...and more proof that Buick V-8s are awesome

[sierrablue]

I realize it's not the 350, but still...I actually debated putting one of these in mine, as it has the nailhead pattern tranny anyway, and then I could tell people I had a 401

https://www.thesr71blackbird.com/Aircra ... start-cart

[Yeller]

That’s some cool history

[tgreese]

The nailheads were fine engines in their day. However, I suspect the SR-71 crew used whatever engines were available and powerful enough. Cool looking engine - the upright valve covers are distinctive and great looking in an open-bay hot rod. They are old... and generally the older an engine is, the more expensive it is to rebuild.

These carts must have originalted in the '60s? The military could have bought whatever engines they want for these carts - suspect they were bought as new commodity engines from Buick, just like Kaiser bought the 350. Maybe that's what Buick could offer at the time.

If you want something wilder in your Wagoneer, I believe the larger Buicks (400, 430, 455) will drop on to your mounts and bolt up to the existing adapter ring. There's also the 472, 500 Cadillac, which is powerful, compact and lightweight for its displacement, and bolts up to the adapter ring though the mounts are different. IIRC it fits the engine compartment better than the Buick. Look through the archives at IFSJA for some examples.

[sierrablue]

I can already smoke the tires; Idk why I'd put more power in; that would merely suck more gas. I have non-power brakes so the brake booster wouldn't be a problem, but the nailheads are about 1" taller, which would interfere with the heater core.

I know the SR-71 originated in '62ish. According to what I read, the Buicks were a thing in the '60s, and then in the '70s they switched to the 454 and stuck with that. The Buick is cooler though, imo.