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Drivetrain => The Nailhead => Topic started by: Jim on June 16, 2022, 10:35:03 AM
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Hi ,best place to get a stock rebuild kit for a stock 401 standard rings,bearings,,timing chain,gears gaskets, best cam to run in it?.jim
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Anything you get in a kit is mostly going to be China junk. There's NO CHEAP way around rebuilding a "Nail" properly.
You will most likely end up will 7.5-1 compression.
Just my thoughts.
Tom T.
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Not really looking for the cheapest,I have spare 401,and am trying to figure out how much it'll cost and where the best place for parts is would like steel .020 head gaskets bump up the hp a little .carb ,intake mod cam if I can find the best street grind.jim
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Love 'em, or hate 'em, contact Matt or Russell Martin at Centerville Repair.
https://www.nailheadbuick.com (https://www.nailheadbuick.com)
The folks that know and support nailheads and those that own, them is getting smaller every day.
I support all of us who are still in it for love...
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Have had two 401’s rebuilt. Got most of the parts from Carmen Faso in North Tonawanda, NY. J & C Parts (716) 693-4090. No website.
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This^^^^
Call Carmen. Got everything needed to do a freshen up on Rob’s 401.
Mark
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TA Performance is another supplier. Even Rockauto offers many stock parts.... it's a great site to get part numbers and initial pricing from.
I've bought the components separately from various sources.
Sealed Power makes main bearing sets, pn 4265M. It takes some searching to find them for under $250.
Rod bearings are the same as the 400-430-455. Clevite for those.
Dura Bond cam bearings.
Timing chain and gears, Cloyes and Melling offer stock units. Upgrades avail from TA and the Martins.
Gasket sets.... I've used Fel Pro but have heard 'Best' has a nicer set.
Pistons are tough since nearly all have a lower compression height that moves the piston down in the bore which reduces compression. Best solution is to get a custom made forged set from Tom. They're pricey but are the best offering out there.
Camshafts are offered by several suppliers, TA Performance, Schneider, Comp cams (get a custom grind, NOT the Thumper series!), as well as some lesser known companies such as Camcraft which has been highly reccomended. As to which is 'best' is tough to say since there has been little actual dyno testing done to compare. The TA 25 is a nice upgrade from stock for a street car. The rear axle gears and engine compression should be matched to the cam for best performance.
Valve-piston clearance is tight in Nailheads which can limit cam choice.... unless you notch the pistons for clearance... another reason to spend extra for forged pistons that will be made to fit your build.
I haven't talked to Carmen in decades but he certainly has the knowledge to get you the best parts. Wish he had a net presence! Tom certainly has the knowledge as well! The Martins offer some nice products but IMO Carmen or Tom have a higher degree of technical expertise.
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Thanks ,guys I'll have to start phoning people I've used northern auto ,summit ,jegs alot for other motors but finding the right cam seemed easier for the other brand.jim
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I wonder if there's a suitable aftermarket connecting rod that works for the 401/425.
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ARP rod bolts for the Buick 455 fit the stock forged Nailhead rods.
There was mention of longer rods in some of the threads on V8, but didn't see many specifics. Do a thread search for 'rods' by user GSGTX, he's usually contributing to those discussions. Derek, f85, Tom, and Dualquadism posted some info too.
Aftermarket BBC rods are avail in various lengths but will need the crank end machined ti fit.
What would you be looking to gain with different rods?
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ARP rod bolts for the Buick 455 fit the stock forged Nailhead rods.
There was mention of longer rods in some of the threads on V8, but didn't see many specifics. Do a thread search for 'rods' by user GSGTX, he's usually contributing to those discussions. Derek, f85, Tom, and Dualquadism posted some info too.
Aftermarket BBC rods are avail in various lengths but will need the crank end machined ti fit.
What would you be looking to gain with different rods?
Walt,
Possibly a lighter rod and maybe one that's just a bit longer so block decking wouldn't be required to get good compression. I've currently got 3 nailheads, 2-401's and a 425. I've got a set of Toms pistons for the 401 but no parts yet for the 425 that's slated to go in my 66.
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All this monkeying around to try & come up with a plan to maintain reasonable compression when all it would take would to order a set of my pistons & most will all be taken care of in one fell swoop & usually end up costing less $$$$ in the long run & less in machining costs.
Just my thoughts.
Tom T.
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Bore on my block is good going to reuse pistons need stock cast iron rings. Not looking for 600hp would like 375 though thru cam carb intake mod. Jim
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^^^ Yeah, the custom Autotec pistons from Tom are the best option. Tho I do wish there was a simple solution to get the piston compression height right with the TRW and Ross forged pistons I already have. I also have another set of Zollners that I've heard are the oem supplier for Buick. I used them on one build and ended up with 9.8 CR.
The other replacement pistons (KB Silvolite, Sealed power, Egge) drop the CR even further. Rumor is they do that to allow for additional machining of the block deck to clean the block surface up. But they don't realize Buick already built in too much deck clearance.
Adapting different connecting rods is gonna cost you at the machine shop.
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Bore on my block is good going to reuse pistons need stock cast iron rings. Not looking for 600hp would like 375 though thru cam carb intake mod. Jim
You could probably get some oversize 'file fit' piston rings to get the ring gap just right.
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You can't get stock rings anywhere????
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Here's the page from the current Sealed power catalog.
I wasn't able to get the catalog from Hastings to open. In the past I've looked up ring sets by bore size, which allows you to cross reference the same rings for different engines. For example, I bought a set of rings for a 283 chev that used the same components as the set for my 4L 6cyl Jeep.... and got two extras and at a better price.
In our case, the 4.1875" bore of the 401 uses the same ring set at the 413 Mopar.
I suggested oversized 'file fit' rings so you don't end up with excessively large ring end gaps in the worn bores.
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Its almost easier to get pistons made than it is rings. I just had a 401 block bored out to a 428 ford bore just because the 1/16 th rings are readily available and then got a set of pistons made .
As far as connecting rods for a nailhead the stock rods are pretty good , i just had arp bolts put in mine . There are other rods that will work but will require some machine work . On my 401 engine that i,m putting the blower on i,m using big block chevy rods and having pistons made to fit accordingly .
I think theres a post showing ring sizes somewhere in the nailhead section .