Tryin' to save a truck-load of early hemi engines from the Chinese

A local scrapper has come by with a load of early hemi engines, all in parts, all scrambled. I'm hoping I can sort out the mess the dead guy, his son and the scrapper have made of this.

I'd like to save them from the Chinese, and I've found a list of car serial numbers, but not truck and industrial. Also, need a reference for crankshaft forging numbers so I can match them back to the block from whence they came.

For the good of the order, I'll go a ways to save these, but need an idea how much time and cash to invest; what's the early hemi market like these days? How rare and how much for a rebuildable core?

'53-54 Dodge -
'55-57 Dodge -

'52-54 DeSoto -
'55-57 DeSoto -

'51-54 Chrysler -
'55-56 Chrysler -
'57-58 Chrysler -

Any deal-breaker small parts/accessories that have to be there?

jack vines

 

Weight it for scrape value and add a few hundred for thier trouble so they'll do it again.

 

I'd be inclined to get 'em all for at least the Chryslers...the '55/'56 354s and the '57/'58 392s. Then sell the rest.

 

are you serious? Im sure youll make your money back. You probably get it back on one of the 392's. I mean whats the worst that could happen? you scrap them and get your money back.

 

if you can get it all for anywhere near scrap value, you really can't go wrong. but, make sure your budget will include being able to check a couple of the blocks so you can sell them with some sort of 'guarantee' or paperwork. nobody wants to ship a block across the country if they don't know if it's any good.

 

I'm with Rickybop save the 354's and 392's then either scrap the rest or make coffee tables

 

What a dilemma! I found myself in a similar situation about 35 years ago. I was working at the Amite Foundry down near Baton Rouge La. We got scrap iron in by the train car load. So many hemi engines came in to be melted down and I had no way to save em. I probably helped destroy over 300 hemi motors while working there. I just had no place to store them even if they would have sold them to me.

 

You might also get in contact with the F.E.D. guys. Those classes they run like those small CID Hemis.....

I know a bunch here in the NE Ohio area. Runnin top fuel and Alky.... Give me your contact info and I will for sure forward it....

 

There's plenty of info on #s
http://www.hothemiheads.com/hemi_info/specs_crankshaft.html
This should get you going on the crankshafts.

Asking prices are wide range but I see good core 392 cranks actually sell for 500 ish and more.

http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/hemi2.html
Good for heads

http://www.classichemi.com/index1.shtml#Indust
Wide range of blocks here including industrials and trucks.

Want a partner ?

 

So...you're apt to 'keep the Chryslers, scrap the rest'? Good advice. LOL

Dodges & DeSotos...very sought after. I'd deal with the scrapper, give him a profit.
After all, he DID deliver them.

 

Buy 'em all, they ain't makin them anymore dude.

 

Buy them all, everything hemi, throw out the 2bbl intakes(keep low block dodge and Desoto single 4bbls) and take them to a swap meet.....Profit!

http://www.hothemiheads.com/hemi_info/index.html

Personally i'm a cheapskate, but I've gone with $2,000 for 392, 700-800 for 354(mabey more for a car one), and $500 for anything else in complete rebuildable shape when I was looking for them, going market is a bit more

Keep your eyes open for stuff like adjustable rockers, 354 car heads, and bumpy valve covers also some of the dual quad stuff catches some coin obviously Also flywheels are a good catch

The only turn offs are boat/truck type stuff but even that can be worked around

 

At this point, they are worth scrap value, providing you don't have to handle them more than two or three times. Despite the above comments, the Dodge and Desoto stuff has no viable market. I know. I have a bunch of it, and the scrap market is looking up.

I don't think the list in the original posting is what is actually in the pile, as some of you seem to think.

 

Save it all. You may have to sit on some stuff for a while, but its gonna keep going up in value.

 

Jack-I hope you save them. I tried to do the same thing when San Carlos Auto Wreckers closed. But Sid wouldn't go for it. Mean old guy.

 

Jack, I need a 392, and so does my buddy.....

 

What exactly do you have?
The more complete the package that you can offer the more likely you can find a buyer. How many classified do we see where somebody needs something to complete a pile-o-parts?

