Thread: Blown Hemi

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Well the decision was made pretty quickly on what kind of hemi to get. I was checking out ebay, and there was a 354 out there, that had the top end re-done, but stock bottom end, at what might still be a good price, but didn't like the CR of 9.25:1 but if I was going to redo the bottom that would have been changed. Then a buddy of mine told me about a 392 long block for sale that was already built for a blower (the guy had changed plans, so it was sitting in his garage) picked it up REAL cheap. He said it was already balanced, 426 rods, forged pistons, double roller chain, some head work. But as I said it has been sitting for a couple of years, so it had some surface rust on the block & heads (it hasn't been painted yet) so the first thing the wife says we are buying this big ugly thing. We loaded this ugly thing in the back of the truck, and watched the back end drop, Now a little back story here I am a die hard ford guy, had a 68 shelby 500 in my Navy days in the late 70's, couple mach 1s w/428s, and just sold a superformance cobra so I can build a cabriolet (I can only afford 1 toy at a time) I could not believe how heavy that engine IS !!! Found out that a basic 50's hemi weighs about 800 lbs (sound right?) So no wonder it dropped the back end of the truck. Of course I don't have a car to put it in, so she thinks that makes a lot of sense to, but she is used to me, and just smiles, and says "Bless his heart "
So I am on my way, guess I better open up an account w/ hot heads & PAW

Mike

Congrats on the Hemi!!! As far as weight.. they are a bit beefey. Running the blower you get rid of the cast iron intake and the whole front cover and water pump so you shed a lot of pounds. On the other hand you add almost 100 pounds of blower, manifold, and carbs. Hot heads has the conversion front cover so you can use the Chev water pump which is availablel in alumininum. You could use a mag blower but pay a bit more for it. I don't remember what the weight difference is, 10-15 pounds for mag blower and manifold maybe a bit more. They do polish a bit different color but pleasing.
If you can I'd go for the aluminum heads. They old stuff is probably pretty well used up and will cost a lot to rebuild and replace. You can save significat weight here too plus get a better part. If I recall the iron heads weigh about 100 pounds each complete. Alum are probably half that.
Don't forget the headers. 2" headers and collectors can get pretty heavy fast.

A good buddy of mine just got what he though was a 392 but it turns out is is a 331 industrial with the gear drive cam. Kinda an orphan but I think Hot Hemi has the conversion stuff he needs.

I really wish I could afford one for my 41 Willys.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by eticket

Of course I don't have a car to put it in, so she thinks that makes a lot of sense to

Makes perfect sense to me.

I believe a 392 weighs 790 pounds, dry.
The Surfers useta run $29.95 reground cranks in their digger, and never blew one apart in several years. The stock 392 cranks are steel and all radiussed, stone reliable.

You can use the stock crank. Heck we had them welded into 5/8 and 3/4 strokers in the gas dragster days. Even stock rods will be ok for street. Keep the boost down around 5psi and build a basic good motor. I'd try to add an MSD ignition.

There were more blown cars and even a few blown hemi's at the back to the 50's than I've ever seen before.

The qas milege will be back tothe 50's too. haha 10 on a good day.