Just remembered-water pumps are hard to find for these first hemis. They have a different frontal configuration than the later ones. I was able to use a 60s 383 pump. Had to machine the mounting holes a bit but it worked great. Best advice-check that hemi out carefully-compression test-startup-oil pressure etc. They are expensive to rebuild. I would not spend the money to do an early 331 .you could do a 354 or 392 for the same $.
"Willys36"; I have a good runnin' '56 331 Chrysler out of a dump truck (it was supposedly completely rebuilt and then the transmission on the truck exploded). I have had this engine on my test stand, and all of that appears to be true; excellent compression and oil pressure, runs smooth and cool, all of that. I knew about the large sodium-filled valves etc. and have been looking for a set of car heads to replace them. From what I read above, that would be a big mistake. It sounds like some new guides and valves and I should have the best setup. Is that really true? I always was impressed that the engine has the "4-bolt" exhaust manifolds, so everything you said sounds reasonable. Please say it's so.
I have had two 426 racing engines and they are sweet. I have a 392 to put in my 39 Plymouth for the street.
Tubman -Hotrod mag did some tests on early hemis a few years ago and found those331 truck heads to be the best flowing of all of them .They said the sodium filled valves are good too-lighter. I will try to find the article.
hotrod mag July 2012 Good read for hemi guys! If I had another one I would put It in my shoebox. The search is on.
Don't say that! I have this hemi, a shoebox ('51 coupe), and the adapter to the Ford transmission. They are meant for different projects, but......
Tubman -I also have a 51 Ford coupe And have A 283 ready to go in. If I had a hemi I would use it . Your truck engine is probably low compression. That leaves the door open for use of a small blower.By not going over 8psi you can bolt it on and increase the hp by 100. You don't have to do anything to the engine. If you use a bigger, well that's a different story. Sorry for hijacking this thread,we need one for just hemis.
The truck heads are good, They are ugly though with the big ole lug hanging off of it and there’s no provision to get water out of them. I’ve seriously contemplated cutting the lug off of mine and dressing the castings to look cast again. The material is pretty thin where it’s been drilled and threaded here too for the hose fittings
I must be lucky. I still have the front cover and 4 BBL intake manifold from the '54 New Yorker engine that I put in my dirt modified (avatar). Maybe I can put something together after all. (How much compression do you need for a 2200 lb "T" tub anyway?)
When it came to putting headers on the 354" in the door-slammer I had, I was going to buy some flanges and have the headers custom made. Instead, I decided to buy a set of "block huggers" with the idea that parts of them could be used. The surprising thing I found was that they fit, in tact, as they were. They go straight down, so I guess that if you can get the motor and valve covers in, the headers may fit in the space. Your installation may vary.
Update ! I skipped on the baby hemi and jumped on a 1955 Cadillac 331 complete with transmission. Suppose to be a running good engine...haven't tried it yet. Sent from my SM-G960U1 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I haven't done the deed yet but I can't see where my thoughts are wrong. As 31Vicky points out there are some ugly hunks on the heads but that is cosmetic and fixable. Otherwise they seem awesome upgrade for the 51-53 331. Those heads, 1/8th" bore to 354 and the long 331 becomes a contender!! Need to figure out the thermostat/water pump issue but it is doable. Truck heads actually seem to be the best choice for drag racing engines which don't need cooling. Have big ports and valves, no exhaust X-over ports to weld up, desirable 331/345 intake port angels over the 392 heads. Valve guide changes and modifying that heat X-over port are the only drawbacks I can see. I need someone to tell me I'm wrong.
Plymouth Front small by cbr74 posted Nov 17, 2011 at 7:49 AM I was happy to see this pop up in my search. My '39 Plymouth business coupe is about to get a 392 hemi transplant from a 2018 Challenger.
I know right? If I’m Looking for 1957 first gen hemi 392 Chrysler stuff I now have to wade thru & pick thru internet mountains of this “new” dodge 392 shit mixed in with the old. We’re definitely talking about old 392 stuff and here you got dragged in and want to talk about your new 392. Trust me , you may arrive happy but nobody walks away happy when this happens. You see, this new shit really is or certainly ought to be dodge 6.4 hemi. It’s got nothing in common with the 392 Chrysler that made those numbers famous And synonymous with both Chrysler and Hemi
No joke. And it seems like ninety eight out of one hundred 392 internet ads are for the "new" shit, and getting worse every time I do a search.
I also am always looking for Early 392 parts, I also get tired of the late model stuff that is always advertised as 392 parts. The one good thing about it is you will never see that new crap here on the HAMB.
Nothing wrong with a 55 331 or a 56 354. 392 is a number. I have all 3 and most if not all could not tell the difference. They will all haul the mail.
I am pleased that your 331 turned out well 60 years ago...BUT, today's availability of good blocks is running thin. ALL of the EarlyHemi blocks have core shift issues, some tolerable and some horrible. We have been force to move the bore centerline on some blocks in order to keep them usable with a overbore. It is also not easy to see the rust that has continued to work its magic on the inside and what was 'good' 60 years ago may be less so today. There is NO good reason to bore a 331 125 over unless the sonic check shows reasonable wall thickness on all thrust sides of the cylinders. There are plenty of ruined blocks from getting too aggressive with a boring bar and there is no good way to then salvage them. Sleeves? $100 each. If more compression is needed then buy some 10:1 forgings and keep the stock bore. It will be a better engine. .
I have a great little 276 Desoto in my 32 and it runs strong and gathers lots of attention as it is rare. One of the reasons is that there are very few parts for it. Hot Heads is the savior for most of what you need but other stuff is hard to come by and done right, is more expensive. Now that it is done, I am thrilled. Used a Hot Heads adapter for the 350 trans and fit perfect. My only problem is that I know have a killer 350 SBC on a stand that I have to get rid of it. oh well, Beats growing up. BTW Agree that the transmissions are for the scrap pile unless a restorer wants one
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