If you have clean-dry storage then take all you can at whatever price make you and the scrapper happy. Sort it out as time permits.

ID info also on my web site.

.

 

All the Ralph Nader supporters are showing their faces one way or another....

 

All the non-extended bell Chrysler ones would sell pretty easy, and parts are valuable too. I'd pay pretty good coin for a '54 Chrysler single four barrel intake myself.

Dodge blocks are the same as the poly blocks so they're not that hard to come by, but the heads and exhaust manifolds are a pretty easy sell to someone so they can put them onto a Poly motor.

341 DeSoto engines are really valuable to Mopar restorers, even if hot rodders don't seem that interested in them.

If I had them, I'd probably sell all the non-extended bell Chryslers as complete motors and I'd decide on a piece by piece basis for the rest of them if they're worth more in pieces or complete. It'd be crazy to sell a whole rebuildable core engine for what you can get for the valve covers and exhaust manifolds. Even stock distributors and water pump cores will sell.

 

Purchase the entire lot, sell what you don't use. Eventually someone will need even the least desirable part, if in good condition, as long as you have the room to store it. It keeps parts in circulation for future rodders.

---John

 

that is what is commonly referered to as "throwing money out the window". every little part on any hemi will sell on ebay. I've parted out junk vintage motors before and you would be suprised what parts will go for.

 

Same thought went through my mind. Man theres some fools out there...

 

Good advice right here. especially make sure you keep any lower bellhousings from the extended bell 331's, those are often missing and a real PIA to locate. Seriously, if you have space, I would keep it all. Sell it off as guys need it, you will be doing a REAL service, and make money besides. You cant go wrong here.

 

Buy the lot for scrap price and tip the guy $100 or $200 so he will remember you next time he finds something good. Then flip it to Hot heads or some other Hemi specialist for a small profit. Tell them they can have everything cheap if they take the bad with the good.

Or, you could cherry pick the good stuff and sell it retail then sell the rest for scrap. I doubt you will be able to sell the dregs after it is picked over.

On the other hand if you have the space to keep it forever who knows what might be scarce and valuable 10, 20 or 30 years from now.

I would lean toward the quick flip as the best way to save everything. Piece by piece might bring more money but a lot of work, expense and aggravation too.

 

Although it all sounds good, the truth is that some of the early hemi stuff has no significant value. I have a dozen or so good Dodge blocks. Never had a call for one. 3-4 nice low deck Desoto blocks. Never had a call. Low deck Desoto heads. Never. Chrysler extended block and/or correct crank. Nope. Cast timing covers. No.

It is pretty easy for some to say "buy it and resell it". But keep in mind the power of the internet...especially when something goes wrong. As-is means nothing anymore.

Everything I buy is as-is. Everything I sell is (has to be) guaranteed to be usable. In the case of heads, blocks, or crankshafts that means disassemble, clean, bake, magnaflux and/or pressure test. (and hitting the crank with a hammer is not a valid test for cracks)

As the saying goes, "if it was that easy, everyone would be doing it".

 

TR, do you have any speed parts for a 276 Desoto?
Possibly a multi carb intake?

Dustin

 

I say if you have the cash and the time save 'em.

 

Try saying that on the west coast, shit is stupid out here, i'd be all over the dodge and Desoto stuff if he wasn't 1/2 a state away, and I had no way to transport it or store it

Bare minimum later car dodge and Desoto heads, adjustable rockers and all valve covers

Hell i'd love to yank the 350 out of my daily and throw a similar weight 325 dodge in place...

 

It will be an investment/gamble.
Buy things that you have NO idea of their current condition.
Then spend time and money just to see if its either Scrap or a good core.
Maybe you win maybe you don't.
I see where TR is coming from.
You can't pay core price, and the most you can get is core price AFTER you dump money into it having it checked.
If you need to sort thru a pile that was dumped off the end of a dump truck would be a job.
You'd have to look at the pile and be able to see some sellable stuff right off the bat and pay scrap value to lock in a minimum profit.

 

Man I'd buy any Hemi at scrap price especially any Chrysler. Any decent core is worth a chance but its your money. You can always sell a few to us locals to pay for the lot! ;-)