Help Identifying a 392 HEMI for sale

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Jadaharabi said:
I was told years ago that you can use 340 main caps on a 392. Is this true?
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Haven't heard that, not sure why you'd need to anyway. Main caps aren't hard to find for the 392's because a lot of people swap them out for aftermarket billet stuff. The blocks are actually pretty close to the "A" block, which then became the "LA" block so some stuff does crossover. There's a modification to the 340 HV oil pump that allows them to be used on the early hemi's. LA distributors can be used if you adapt the length of the shaft to match the deck height, although on a 241/270 Dodge hemi the distributor drops right in. Balancers can be used if you re-broach the keyway for the hemi.
 
I cut my teeth on early Hemis, yeah I'm pretty old! One thing I haven't seen mentioned is their weight. The 392 tall block engine had about 25 lbs on the 331 and 354. It came in at around 745 lbs. That's about the same as a 340 + a 727 trans. A 440 is in the range of 675 lbs.

Had a friend in college that stuffed a 354 into a 1954 Ford Victoria hardtop and even being a body on frame car it raised hell with the front end repeatedly. My point is that engine and whatever trans. you decide to go with is too much for an A bodies front end structure unless it's only going to be used in a straight line. I would opt for an early 70's B body if you are looking at a street cruiser. Just my 2c :D
 
340demon72 said:
I cut my teeth on early Hemis, yeah I'm pretty old! One thing I haven't seen mentioned is their weight. The 392 tall block engine had about 25 lbs on the 331 and 354. It came in at around 745 lbs. That's about the same as a 340 + a 727 trans. A 440 is in the range of 675 lbs.

Had a friend in college that stuffed a 354 into a 1954 Ford Victoria hardtop and even being a body on frame car it raised hell with the front end repeatedly. My point is that engine and whatever trans. you decide to go with is too much for an A bodies front end structure unless it's only going to be used in a straight line. I would opt for an early 70's B body if you are looking at a street cruiser. Just my 2c :D
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That's what they weigh with all of their cast iron accessories. And if it's going in an A-body, it won't have all of those. A chevy water pump conversion, which is probably necessary just to get it to fit, takes a bunch of weight off the front end. So does an aluminum intake, as the stockers are very heavy. You can get a 392 down to factory big block weight with just a few aluminum pieces. And A-bodies came with factory big blocks, so, I think you're off base here.
 
72bluNblu said:
That's what they weigh with all of their cast iron accessories. And if it's going in an A-body, it won't have all of those. A chevy water pump conversion, which is probably necessary just to get it to fit, takes a bunch of weight off the front end. So does an aluminum intake, as the stockers are very heavy. You can get a 392 down to factory big block weight with just a few aluminum pieces. And A-bodies came with factory big blocks, so, I think you're off base here.
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Yeah, if just about anyone but the regulars that live on this site post something, it's off base. I was just trying to point out to the OP the weight disadvantage. My opinion is that they belong in dragsters, Rat Rods and the like. Sorry I stepped out of line..............
 
After putting headers on a few LA engine A - Body cars I cant even imagine what a nightmare it would be to put a set of headers on a Hemi in a A - Body.
They dont make enough aspirin.
 
340demon72 said:
Yeah, if just about anyone but the regulars that live on this site post something, it's off base. I was just trying to point out to the OP the weight disadvantage. My opinion is that they belong in dragsters, Rat Rods and the like. Sorry I stepped out of line..............
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You're right on the money as far as stock weights go. Plus, as I'm sure you're aware, there are a lot of differences in cylinder heads, too. The truck heads, for instance, like what I have on my 331, are much heavier than a lot of the other castings, because they have a lot more meat in them and lack the front cross over water passages. All that area is solid iron. I have the Chevy conversion on my engine and I promise you, it's heavier than a big block. I have two big blocks here. A 396 Chevy and a 400 Chrysler and this 331 eclipses them both. So, you were far from out of line. Please keep right on posting your opinion.
 
a set of hotheads alum heads would carve some weight , flow more air . if you need that . and there are more alum parts to lighten it load as well . and trans adapters for chrysler and gm bellhousings .
 
