331 Hemi In A 49 Chevy Coupe?

Do it. Only be prepared to get good at routing steering linkage!

 

I wouldn't try this one if I'd never done an engine swap before. You'll need to cut the stock firewall a bit and the steering may be an issue (a rack & pinion conversion might help there). You also will want to put in some stronger rear springs when you put the open drive rearend in it, otherwise the thing will wheelhop like crazy from all that torque - the stock springs are wimpy because they're designed for a car with a torque tube taking up the rotational forces. Posies sells springs that bolt in, or you can go with a Walton Fabrications kit that gives you new springs and new brackets too.

I imagine the air tubes in the fenderwells will have to go, too, so you'll need to play around some to keep the underhood fumes out of the interior. Those 331s are plenty big - a Dodge or DeSoto hemi may fit in there easier.


Did you see the current R&C with the orange '50 fastback with a Buick Nailhead in it? That's a pretty sharp car, gives me some inspiration to finish my own. Although I'm keeping the 235 that's in it -

 

Sounds like a friggin' plan to me! DO IT.....that would be bad***

-Dean

 

Mine currently has a 235 in it and i had planned to keep it just because it was how i remembered the car from when i was a kid and plus it run good,well it did anyway until i got out there trying to get the old girl started again and found a gapping 6 inch crack in the block.After i saw that i figured i would yank it out and replace it with a v8, besides I do like getting sideways now and again....and again....and again

 

We put a 331 in a 40 Plymouth truck. That thing ran like a scalded cat. The engine was stock with a holley 600 and good ignition. Everytime the dude we did this for would show the truck people would spend more time looking at and trying to guess what the engine combo was. Most deff a stand out.

 

I'll step in here to back you up. Yup, I got a 49 Fleetline. Yup I got a Desoto Hemi. Yup, the two are gonna meet. Why? Cuz I saw a Desoto hemi in cool car once and have always wanted one. Hunted one down and waited for a car to put it in. Got this Fleetline with a sick/dying 216 that is gonna need an engine.

Everyone jumping in here with ketchup on bananas and whatnot..... Sure, a SBC drops in with readily available mounts and stuff, but really, an engine swap is an engine swap. A hemi is just plain cool and is happily accepted in most anything. I see no reason in the world why one in an old chevy would be any different. If it still bothers you, when you see mine, you can just keep walking if you want to....I ain't out to impress anyone anyhow....just building what I like.

But, to help you out Bowtie, sorry....it's not in the hole yet. I have the engine machined, but it's not together.

 

A hemi makes pretty much anything better. Do it and post a build thread so us hemi-less people may partake of your joy.

 

Thats a big 10-4
Step 1. buy a case of Bud.

 

I did one in a 40 ford and it was good solving all the installation problems. This is why we do it in the first place to satisfy an ideal of the car we like with the engine we want to use. As for cost they vary, just make sure the engine is not seized and if possible is complete from carb to pan. There is plenty of new parts available for the chrysler hemis so rebuilding is not that bad. I used ch***is engineering parts for the suspension front and rear and it made the installation easier but it is still alot of work but worth it. Good luck on your build.

 

I have mixed feelings about this. I see no reason not to run a HEMI in a Chevy ... hell, I've still got to pickup 2 276 Desoto Firedome Hemis when Spring comes ... but the thought never crossed my mind to put one in my 50 Chevy.
An engine like that says, "Look at me, Look at me!", Seems a damn shame to hide a freshly rebuilt and polished Hemi under any hood.
To each his own. I'm sure it would be neat to see, but aside from the initial shock value, I wouldn't want one in mine.
Regardless, post pics so I can just pretend that it was me putting a Hemi in my Chevy. Hell, you might just change my mind.

 

I'm bowtie to the bone, and I think he's got a great idea, post lots of pics, I may want to put one in my 51 coupe, instead of my big block bowtie!

 

Sounds awesome to me. Work with what you have like back in da day. Hemi's arnt't just for willys. I know a guy that put a hemi in a 56 chevy 4dr with a straight axle.Get wild with it.

 

A DeSoto or one of the bigger Dodges may be a better choice as far as weight distribution & handling go & should cost less.

 

49ratfink,

I'm probably a little biased ... but I totally disagree ... putting an Early HEMI in any car (be it a Chevy, Ford, Willys, etc.) is almost always an improvement!

If keeping with the "Chevy in a Chevy" theme is really important to the builder, I hear that SBC's make great starter motors for a HEMI!

 

Put a Ford in it!

 

Hell yeah! an old 239 Y-Block would really be something different!

Just kidding, any early Hemi would look right at home sitting in that early Chevy.
Build what YOU like, after all it is your money, your time, and your dream. Most will be able to appriciate your vision, Let those that don't like it take a hike.

 

Weight wise, a 235 actually weighs more than a Hemi, so that's not an issue -

 

do it...hemis are awesome in anything and everything!

 

Jesus...WTF is wrong with this place? The naysayers on this thread need to find another board to frequent. Do it!

 

He wanted opinions, and now you're upset?? Get over it.

Here's the deal. No one is going to know there is a hemi in a 49 chevy. Until you open the hood, and then 95% of them will be thinking: "this guy has more time and money than me," or "What a waste of a good hemi."

I think a little 283 with corvette valve covers is just the ticket...

 

For me, my Hemi had lots of joy, especially each time that the dual quads reached full open. and whenever the hood was lifted.

Ooops! I forgot to mention, my Dual-Quad 392 resided under the hood of my '54 Dodge pickup, and my 426 was under the hood of my '67 Belvedere.

 

No ****? Are you serious? I was looking at my 235 the other day and it looked so dainty that I could just lift it out with my bar hands ... but when I look a HEMI, that ****er just looks HEAVY.
Now I gotta do some research.

 

No thanks i dont like turds on my pancakes! j/k

 

i say no all you ever hear is put a hemi in it don,t follow a fad spent a lot of $$$ just to try and look cool be cool put a caddy or a nailhead in and be a cool car not just built for the shock factor and buddy of my has a 50 chevy pick-up with a hemi 331 a lot the frist shock factor frist time he took it out but now wishing it had a bbc hemi,s are like flat heads 2 of the prettish motors that were ever built and look great in a open engine comp.car but in a 50 chevy just sock factor but just my 2 cents best of luck what ever you do

 

I'm new here
I was wondering if anyone out there has put a long block 331 hemi in a 54 chev. I have the car and the engine is nearly finished(just waiting for the ross pistons). My brother and i will start the swap this spring and i was just looking for any heads up on what to look out for.
oh and i don't like ketchup on my bananas I just had the engine and thought it would be cooler than a SBC.

and guess what.....the 54....it's a four door!!!!
thanks for any help you can give me.

 

That's too funny....

 

leave the hood off!

 

I had a 331, I was going to put in my 55! I was talked out of it.. so I say do it!

 

I was going to put a Hemi in my '54 because I was going to get a Hemi for free. The deal didn't work out so I didn't do it, but I thought it would have been pretty cool.

 

One word------sbc