I want to add that some of the information in the posts Bob linked to is now close to 5 years old and somewhat out of date. Were the threads not closed I would love to go back in and do some editing.

Pat and Roland comments are both correct. The price Roland quotes for rebuilding his 392 is about identical to what I have in my 354. I have considerably less in my 331, but that was because I collected parts over several years for it and fell into some good deals.

As most people have found out the initial investment is usually the cheap part of Hemi ownership. I would recommend looking thru Hot Hemi Heads and PAW and adding up the standard rebuild parts before jumping at buying one of these.

Don if all you’re looking at is the engine at that price I think I would hold out for the later non-extended bell housing (54 ½ -55) 331, 354 or even 392. Part of the advantage would be getting the bigger valve heads, and a wider variety of transmissions available.

That being said if this motor was complete and had a complete 3 speed stick setup (overdrive being a plus) I personally would jump on it……but only because I have this crazy idea that at some point I would like to do an era correct late 40s early 50s Ford or Merc sedan with the 51-3 Hemi and trans (possibly with the 2 X 2 2bbl truck intake)…...kind of a moonshine car thing.