
while at the junk yard,[my favorite place these days] i kept seeing all these 64,65,67, nailheads with the dist up front, are they the buick 300's and what can anyone tell me about the 430's, good engine? useable horse power? aftermarket parts?....saw a ton of those today... : )
 
64-65 Buick 300's have valve covers which intentionally mimic nailheads but they are not. 300's along with 215's,340's,350's,400's,430's and 455's are all "wedge heads". They are superior technically but lack the nostalgic look of the older engine series. I personally like 430's because of they have a little more meat between the bores than 455's. Stay away from the '67 400's and 430's though as they have smaller oiling passages. This can be corrected by overboring them and their timing covers.

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thank you for the information......what year is a good year for the 430's.
i just bought a 65 401 from this junk yard for 300.00 and the engine was clean as a whistle and it was still iin the car, a 65 duce and 1/4 electra, but if a 430 is better i have another 50 buick it would look good in.........thanks again......paul
 
'68-'69 430's had the larger oil passages. Use a '71 up 455 oil pickup tube with it. As far as choosing between a Nailhead and a Wedgehead, it's all a matter of prefference although I think the nailhead would be an easier swap in a '50 Buick.

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thanks again....any comments on what frame to set a 52 riviera super on. i would like to have the disc brake set-up and the springs etc of the newer frames instead of the knee action shocks.....don't want to go the clip route...
 
do you know of a book or manual that gives the information needed to pick a new suitable
frame?
i know that there is alot of measureing to be done, however you need a place to start.
how did you arrive at the choice you made for your 57?
 
I did it the easy way!! A friend built it and I bought it when he got tired of it.The body mounts lined up and the frame was shortened abou 4 inches right behind the front A arms. The rear upper arm ahd to be pushed up into the back of the rear seat areaand it fits like a glove.After the body was in place the engine was mounted and the trans rear mount was fabbed up/
 
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