When I built my little Model A sedan over the last winter my plans for it were always an early Hemi. Spring came and I had no Hemi and no prospects for one anytime soon. I did have a SBC and a 400 Turbo transmission setting in the shop, so until I could come up with an Hemi in went the SBC just so that I could drive the car this season. Then as luck would have it I did find a 354 but it turned out to be a mess, buildable but a mess. Then this Monday I hear rumors about a 392 Built Motor that might be for sale and it is just 30 miles from me. I go up there to see the engine and to hear the story. Turns out the motor was built 8 years ago for a guys project of putting the 392 into a OT 70 Dodge Challanger. Old boy never did get it done and the motor had just sat for those eight years. His family was selling the motor and they wanted a built 392 Hemi price for the thing. I get there and the motor is setting in a glass bodied 34 Ford coupe, and I mean just setting in there with blocks holding it off the ground. Story was the motor has never been started, just built and waiting for that Dodge. I took a bore scope with me to try and get a look in side the motor, that didn't work as the light on the bore scope would not let you see any detail at all. Looking into the heads some of the valves had a little rust but hell it's been setting for at least (?) eight years or so. When I looked down thru the spark plug tubes ( with a flash light) at the top of the pistons all I could see was carbon all over the pistons. So I am pretty sure the "Never been run" part of the story is BS. Owner agrees with me and we do settle on a price, close to a core price, and I take it home. Yesterday I pulled one of the heads just to see how bad it is really going to be. Much to my surprise there was "NO" carbon what so ever on the pistons, don't know what we were seeing looking into the chamber. The engine is absolutely fresh I believe and has in fact never been run. Well this makes me feel like crap on the deal I had struck as it ( the story) may have just been correct after all. I call the folks I got the motor from and he drives over to take a look. I explain to him that I realize it is now my motor but to be ethical we need to renegotiate the price. We did that and we both were happier, well he was happier I was able to sleep better at night. My question and the purpose of this post is my trying to pick some of you guys brain a little as to what I do have. These pistons are domed and have pretty tall domes at that. I do not know what a stock 392 piston looks like, I would have thought they were flat tops but I do not know anything really. Here is a picture anyone have a clue?
You, Sir, are a good man. You may expect to get some flack for not just remaining silent at your good fortune, but I think you did the right thing. Ray
It's been awhile since I worked on one but they look like stock pistons. If you have the pan off take a look inside of one and see if there are any numbers or Logo inside the piston. I did notice a lot of rust deposit in one of the water holes in the deck. You may want to flush it out when you get it back together. Maybe the Nitro Gods will smile on you for doing the right thing.
Good on you for making it fair, looks like you ended up with a nice engine. Would love to see a picture of the new home it's headed for.
Guys thank for the comments and the information. As to the money thing I am a firm believer that right is right plain and simple. Myself and the owner of this engine after looking inside , or trying to at least, believed one thing, the truth was something else all together. The only right thing, and I hope that everyone on this board thinks the same way, was to go back and redo the money part. I ended up with a very fair deal, more than fair I think, and gained a lot of peace of mind. Hell I would have just spent the damn money anyway. PKap here's a picture of the New to me H emi's new home.
Hombre I am a very firm believer in the Golden Rule and Karma. Being honest is always the best policy. I don't know why it's so hard for some people to do. As far as the Hemi you are making the good choice. It does cost quite a bit more to build one but go to a cruise or car show or see how many early Hemi cars are there compared to small block Chevy cars.
That cars going to be awesome with an early Hemi. Look forward to seeing the finished product, good luck
That's was the right to do, and usually it goes the other way. We pay for a story and have junk. I get tired of that. When I go to buy a used engine anymore, I negotiate a price subject to tear down right there. The terms are - cash is there on the table. If it is what it's supposed to be I pay and load it up. If it's not we re negotiate a fitting price or I leave with the engine in pieces. I've had all sorts of reactions. My fav is when they call the person they got the engine from and test their ability at ripping new assholes. The one result I've not had happen yet is that the story matches the parts.
Those are not oem Mopar piston design. The rough cast top looks more like old school Jahns castings. The top of an oem is more like this: ...and, you get mega Karma points! .
Make that 3 of us. The name of the game is not really "screw your buddy". Those do not look like they have much of a dome to me. I am not MR 392 but those look more like a pimple than a dome.
Like he said, you have to be able to sleep at night. Nice to know thee are still people with morals in the hot rodding community.
Someone with a conscience these days, an admirable quality that the seller would be impressed with. Kudos to you, good karma.
73RR has it right, they are higher compression than stock, very possibly jahns. Stock cr jahns are rated 10-1, high compression rated 11-1. I have a set that look like yours in an engine, have not checked compression yet. Sent from my XT1254 using H.A.M.B. mobile app
Bolt head back on w/ head gasket and cc @ TDC, do the math and you will know the compression ratio. Nice to read about a person w/ integrity. I Believe in Karma, what goes around, comes around. Nice car, Hemi is going to look great, envious.
After doing a ridiculous amount of research today I finally ID'd these pistons. The are Jahns part number 1108 and are 11 to 1 compression ratio. A little more than I would have liked but cool anyway. They stay in the motor and I will just have to live with that higher CR.
The Jalopy Journal
