hemi information

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rod7515

rod7515

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Ive never even looked at a car with a hemi in it so I dont know a lot about the hemi's however I think that there are more then one size hemi.
The reason that I bring this up is I found a 65 or 66 barracuda sitting behind a house that the lady that lives there says she wants to sell it. Its not worth much as it has rust but I want the steering wheel and horn button. While talking to her she tells me she inherited this from her brother inlaw that past away a few years ago. then she tells me there is a hemi in the basement that she wants to get rid of as well. So i plan on going and looking at these next weekend but would like some information and what are the different hemi's worth? What would it cost to have them rebuilt just making them stock if it would take a valve job, hone and new rings and bearings? would an early A body car handle a hemi and what suspension changes would have to be made?
Then theres the question of what transmissions bolt up to one.
I know i probably wouldnt want to tackle anything like this and Im not a fan of a b body car so maybe for the right price I could flip it. Then again maybe its not really a hemi or she would want to much to make a deal.
Would just like to know some things before I go to look at all of this. SHe told me her BIL was a collector so I guess I will see.
Thanks Rod
 
Desoto, Dodge & Plymouth had different versions.

Some are not well supported for aftermarket parts.

For the 1950s hemis , the 'good one' is the 392.

From '64 or so up, then you are talking a very cool find.

What is her number? lol
 
If the distributor is in the front it’s a gen 2 buy it. If it’s in the rear it’s a gen 1 pass on it.
 
DeSoto, Dodge, and CHRYSLER had their own versions of the first gen Hemi. Plymouth didn't have a Hemi until the gen 2, a.k.a. 426, Hemi was released. Gen 2 Hemi is ultra collectible. Gen 1 Hemi, not as much. But, they still have value. Both have been swapped into A body cars over the years. Don't dismiss the gen 1.
 
As mcodecuda said, the gen 1 will have distributor in the rear, like a small block. To further differentiate the gen 1, Chrysler engines have Chrysler Firepower stamped in the valve cover. Desoto will have Firedome, Dodge will have Red Ram or Super Red Ram. Gen 2 will have distributor in front, angling up to the passenger side of engine. Just like all other Mopar big blocks.
 
mcodecuda said:
If the distributor is in the front it’s a gen 2 buy it. If it’s in the rear it’s a gen 1 pass on it.
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The hell you say. The early Hemis are more "Hemi" than any of the rest. Do your own research. Don't take my word for it. I would get it, regardless of what it is. Somebody says pass on an early Hemi needs psychiatric help.
 
I’d grab that hemi ... even if it was just for “garage art”.
 
Gen 1 Hemi have become popular with the traditional rod builders. The first one not so much but they will buy them. Theres a guy on mopar.com that's looking for whatever you have in early hemi.
 
Coming from a guy who owned 15 early Hemis at the same time I'd say buy everyone you find....never been worth more than today.
 
Ten bucks says that she used the word HEMI thinking that it meant "A performance engine" and it is just a regular V8.
I'm an optimist but I also know how some people casually throw words and terminology around without knowing what it actually means.
Good luck though...For YOUR sake, I hope that I am wrong.
 
There are early hemi engines less valuable than others. The 392 is the most valuable, but doesn’t have the best cylinder heads- most folks shy away from the early 331 with the bell housing cast into the block- and parts are much more difficult to find for the desoto and dodge versions.
Any gen 2 426 would be a good find.

Plenty of info out there on the internet.
 
RustyRatRod said:
The hell you say. The early Hemis are more "Hemi" than any of the rest. Do your own research. Don't take my word for it. I would get it, regardless of what it is. Somebody says pass on an early Hemi needs psychiatric help.
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AGREE BASICALLY , BUT WITH SHALLOWER COMBUSTION CHAMBERS , HOW ARE THEY MORE HEMI THAN THE 426 ?
 
famous bob said:
AGREE BASICALLY , BUT WITH SHALLOWER COMBUSTION CHAMBERS , HOW ARE THEY MORE HEMI THAN THE 426 ?
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"Somehow" they are more efficient. There are articles about it. Even Garlits said they are more Hemi than the 426.
 
jas0162 said:
There are early hemi engines less valuable than others. The 392 is the most valuable, but doesn’t have the best cylinder heads- most folks shy away from the early 331 with the bell housing cast into the block- and parts are much more difficult to find for the desoto and dodge versions.
Any gen 2 426 would be a good find.

Plenty of info out there on the internet.
Click to expand...
The best heads were the 1955 "555" triple buckle castings on which the early Donovan heads were designed. You'd never feel any difference in a daily driver...might see some on the Dyno.

I had 555's on my blown 354.
 
You re not really gonna make us wait an entire week to find this out are you?

