Buick V8's used in 1956 to 1959 Chevy trucks?

[lesmore49]

I have read that the Buick nailhead V8 (264+322 cubic inch) were used in Chevy trucksjava script:emoticon('')

smilie from 1956 to 1959. I am assuming that they were used as bigger optional engines to supplement the small block V8 (265/283) that was available.

 

I am a bit puzzled why they would use them in 1958/59 considering that the 348 W block was available at this time.

 

Can anybody confirm that these Buick engines were available in Chevy trucks at this time. I would think that they would be used in chevy trucks bigger than one ton.

 

Anybody with any info. on this?

 

Thanks, Lesmore

[R Dogg 56]

Wikipedia.org says that the Nailhead was produced from 1957 to 1966 and was the big block V8 at the time, until it was replaced in 1967 by the 403, 430, and 455.

 

Buick/Chevrolet Truck

Buick shared its first V8 with Chevrolet's trucks. This family lasted from 1953 through 1956 in Buick cars and from 1956 through 1959 in Chevrolet trucks. It was an OHV/pushrod engine like the new Oldsmobile V8 engine.

 

*The 264 in³ (4.3 L) 264 was a direct replacement for the 263 straight-8 in Buick's large cars. It was produced from 1953 through 1956.

 

*The larger 322 in³ (5.3 L) 322 was also used by Buick from 1953 through 1956, and was then passed to Chevrolet for use in its trucks through 1959.

 

*Buick's second-generation V8 was the so-called Nailhead. It was produced from 1957 through 1966.

 

*The smallest Nailhead was the 364 in³ (6.0 L) 364.

 

*The next member of the family was the 401 in³ (6.6 L) 400. This was actually a 401 that had been redesignated a "400" in order to meet GM directives for maximum displacement engines in mid-size cars.

 

*Another Buick "400" engine was a member of the 400/430/455 family and was produced from 1967 to 1969.

 

*The 401 in³ (6.6 L) 401 was Buick's muscle car motor of choice, and was found in the company's Gran Sport 400.

 

*425 425 in³ (7.0 L) 425

 

My guess is that they wanted another option for engine choices, and since GM has always shared something within its brands, why not put a Buick V8 into a Chevy?

 

Hope this answers your question.

[autopat]

Never heard of, or seen any literature on a '56-'59 Buick powered Chevy pick-ups, but GMC's of that era were using Pontiac engines (287cu. and 347 cu.), until '60 when they changed over to using Chevy stuff, even that oddball 302cu. V-6 (409 missing last two cylinders).

[C/K Man]

Yes, Chevy did use a modified version of the Buick 322 'Nailhead' in heavy duty commercial trucks in 1956-57. In 1958, the 322 was replaced with athe truck 348, but for some reason large school bus chassis continued to use the 322 until 1959. I knew a guy that had a '56 10000 series Chevy tandem axle truck, and it had a 322 in it. The GMC V-6 was not related to the 348 and 409 V-8's. It was a GMC designed engine, and was only used by GMC, except for a very few heavy duty commercial trucks built by GMC for Chevrolet. They do look a bit like an early Chevy Big Block, but the V-6's were a 60 degree design, and were much heavier than the Chevys. The V-6's were built in 305, 351, 379, 401, 432, and 478 sizes, along with a 637 V-8 (478 V-6 + 2 cylinders) and a 702 V-12 (basically a pair of 351 V-6's). The 351, 478, and 637 were also made as deisels, too. For more information on the GMC V-6, check this site out:

 

http://www.6066gmcguy.org/