Thread: 1968 Plymouth Valiant 1st Gen HEMI

Tweet

I spent most of the week getting the parts ready for the mockup. I got the pistons, rods and crank out of the mock up engine and got it over to my shop and put the heads on it. I also got the bare 46RH case over to the shop.

When I get some time, I need to do some more checking on this block. It’s a 56 “Industrial” engine that came out of a Dodge truck. When I checked the casting number some references showed it as a 331 and one showed it as a 354. It also has a “W” cast onto the side. This engine is standard bore 331. What little bit of information I’ve found on the net indicates these blocks were cast with thicker cylinder walls that could be bored for either. Problem is there is so much incorrect information on the net about 1st Gen HEMIs I really need to do some more research…..and I won’t really know for sure without cleaning it up and sonic checking the cylinder walls.

I’m still looking for a 392 pan so for right now I was able to get a couple bolts started on an old 318 pan for mockup. If I have to build a pan (graft a 318 sump to rear sump HEMI pan) this will at least tell me If I have to make any adjustments to the sump location.

I really want to run aluminum valve covers but the tall covers I’ve got on the fresh 354 I have built to go in the Valiant won’t really be practical so I ordered a set of “stock height” covers like Ryan’s. We’ll see how that goes.

Exhaust is likely going to be an issue, hopefully, I can get away without having to build a set of custom headers. I’ll try the shorty headers first, but I also have a set of the square flange truck manifolds (supposedly the best flowing 1st Gen Hemi manifolds) and a couple sets of 55/56 manifolds that flow pretty well.

Yup all the stuff that went to the back shed is migrating back to the shop.



mock up parts by M Patterson, on Flickr


I’ve ordered a set of Schumacher 318 to 6 cylinder K frame mounts that should be here this week. I know they have to be modified a bit to fit the mounting ears on the HEMI but it gives me something to start with.

With luck Cade will be over Friday and we can get the parts car into the shop and I can start doing the mock-up.


.