The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Nailhead Buick powered BigBolts

Hi All

I am a member of the Buick Club of America forums,as well as the StoveBolt forum here. The question came up about Big Bolt Chevys (56-59) being powered by 322 nailhead Buicks.

If any one has insight into which models had Buick power, I'll pass it along to the guys in the Buick Club...

Thanks!

mike

Hy Squire, the 322 was available in conventional trucks, low cab forwards, and the school bus chassis. In the LCFs it was available begining with the 9100 series, and larger trucks, in the conventional trucks it was available begining in the 10100 series, and larger trucks, in the school bus chassis it was only available in the 10802 series, in the tandems it was available begining in the 10400 series, and larger trucks. The 322 was only available in 1956 and 57 in all but the school bus chassis, where it was available from 1957 to 59, hope that helps.

Squire,
Just a little additional info. I have a Hollander Interchange manual issued in 1957. It shows the 322 as available in the 1956 9 and 10 series trucks for 1956. It notes that the motor MAY interchange with Buicks although in the individual motor parts section, the only parts that show as identical are the rods and pistons. From that I would assume that there may be minor differences from the parts used in the Buicks.
Dave

Thanks, Fundytides & 3B!

Going to pass along this info to my Buick brethren ...

One of the fellows said that he found some info that said
the 322s destined for Chevy trucks got a a different cam grind for even more torque at low RPM & that they lowered the compression ratio slightly ... perhaps
with thicker head gasket ..?
Also, one of the guys sold a 56 Super to a guy restoring a Chevy fire truck that had a 322 as original to the chassis.

thanks again!
mike

I think the 56 Buick super last year and model that Buick offered a standard transmission until the 60's. They were very sought after 50 years ago because they already had a crank drilled for a pilot bearing and a manual transmission already installed. The Super had a lower HP rating than the Roadmaster and had more of the characteristics of the Chev truck offering.

All 1956 and 1957 9000 and 10000 series trucks and school busses came with the 322, there was no other engine available for these trucks. The only option available to the buyer was 2-barrel carb or 4-barrel carb.

The "Loadmaster" 2-barrel motor has 195 hp, 310 ft lbs of torque and 7.7:1 compression.

The "Super Loadmaster" 4-barrel motor has 210 hp, 320 ft lbs of torque and 7.7:1 compression.

They also had "hardened valve seats".

I have one in my 1957 Fire engine and one in my 1956 LCF (not running yet).

Mike B

Now I thought Pontiac was used in both Chev and GMC, but maybe just the GMC

Abento,

I don't think there was ever a Pontiac motor installed in USA built Chevy truck. However, wierd things happened to the North, South and East

From the beginning, 1911 to 1959 Chevrolet only used their own motors in their trucks with the expection of the 322 Buick used in the mid to late 50's. The 322 was needed as a "stop gap" (to keep pace with Ford and Dodge) in their "new" Heavy Duty line of trucks. So, starting in 1956 they borrowed Buicks tried and true 322 V8 that made 200 hp while the R&D Department was developing a "new" truck motor. The "new" motor became available in 1958 and was the 348...fondly nicknamed the "Stump Puller".

The 322 was only used in School Busses in 1958 and 59. I believe it had to do with not putting a "new" untried motor in a bus full of kids, but I could be wrong on this theory...

After 1959 Chevrolet would use different motors in their trucks, like the Detroit Diesel...

Happy Holidays,

Mike B