340demon72 said:
Yeah, if just about anyone but the regulars that live on this site post something, it's off base. I was just trying to point out to the OP the weight disadvantage. My opinion is that they belong in dragsters, Rat Rods and the like. Sorry I stepped out of line..............
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So, what does a 426 hemi weigh with all of its cast iron factory parts then huh? Let's see, from #5--- Engine Weights
Screen Shot 2020-01-30 at 4.10.47 PM.png


Good grief! 765 lbs! That's heavier than a 392! Well, it's a good thing they never put one those in an A-body. Oh, wait a minute, they did. Huh.

You can lose 100 lbs off a 392 just with accessories. That puts it under a stock 440 for weight. Sure, weight is a consideration, but by the time you get it into an A-body with an aluminum water pump, aluminum intake, headers, new balancer, etc it won't weigh any more than a factory BB. I can think of a whole list of issues I'd worry about more than the weight. And if you think this is because of your post count, it isn't. RRR is just as wrong and he's got more than 5x the posts I do.

RustyRatRod said:
You're right on the money as far as stock weights go. Plus, as I'm sure you're aware, there are a lot of differences in cylinder heads, too. The truck heads, for instance, like what I have on my 331, are much heavier than a lot of the other castings, because they have a lot more meat in them and lack the front cross over water passages. All that area is solid iron. I have the Chevy conversion on my engine and I promise you, it's heavier than a big block. I have two big blocks here. A 396 Chevy and a 400 Chrysler and this 331 eclipses them both. So, you were far from out of line. Please keep right on posting your opinion.
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A full dressed 331 only weighs about 700 lbs. That's only 30 lbs heavier than a 440. The water pump conversion by itself saves that over the cast iron timing covers and all the that junk on a 331. Let alone an intake. Why don't you put that 331 on a scale and see what you get?

But hey, what the hell do I know. It's not like I've got any experience with early hemi's.
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i had a bunch of 92 heads i sold of , save some from the racer that gave me them . had him sign the ported ones . i'm hanging on to those .
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72bluNblu said:
So, what does a 426 hemi weigh with all of its cast iron factory parts then huh? Let's see, from #5--- Engine Weights
View attachment 1715461823

Good grief! 765 lbs! That's heavier than a 392! Well, it's a good thing they never put one those in an A-body. Oh, wait a minute, they did. Huh.

You can lose 100 lbs off a 392 just with accessories. That puts it under a stock 440 for weight. Sure, weight is a consideration, but by the time you get it into an A-body with an aluminum water pump, aluminum intake, headers, new balancer, etc it won't weigh any more than a factory BB. I can think of a whole list of issues I'd worry about more than the weight. And if you think this is because of your post count, it isn't. RRR is just as wrong and he's got more than 5x the posts I do.



A full dressed 331 only weighs about 700 lbs. That's only 30 lbs heavier than a 440. The water pump conversion by itself saves that over the cast iron timing covers and all the that junk on a 331. Let alone an intake. Why don't you put that 331 on a scale and see what you get?

But hey, what the hell do I know. It's not like I've got any experience with early hemi's.
View attachment 1715461825
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Well they don't call them a "Elephant" for nothing.
 
well there planned out but not built yet . need more parts , a couple austin a40 gassers , my 27 t turtledeck , the salt racer a 38 dodge p/u has two different hemi's for two classes . and a couple roadsters , and i'm sure i could find more homes for them among my collection .
 
72bluNblu said:
So, what does a 426 hemi weigh with all of its cast iron factory parts then huh? Let's see, from #5--- Engine Weights
View attachment 1715461823

Good grief! 765 lbs! That's heavier than a 392! Well, it's a good thing they never put one those in an A-body. Oh, wait a minute, they did. Huh.

You can lose 100 lbs off a 392 just with accessories. That puts it under a stock 440 for weight. Sure, weight is a consideration, but by the time you get it into an A-body with an aluminum water pump, aluminum intake, headers, new balancer, etc it won't weigh any more than a factory BB. I can think of a whole list of issues I'd worry about more than the weight. And if you think this is because of your post count, it isn't. RRR is just as wrong and he's got more than 5x the posts I do.



