Anybody ever Turbo Charged a Nailhead?

[tyoneal]

To All:

I have an extra 425 Buick Nailhead, for another project and since their valves are so small, I looking at other ways to help them make good power.

Has anyone every done a Turbo on one, or know of some one that has a universal kit if some kind?

Maybe ProCharger?

Thanks,

Ty

[fesler]

We have done a few Nailheads but they have all been supercharged, the problem is no one makes parts for them so they are very hard to build, everything has to be custom built. It is going to cost you a fortune to build this engine to run a charger or turbo and if you need some info on where we got some of the stuff I can dig it up for you. They are great engines but no one really makes much for them. Here are some pics of the 1949 Merc we built a few years back

//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc1.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc2.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc3.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc4.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc5.jpg

[Blown353]

That Merc is BAD. :thumbsup:

[V8TV]

There's a Hot Rod story from the early '60s with a turbo nailhead on the cover, but it was all GM internal stuff. Would be cool to see someone do one now!

[Rellim51]

Not turbocharged but it is pretty strong. The carbs are actually throttle bodies with 2 injectors hidden in each one. It's controlled by a FAST XFI computer.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb206/rellim51/6145494.jpg

[tyoneal]

We have done a few Nailheads but they have all been supercharged, the problem is no one makes parts for them so they are very hard to build, everything has to be custom built. It is going to cost you a fortune to build this engine to run a charger or turbo and if you need some info on where we got some of the stuff I can dig it up for you. They are great engines but no one really makes much for them. Here are some pics of the 1949 Merc we built a few years back

//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc1.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc2.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc3.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc4.jpg
//http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj73/FeslerBuilt/Merc5.jpg
======================
Your Merc is Awesome. Thanks for the pictures. I was thinking a Turbo might be easier because you wouldn't need to mess with a special intake. Maybe something like a STS system. I know a lot of people don't like them, but for a older less supported engine like the Nailhead, it might be an easy was to make some good HP. Stock the 425 made 360 hp and 465 ft pounds of Torque @ 2800 rpm.

[tyoneal]

There's a Hot Rod story from the early '60s with a turbo nailhead on the cover, but it was all GM internal stuff. Would be cool to see someone do one now!
======================

I agree with you. I've found a 425 engine and tranny to build so I can save the numbers matching pieces, but the aftermarket speed parts are just few and far between.

Watching the numbers on the forums however, it looks like they are becoming more popular again. The forums are busy and the 425 engine non running but not junk will run $500-$800, and that's without anything special about them. In addition between 1953 and 1966 they made millions of them.

Ty

[tyoneal]

There's a Hot Rod story from the early '60s with a turbo nailhead on the cover, but it was all GM internal stuff. Would be cool to see someone do one now!

That would be really nice to read. If you ever run across it ..........


Ty

[tyoneal]

Not turbocharged but it is pretty strong. The carbs are actually throttle bodies with 2 injectors hidden in each one. It's controlled by a FAST XFI computer.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb206/rellim51/6145494.jpg
=============================
That's a great looking engine. Looks like the intake might be from EELCO. They have some pretty trick parts, but NOBODY make any Aluminum Head at ALL!

It's strange to me that Edelbrock would make heads for the 409 that they made 2 years. (I believe there was 50,000 or so, and not build heads for the Nailhead.

MagnaCharger even builds Superchargers for the Ford Flathead!

Oh well, if anyone hears anything, please give me a shout.

Thanks,

Ty

[fesler]

The biggest proglem we ran into when doing this build is everyone tells us the nailhead is not a good engine to sup up, everything on it is build wrong for making high HP. We had to have everything on this engine hand build by some of the companies because no one makes anything. It will cost you some big $$$ to make the engine hold the compression you want to give it. It will be sick but might not be worth the money. Good luck:thumbsup:

[Rellim51]

It's actually a Northwest Speed Co. intake. I don't think they're made any more. Fesler is right, it's hard to find performance parts for these parts and when you do, they are not cheap. Ours has the adjustable roller rocker conversion, gear reduction mini starter, and a custom Poston cam but other than that, the short block is pretty much stock. The heads have mild port work and SS valves. MSD makes a nice distributor for them also. They can be built to make some power, a lot of drag racers ran nailheads back in the day. but I think that was because the didn't have anything better to use:)

[tyoneal]

It's actually a Northwest Speed Co. intake. I don't think they're made any more. Fesler is right, it's hard to find performance parts for these parts and when you do, they are not cheap. Ours has the adjustable roller rocker conversion, gear reduction mini starter, and a custom Poston cam but other than that, the short block is pretty much stock. The heads have mild port work and SS valves. MSD makes a nice distributor for them also. They can be built to make some power, a lot of drag racers ran nailheads back in the day. but I think that was because the didn't have anything better to use:)
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What kind of Power are you making with your 425, and what are the parts and numbers you use to make that amount of power?

It's Ironic to me that Edelbrock will make Aluminum heads for the 409 that was only in production for 3 years and stopped production in 1965. While the Nailhead Engine was in production for 13 years and there were literally millions of these engines made, and production didn't cease until 1966.

From my understanding there were only 50,000 or so 409's made.

465 pounds of Torque at 2800 rpm's will really get most cars going pretty quick, and that's stock.

Oh well. Thanks for everyone who answered anyone else is surely welcome to answer if they have any ideas.

I really would like to make this work, even 450-500 hp and 550 ft. pounds of Torque would be a great level to get this engine to.

Thanks,

Ty O'Neal