1951 Buick xp 300 engine

yah, that engine is likely the origin point for both the 1961 215ci SBB ( it's an all alum design ) as well as the the Nail layout.

the article is kind of weird in that it misses the primary point of the Nail design, being narrow enough to easily mount in a chassis designed for a straight 8. that's why Buick dropped the outboard exhaust valves and straight ports, to keep the engine package from getting too wide.

also, he says the engine was a '216ci'. i was under the impression that it actually was 215, just like the 1961 engine. i don't think i've ever seen bore/stroke specs on the XP300 engine though, so i can't verify that. i'd also be interested to know the bore spacing and deck height.
 
It would have been wild if they made a 401 like that, you can see the resemblance. But they made the nailhead for what a car really needs TORQ!
Nailheads were used in Chevy 2 ton trucks if they used the design of the XP 300 in racing they would have blown them Hemi;s away.
 
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