Buick Nailhead 425cu in

[sstock]

Hello,

A person I know has a 425 out of a 63 Riviera and is selling the long block for $1000, it needs rebuilding. First off, is it worth it?
Second, I know they have a ton of torque but do they make a good T bucket engine? They are a good 100 pounds more than a smallblock chevy and 5" longer from the bellhousing to the front of the water pump.

Thanks in advance,

Steve

 

[Old Rotor Flap]

Try to calculate what it will cost to rebuild and how long to find any missing items.
If you build your chassis, make it six inches longer.

 

[Youngster]

Buicks make a good looking engine in a bucket. There is a good deal of aluminum parts that can be polished. Dress up goodies are as close as your friendly Speedway catalog. The extra weight isn't gonna hurt ya any. Most all of the GM transmissions can be adapted. If you can rebuild it for a couple hundred more tha a SBC then why not? I would check on prices of a rebuild kit and/or another engine though. A grand sounds kinda high for one that needed rebuilding. As for building a chassis for it, mock up your major components and it shouldn't be a problem.

Ron

 

[Mike]

If the seller admits it needs rebuilt, a buck an inch is top dollar.

 

[Allen]

I've had Buicks. In my opinion, nothing looks better. When they came out of the factory, they made a lot of horse power and low-end torque, but you could float the lifters easily. So you definitely need a good after market cam and parts are going to get hard to get before too long and expensive. It's a nostalgic look. I had one in my first Roadster. I'll see if I can find a photo.

 

[409T]

I have a friend with a nailhead in a T-bucket, it looks great. If you like to be different, get it. Besides, torque is the name of the game unless you think you are going to live at 5500 rpm.

Jeff

 

[rooster57]

Jeff that 409 is to cool . The 50s caddy is also cool the pontiac 326 and 389 is also one you dont see much of. What were the Cubic inch of those early caddy motors ??

 

[Youngster]

The Caddy's where 331 cu. in. starting in '49 till '55 I believe. Along about '57 they offered a 365 cu. in. and in '59 or '60 it was increased again to 390 cu. in. The early Eldorado's had a 2x4 option.

Ron