alternative engines, now Hemi

[..]

You need to check the numbers on the block to be sure, a lot of engines get
swapped out over time. Secondly, to make that old hemi perform you have to spend
bundles of bucks. Those old long and flimsy stock rockers have to go and the
replacements are very expensive (big time), along with triple valve springs that
you need; that is  unless you want a low rev truck engine. Then you'll need to
replace the old worn pistons with some forged slugs (you'll have to bore it anyway
to straighten out those old tapered-by-time cylinders). Add at least a roller
chain timing set (or gear drive). Then comes the cam - you gotta be careful here.
Those old hemi's can be made to give you gobs of mid and top and power with the
right cam - but you'll give away bottom end torque. So plan on driving around with
a 2800-3000 stall convertor (and not the old slush box that came with that hemi) -
good luck finding an adapter. Outside of cleaning the mice nests out of the
intakes, just clean them up a bit - don't even look at the cost of replacement
race heads unless you're REAL serious.

In short, you'll be Time, Money and Power ahead by picking up a factory long block
and building from there. Much stronger bottom end for one thing and they breathe
like crazy!!

Or- put less then half as much money in your existing wedge and you'll have almost
as much power, certainly more usable street power. There was/is no magic in those
old hemi's (in 1958/59 my brother ran a 392 in his '40 Ford coupe and developed
fair sized arm muscles from steering that old nose heavy beast).
rap

"Todd....!!" wrote:

> So, the 392 was only in TWO years of cars?
>
> It could be that year, but it looks older than a 58, will verify!
>
> Maybe I'll take a dig pic of the thing and post it on one of my sites
> and ask ya'll to look at it and tell me wxactly what year the beast is!?
>
> My Bee would look REALLY COOL with a HEMI in it!
>
> Thanks!
>
> Todd....!!
>
> CLsnyder wrote:
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Todd....!! <atc347 at c-com.net>
> > To: <diy_efi at efi332.eng.ohio-state.edu>
> > Sent: Monday, May 24, 1999 12:23 PM
> > Subject: Re: alternative engines, now Hemi
> >
> > > Sounds like a painful operation to me!!
> > >
> > > ALSO, BTW - FYI - Found a HUGE IMPERIAL cruisin in the junk yard
> > > universe this weekend, and it has a HEMI IN IT!!
> > >
> > > HOWEVER it's an old 50's or early 60's at the latest car, I can't tell
> > > what year it is.. but the distributor is in the rear of the hemi, which
> > > means that is ain't a 426(426's dist is in the front like the newer
> > > mopar BB's)  So the question now is, is this engine truly a 392 or just
> > > a 331...?
> > >
> > 392 was used in '57 and '58. '56 was a 353. '51 to '55 were 331.
> >
> > Single headlights up to '56.
> > > EITHER way, it IS a hemi and it is HUGE!  NO ONE will be able to tel the
> > > diff tween it and a REAL 426 hemi except for the distributor sittin in
> > > the back!
> > >
> > > Anybody know how to tell what year the car is or whether or not the
> > > engine is a 331 or 392 hemi?
> > >
> > > They only want $300 for it, and that's still negotiable...
> > >
> > > Will be checkin for info on how to tell what this engine is...
> > >
> > > May just have ta pull a head to check the bore and pull the crank to
> > > check the stroke or somethin...  the bore should tell me nuff?  Will be
> > > gettin the specs and differences tween the 331 and 392 as well...
> > >
> > > LATER!
> > >
> > > Todd....!!
> > >
> > >
> > > Frederic Breitwieser wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Actually, the plug location in a Hemi is bad because it is off to one
> > side.
> > > > > Its the best you can do with a Hemi but its still bad.  As a result it
> > needs
> > > >
> > > > >From what I've read a not so uncommon mod for all out racing is to
> > drill
> > > > and tap another spark plug hole... but I've not found anything on the
> > > > net about it.  Someone who was slightly intoxicated mentioned this to me
> > > > in a bar a year or so ago.
> > >
> > >
> > >