Thread: New Home Made C-Cab !!!!!!

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My memories a little foggy, I seem to remember the SBC HEMI conversion, I don’t believe it ever got much past building a few prototypes. The last I seem to remember hearing about them was one of the engines being auctioned off from Smokey Yunick’s garage years ago.

Hemi conversions were not all that uncommon, but usually just a VERY few sets for a given engine were produced (remember you've also have to consider a lot of little one off stuff to go with it like head gaskets, push rods, intakes, valve covers etc).

A few of the other conversions that come to mind are the Ardun Flathead conversions, and Mickey Thompson actually selling a few conversion sets for the Ford FEs and Pontiac Motors. As I recall Thompsons versions were based on the First Generation Chrysler Hemi Heads. As the bore spacing was the same for the HEMI, FE and Pontiac motors and there were a couple manufactures already pouring aluminum HEMI heads (think top fuel in the 60’s) modifying a raw casting for the Ford/Pontiacs was not a huge or horribly expensive challenge.

I have seen the fake Hemi valve covers sold for the SBC, they look OK at a glance, but it’s pretty easy to spot what they are once you get close to them. Just my opinion, but once you realize it’s just a poser HEMI it detracts from the whole car (but I’ll admit I’m a little bias as I have a couple of HEMIs).