A full dressed 331 only weighs about 700 lbs. That's only 30 lbs heavier than a 440. The water pump conversion by itself saves that over the cast iron timing covers and all the that junk on a 331. Let alone an intake. Why don't you put that 331 on a scale and see what you get?

But hey, what the hell do I know. It's not like I've got any experience with early hemi's.
View attachment 1715461825
View attachment 1715461824
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My 331 is a 1956 medium duty truck engine.
Did you see that? I said MY 331. Not "someone else's. It came out of a 56 D600 dump truck. It has the extended service block that's made to to be over bored many times. They have a LOT more metal in them as do the truck style heads I described. They are similar to some of the heavy duty truck and industrial heads from the big block as they run water through where the exhaust cross overs would be. Also, they lack the front cross over ports I spoke of earlier. This engine as it sits outweighs a fully dressed 396 Chevy and a 400 Chrysler. I know what it weighs. Exactly. As I put each individual piece on a scale at the local post office when I first got it, because I was curious. As purchased, it was a total of 801 pounds. It's a heavier engine than the rest because it's a medium duty truck engine. I don't know what it weighs now, but I would "guess" probably 50-75 pounds less. That water pump and timing cover were both pretty heavy.

No one questioned your "hemi knowledge". We all know how smart you are. You constantly remind us.
 
rrr , they also had a 354 hemi in those . with two two's bbl carbs . no name covers . those heads are water through under the carbs , instead of exhaust heat through like the car engine . it sure fit the 56 car head , but beings its a low deck . the 392 heads won't work . well unless your intake is split side for side like injection or log manifolds with carbs . this was a buds build , used twin jet two bbl carbs , made up intake found parts of this and that , with a few hours in the machine shop .
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pomonamissel said:
rrr , they also had a 354 hemi in those . with two two's bbl carbs . no name covers . those heads are water through under the carbs , instead of exhaust heat through like the car engine . it sure fit the 56 car head , but beings its a low deck . the 392 heads won't work . well unless your intake is split side for side like injection or log manifolds with carbs . this was a buds build , used twin jet two bbl carbs , made up intake found parts of this and that , with a few hours in the machine shop . View attachment 1715461895 View attachment 1715461896
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I know. That's the intake I have. But they were two BIG one barrels. Mine now is two two barrels. I found some trans dapt adapters and put two GM two barrels on it.

HEMI AFTER.jpg
 
pomonamissel said:
rrr , they also had a 354 hemi in those . with two two's bbl carbs . no name covers . those heads are water through under the carbs , instead of exhaust heat through like the car engine . it sure fit the 56 car head , but beings its a low deck . the 392 heads won't work . well unless your intake is split side for side like injection or log manifolds with carbs . this was a buds build , used twin jet two bbl carbs , made up intake found parts of this and that , with a few hours in the machine shop . View attachment 1715461895 View attachment 1715461896
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That's a really nice lookin 392.
 
pomonamissel said:
well there planned out but not built yet . need more parts , a couple austin a40 gassers , my 27 t turtledeck , the salt racer a 38 dodge p/u has two different hemi's for two classes . and a couple roadsters , and i'm sure i could find more homes for them among my collection .
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Well, if you need a good home for one I would be proud to step up to the plate and adopt one.
 
Thanks everyone for the information, this was a fun learning experience. In the end, I'm going to pass on this, just because of the money involved to do true justice to this motor. When I can rebuild a 440 to drop in here for a good bit less and have arguably better power, or at least the same numbers, I think it's best to leave this with the experts. Maybe after a few more engine builds I'll look again for something like this. In case anyone else is interested in it, send me a message since it won't allow me to post the link here.
 
I have a nicely rebuilt 392 fairly priced if you are interested. Added bonus of new adjustable rocker arms.
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Dave Haertel said:
Guessing coming from Montreal to SC the shipping would be a pretty big number !! Looks incredible. Any Dyno numbers?
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At 750lbs it could get pricey Dave. Depends on shipper. Motor has never been fired up since rebuild.
 
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