Hey everyone,

A fiend of mine found this nail head in a wrecking yard in a car.  It runs.  Also has  aluminum head and intake.  Is this normal.

The engine casting number is by transmission and reads AB 1357943

Can anyone tell me what it is?  

What?! A nailhead with aluminum heads?

BUY THAT MOTOR NOW! BUY THE WHOLE CAR IF IT'S NOT A TOTAL WRECK AND CAN BE SAVED!

A) Nailheads aren't that common to find, and the street rod guys are starting to use them more for power because their differenct and make respectable power, and B) A nailhead with aluminum heads is pretty unique, and has to be worth something.

Can't find anything on aluminum headed nail heads, are you sure it's not one of the Buick 215 CID all aluminum V-8s?

Doesn't matter which one it is, BUY IT!!!  

It sounds to me like it's probably the 215 that you have. Still a nice motor to have. If it turns out to be one of the larger nailheads and it DOES have aluminum heads, you've just struck gold. I think there are only a couple of sets in existance and they fetch a small fortune. What car is the motor currently in?  

just for the fun.... the buick 215 is not dead...  it lives on in range rovers.. as far as i know ... up til recently...as far as i know.... they also got installed in TR-8's  rover 3500 sedans.. along with a few more..  

I dont see that # on my list of nailhead block castings,  they were produced from 53 to 66.  they are identifiable by the exhaust manifold, which  from the front is 1 cyl a small space 1 cyl  a large space and 1 cyl then the small space then 1 cyl   the intake is a 'airgap' design with the manifold not touching the block, they have a oil splash pan under the manifold.  the dist is in the rear, the water crossover head thead is sperate of the heads and come of the front of the head, join in the middle and then the thermostat is just kinda hangin in the air in the middle.  the valve covers are the giveaway.. they are vertical, not canted or leaning over at all   straight up and down.  they also came from the factory with nice little spark plug covers which many guys switch out, the covers, v/c and oil splash pan to aluminum,  very nice!  also the starter is on the left.  the 54-56 264/322c.i. engines have a larger bell housing,and 3 bolt engine mounts at the front, and round exhaust ports  they measure 8 and 1/4" across intake manifold bolts  364 *** measures 8 3/4" and four bolts on the mount w/ rectangular ports  the 401/425 ***  are 9" across bolts ps all nailheads have forged crank and rods and share many components with newer sibling engine  seals, gaskets etc   they would scream and build good power   back in the 60s  if you couldnt afford or find the oldsmobile rocket engine then this was the engine you put in.  google  1957 oldsmobile rocket j2  dual 4 barrel engine and you will see why it was the engine of choice...LOL  nobody built a stock engine available to the masses even as an option  with that kind of output till recently  I agree  BUY IT NOW button being clicked...  

how about some pics?