The 401/400 became Buick's full-sized and later intermediate muscle car powerplant of choice, used in the company's Skylark Gran Sport, Buick Sport Wagon and Buick Wildcat models, among others. Originally a 401, it was later redesignated a 400 to meet 1960s GM directives for maximum displacement engines in mid-size cars. Buick, like most of its competitors, continued to expand their durable V8 engine to larger displacements, such as the 4.125 by 3.4 inches (104.8 mm × 86.4 mm) (bore by stroke) 364 cu in (6.0 L). The Special came standard with two-barrel carburetor and 250 hp (186 kW), where all others had the four-barrel, 300 hp (224 kW) engine. The 364 was introduced in 1957 and produced through 1961. The 322 was also used in the 1956 through 1957 10,000-Series conventional-cab Chevrolet heavy duty trucks labeled as the Loadmaster.īuick "Nailhead" V8 (second generation) īuick's second variation of the nicknamed "Nailhead" was produced from 1957–1966, and the "Fireball" name was no longer used starting in 1958, and was very briefly called the "B-12000" referring to the 12,000 foot pounds generated by each piston. The larger 322 cu in (5.3 L) was the original Nailhead, used by Buick from 1953 through 1956 in the Roadmaster, Super, and Century models, and the Special in 1956. The smallest displacement Nailhead, it is a small-bore version of the 322, sharing stroke and deck height, but having its own 3.625 in (92.1 mm) bore. The 264 cu in (4.3 L) produced in 19 was a direct replacement for the 263 straight-eight and the only engine available for the economy "Special" series during its run. After the war, manual transmissions fell out of fashion over and automatic transmissions were more popular. Dynaflow's non-shifting design was demonstrably smoother than the rough shifting automatics then available, to include GM's Hydramatic, and the Powerglide unit used by Chevrolet. The high torque nature of the engine was developed to provide adequate acceleration when mated to the Dynaflow transmission which favored smoothness above most other design and marketing objectives. All of the nailhead designs have a 4.75 in (121 mm) bore spacing. The small-diameter intake runners allowed these engines to develop high torque, with many exceeding 1 ft-lb/cu in, exceptional for the time. (Originally, it was known to hot rodders as the “nail valve” because the valves had long stems and small heads which made them look like nails.) To offset the smaller-sized valves (1.75 in (44 mm) for the intake and 1.25 in (32 mm) for the exhaust) and restrictive port diameters, the Nailhead V8 family used a camshaft with greater lift and duration. While it was officially called by Buick the "Fireball V8" it became known as the "Nailhead" by enthusiasts for the unusual vertical alignment of its small-sized valves, features that were the result of putting both intake and exhaust valves on the intake manifold side of the " pent-roof combustion chamber" used in this engine series. It was an OHV pushrod engine like the then-new Oldsmobile "Rocket" V8. The 322 Fireball V8 in a 1956 Buick Centuryīuick's first generation of V8 was offered from 1953 through 1956. Some of these Buick V8s, such as the 350, 400, and 455, had the same displacements as those from other GM divisions, but were otherwise entirely different engines. Six displacements of the engine were used in two generations between 19, varying from 264 cu in (4.3 L) to 425 cu in (7.0 L) three displacements of standard cast-iron small blocks between 19, and 300 cu in (4.9 L) and 350 cu in (5.7 L) one of the 215 cu in (3.5 L) aluminum blocks (1961-1963) and three big blocks between 19 and 400 cu in (6.6 L) and 455 cu in (7.5 L). All are naturally aspirated OHV pushrod engines, except for an optional turbocharged version of the short-lived 215 used in the 1962-63 Oldsmobile Jetfire. Displacements vary from 215 cu in (3.5 L) (for the division's unique all-aluminum early 1960s engine) to 455 cu in (7.5 L) for its last big block in 1976. The first version replaced the Buick straight-eight. The Buick V8 is a family of V8 engines produced by the Buick division of General Motors between 19.
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