Grab a truck and get your but over there right now
 
Just an update on the cuda and hemi. I went yesterday to look at the barracuda. It appears to be A formula s barracuda and iui ts sitting outside with hood and trunk not on. It's a 273 4bbl engines covered with tarps but water sitting on tarps. Not sure if engine is locked up or free I didnt chk it out. Its has trans and rear in car. Trans is a 4spd with Hurst shifter and rear appears to be an 8.25. Only interior left was the back seat. Everything else has been removed. Left fender also missing. Right fender is mostly rusted away but has the formula s emblem on it. At this time I have passed on it!
We then looked at her other stuff for sale. A late 50s plymouth, I think an early 60s 300 with 440, a 74 charger 440, a desktop, a 76/7/8 duster volarie, a 50s something dodge truck, ramcharger, a dodge tow truck. Her priced were to high so I'm thinking the stuff will be there a while.
So then I ask her about the hemi she had mentioned. She says it's in her basement but she wont show it to me today! So I didnt see it. She said she needed to get more information first???? Not sure what that means. I'm adding some pics and would like to know if the engine pics in her garage with heads removed are they an older hemi's??
Guess i may be making another trip at a later date.
Rod
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Krooser said:
The best heads were the 1955 "555" triple buckle castings on which the early Donovan heads were designed. You'd never feel any difference in a daily driver...might see some on the Dyno.

I had 555's on my blown 354.
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That's debatable. There are flow numbers put the 331/354 truck/industrial heads right up there with the 555 heads........"AS LONG AS" they are upgraded with the 392 size valves. The 392 heads are actually the worst, because rather than make different intakes for the 392, Chrysler made different heads. Since the 392 is a tall deck, the intake ports of the heads had to be extended and have a bad turn in them. A lot of people make the mistake that since they're "392 heads" they gotta be good. They ain't. lol The real ones to stay away from are the 51-53 331 heads with the tiny round exhaust ports. They flat out suck. lol
 
The engine with the heads off is either a 331 or 354 truck or industrial engine. You can tell from the pistons. Those are low compression, 7.5:1. That denotes the truck/industrial thing. It is also at least a 1954, as all the 53 and back had the extended bellhousing. That has the short (more desirable) conventional bellhousing. Same bolt pattern as the LA small block, but still requires an adapter plate, because the dowel pins are in different locations. That's probably a pretty good score. Where are the heads? Make sure to look at the exhaust ports. If they are large and oval, they are quite good. If they are round, they are the earlier ones and have been swapped out. Round exhaust ports suck on early Hemis. Look on the block directly behind the timing cover on the top of the block. There's a pad with some stamped numbers. Get those and it will tell you exactly what it is.
 
RustyRatRod said:
"Somehow" they are more efficient. There are articles about it. Even Garlits said they are more Hemi than the 426.
Click to expand...

The early hemi's are a true hemi. The 426 got mashed into an egg shape so they could lower the car bodies over them. This is what I read about 50 years ago.
 
Jadaharabi said:
The early hemi's are a true hemi. The 426 got mashed into an egg shape so they could lower the car bodies over them. This is what I read about 50 years ago.
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426's are a real Hemi chamber. Gen3's have a quench pad on the early versions and an oval chamber '09 and later.
 
RustyRatRod said:
The engine with the heads off is either a 331 or 354 truck or industrial engine. You can tell from the pistons. Those are low compression, 7.5:1. That denotes the truck/industrial thing. It is also at least a 1954, as all the 53 and back had the extended bellhousing. That has the short (more desirable) conventional bellhousing. Same bolt pattern as the LA small block, but still requires an adapter plate, because the dowel pins are in different locations. That's probably a pretty good score. Where are the heads? Make sure to look at the exhaust ports. If they are large and oval, they are quite good. If they are round, they are the earlier ones and have been swapped out. Round exhaust ports suck on early Hemis. Look on the block directly behind the timing cover on the top of the block. There's a pad with some stamped numbers. Get those and it will tell you exactly what it is.
Click to expand...
Looks like a '54 331....last year for the breather in the timing cover iirc and first year of the short bellhousing. A few early '55's had the same breather deal.
 
Jadaharabi said:
The early hemi's are a true hemi. The 426 got mashed into an egg shape so they could lower the car bodies over them. This is what I read about 50 years ago.
Click to expand...

So, tell me what is egg shaped , it is a tall block and dam sure don't have egg shaped combustion chambers , way deeper and more hemispherical than any before it , even the old gen 1 hemi`s.
RRR that's the part I`m not understanding , flatter combustion chambers are closer to a wedge than deeper ones , that's why Hoover and the boys designed them that way .
 
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