(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Need help identifying this 1964 Buick Electra engine

A

andy r

Member
Neighbor who does not use the internet wanted me to ask this question(s) hoping to identify what engine he has. The engine came out of a 1964 Buick Electra. He did find numbers on the heads - one head is 1196914 and the other head is 1196914J. He assumes the last digit J refers to it either being on the left side or right side. Another casting number he found is on top behind the distributor, somewhere near where the bellhousing would bolt up. That number is B1364705. The number is somewhat recessed and appears to be cast in rather than stamped. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
 
Casting numbers can be a little vague, or not always exact since those numbers are there before any machining

Block cast# ( 1364705 ) 64-66, 401/425
Head cast# ( 1196914 ) 69-66, 364.401.455
 
What you need to find is the stamped numbers on the top/front of engine block. These numbers are stamped onto the same surface the lifter valley pan seals to.
 
I don't know about the numbers, but I was working at a Buick dealership when those cars were still on the road. As far as I know MOST of the Electra 225s used the 401 engines with a 4-barrel carburetor. As far as I know the 401s were blue/green and were marker ''Wildcat 445'' on the air cleaner. 425s were painted red and were marked ''Wildcat 465'' on the air cleaner. Original engine would have been the 6th digit of the VIN. The first 5 of the VIN were model and body style. As I recall, the 425 was an extra cost option that was very rare in the Electras. The 425 was used mostly in the Rivieras and may have been available in the Gran Sports.

This is about what I remember.
 
As posted below, either a 401 or 425, nailhead if, indeed, from a 64 full sized Buick. Almost certainly a 401.

Dean
 
I once saw his quad 401 4WD dragster go through my hometown on a trailer in the early/mid 60s.

VERY few folks tried to drag race nailheads.
 
They did not flow air very well, I forget if the intake or exhaust was the restriction, but they ran out of breath above 5000 RPM. They were a very good slow turning high torque engine, prefect for large Buicks of the day.
 
Bingo.

Great torque engines but little RPM potential, due to small ports, especially exhaust ports with sharp turn.
 
(quoted from post at 12:30:55 05/05/22) They did not flow air very well, I forget if the intake or exhaust was the restriction, but they ran out of breath above 5000 RPM. They were a very good slow turning high torque engine, prefect for large Buicks of the day.
Click to expand...
asn't the 'nail head' designation a reference to small valve sizes?
 
For the trivia buffs herein, Buick 425 nail-head engines were used as starter motors for the SR-71 Blackbird.

Dean
 
13mpg, cruise easily at 80mph, needed best grade of gas. Electra 225 (1965) would cruise so smoothly one could read the license plate numbers of the car behind you as the mirrors did not vibrate.
Finally blew a hole in a piston at well over 100K miles. The scavengers then had at it. Leo
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Massey Ferguson engine ID for water pump replacement
Replies
10
Views
697
Bob N.Y.
Bob N.Y.
J
Help in identifying my Case?
Replies
10
Views
1K
jnharsh
J
R
Case model D serial ID / need pwr steering
Replies
10
Views
886
Joe (Wa)
J
J
Continental gas engine identification and rear seal leak
Replies
14
Views
3K
jshwhite
J
M
Int. 404 need help with Loader Indentifcation?
Replies
5
Views
444
Harold Hubbard
H
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top