Found a Hemi in a Garage

I went to look at a 29 Roadster that was on Craigslist this afternoon. The guy wants $12k for it and although having a hopped up 4cyd with S10 5sp and 40 brakes and rearend........just too much money.

But.................while talking with the father of the kid that owns the 29..........he asked me if I knew anyone who like Hemi's. Well......................he uncovered this gorgeous boat and the last thing he uncovered was a very nice looking 392 Hemi with dual 4's. He proceeded to
pull this book out with receipts and the guy he bought the boat from had spent some $23k
restoring it plus rebuilding the motor.
He only wants $10k for the motor/boat and trailer!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder how much it would cost to convert the motor and put it in a Model A????????

 

Does the motor spin the wrong way?

 

Fuck putting it in a Model A, run the damn boat! 10k Is a steal for that boat from what I can see. Shit I wish i had money right now.

 

I bet a few guys are on Craigslist right now...

 

Hell yeah...it would be a shame to pull that out of the boat.

 

Acutally tho, buy it and pull it out.

Then sell me the worthless engineless boat for like 500 bucks.

 

to bad i am not close that is one bad ass looking boat!!!

 

Yeah and then sell me the 4 banger

 

I'd love to have a vintage boat like that.

 

OK guys, you've talked me into looking at this a little closer. I have made an appointment to go over with a friend (that has an "Ole Drag Sanger" he has been working on for the past couple of years) in the morning and have him go over the boat from bow to stern.
Can someone tell me how I can make sure this is a real 392 Hemi.............I'm a flathead guy not a Hemi Expert.

Thanks

 

I belive a 392 will have no long bellhousing (like all early hemis), but the distributor will be in the back. A 426 looks just like a 392, only the distributor is in the front. So if it has a standard looking bellhousing and the distributor is out back, then it's a 392.

(don't quote me, I'm not a hemi guy, just going off of memory)

 

Go to Hemi Heads site and print off the engine number decoding sheet and bring it with you.

 

Try looking up the hemi tech archive that scootermcrad started. lots of good info there. By the way, a 426 and a 392 have vary little in common looks wise. The distributer location is only the beginning.

 

Hey Mr. a chopped coupe, What you have there is a 354 or a 392, 1956 to 1958. Go to the Hot heads site and get the different stamped #s then check in front of the valley caver(opposite the distibutor) has a flat spot were the #s are found. 99% sure it's normal rotation. Remember the engine is mounted backwards.
Bet that puppy roars, OLY

The cancer car lives
Give to cancer research

 

if ya got the spread get the boat, that would be the bees knees. looks like a killer set up from what I can see

 

Lets see, 10 grand is 6000 euro or 5000 GB pounds. That boat will be gone this weekend.

 

haha so true. i was almost opening another window as I read your post and laughed out loud. but SHHHH baby sleeping.

thanks for the laugh man

AND BUY THAT BOAT...... ROCK IT or pull that HEMI and replace with small block/big block and sell boat.

 

OK, I'll go to Hot Heads site and look.
OH........................by the way..........................this is not listed in Craigs or any other place, he just decided to sell it about a week ago................so I am the first person to become really interested!
How cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Buy both of them!!

 

Didn't late 392s have the distributor at the front or am I just confusing 392s with later HEMIs?

 

Well.............the 29 roadster is just more work than I want to do and besides, the boat can be takem to Lake Shasta and it is finished............

Here is a YouTube of the roadster............http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MANuVPD_p5s

 

It's got intake spacers in the pic, so I'd be willing to bet that it is a 392 with either ('55) 331 or ('56) 354 heads.

 

Looks like a v-drive. That baby will scoot.

 

Of the early Chrysler hemis, only the early 331's had the extended bellhousing. Later 331's, all 354's, and all 392's had standard bellhousings.......

 

When I find a potential deal/steal, I usually keep it to myself. The boat may not be listed, but it sounds like the boat is at the same place the 29 is, so I'm sure most of the Inspector Clouseau's on this board have figured out how to find this boat. And while you may be the first person interested in the boat, at this point you're not the ONLY one.......

 

you have told every 392 hunter in the universe where it is!if you want it;you better get your ass down there quick!

 

That roadster looks familiar, isn't he a Hamber??

 

I'll bet the guys over at Hotboat are already all over this....

Pulling that engine out....if it is an old 60's flatbottom, V-drive boat....would be a CRIME.

Look at old car show coverage from the mid 60's.....alot of boats were allowed into the shows.....

As for the dizzy.....the engine is mounted backwards for those guys who don't know V-drives......

 

Hey guys,

The reason I put ths on the H.A.M.B. is I'm still on the fence, and although coming up with the money is not the issue................and I'd love to have it sitting in the garage............I
still need to finish this A Coupe and there are a couple of other projects I've looked at that I wouldn't mind towing home. So, I'll check it out and see...............I guess if nothing else it is a good investment and it wouldn't hurt to take it around the lake a couple of times!!!???