[Another Weird Question] When Was The 264/322 V8 First Referred To As The Nailhead?

[J3Studio]

I'm having trouble narrowing this down—when was the 264/322 Buick V8 first referred to as the nailhead? Was it common parlance when the 364/401/425 came along?

[NTX5467]

It happened decades ago when the engines were first in production.  Valve heads "the size of a nail's head", as they were smaller in diameter compared to other engines from back then.  That term stuck on that V-8 engine family until it ended production in the middle 1960s with the 425.

 

Valve diameter has more to do with the diameter of the cylinders in the engine, even on the Chrysler Gen I Hemi.  Only so much room in the combustion chamber.    Even if the valves might physically fit the chamber diameter, the intake valve can still be somewhat shrouded by the edge of the combustion chamber.  FWIW

[mobileparts]

1953.

[Oldtech]

I suspect the hot rodders of the time. 

[60FlatTop]

There is a good chance the term originated with Jim Bell of Kenne-Bell.

 

Kennedy, the elder, raced them new.

Edited October 9, 2021 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[Roadhog1951]

I remember my older sisters boy friend had a '40's era ford pick up and he proudly stated it has a Buick "nailhead" engine in it. This would have been about '66. I was 15 at the time,,,,