Author Topic: What upgrades, 401 nailhead?  (Read 1339 times)

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Offline Buick65gs

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What upgrades, 401 nailhead?
« on: February 01, 2016, 09:25:10 AM »
What bolt on upgrades would you all recommend for the 65 401 Nailhead. Dual quads? Headers (if so, what type, brand etc.)?

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Offline WkillGS

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Re: What upgrades, 401 nailhead?
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2016, 11:49:52 AM »
Easiest mods that give a noticeable gain would be a low restriction air cleaner and an advance curve kit for the single 4 bbl distributor.

Dual quads look great but a single 4 bbl works just as well if not better. The stock manifold can have the plenum opened up and a larger AFB used, or find a '66 Q-jet intake and build a Q-jet for it.
The intake plenum mod is referred to as 'Doc's mod' .....it consists of opening up the 4-hole carb opening  to 2 larger ones by removing the divider between front and back barrels.

Consensus on headers is they don't make much more power and dealing with low ground clearance and fitting them around the stock starter are more of a downside.

Replacing weak valve springs helps rpm.

A new cam or high-ratio roller rocker arms (Tom's RR) help breathing too!

One thing you don't want to do is rebuild it with pistons with less compression and then use thick head gaskets to lower compression even more!
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal