cniles, Saw this post when it first got posted and been figuring on it some. While $3,500 is a nice piece of change for "JUST" an engine, thats not really all you are getting. There is a 1954 Chrysler attached in there as well huh? Now that should be some trading matereal and a way to recoup some of that $3,500. Granted it is a 331 inch Hemi but you state "Nice Running" now Hemi's are expensive to build but this may have a few miles left in it, so the build part could be way down the road. Remeber Chrysler "Designed" the early Hemis for a mininum of 100,000 miles TTO ( time to overhaul). Now you have the performance things to worry about.

Nothing wrong about the performance Potential of the 331 Early Hemi. There are more desirable hemi's but that usually desired by some guy who doesn't own one. The 331 was only different from the commonly (called) more derirable 354 by an 1/8th of an inch bore. With the rest of the internals being the same. There is some difference in Valve flow and valve size most of the 331's had 1.81 Intakes and 1.150 ex while the 354's had a larger valve shared with some 1955 331's and most 392's at 1.94 intake and 1.75 ex and then the late 392's had the bigger valves for the early Hemi at 2.00 Intake. But the 331 can be made to run and run damn well. Increasing compression alone adds HP pretty fast in these motors and they could sure stand some more compression.

Your 1954 for sure "Should" have the short bell housing block and thats a good thing as well. The more a feller looks at this deal the better it gets in a way. Now you could get a 426 as is suggested but at somewhere south of $15,000 for an introduction 426 thats a long ways from $3,500. The 392's cost at least as much to build as the 331 or the 354, but PAW and maybe others sell complete 392's ready to roll but there price isn't cheap either at somewhere around $8,500 to $9,500.

Maybe if you don't buy this car you well share the sellers information and I will, the more I look at this the better it sounds.

Roland