Technical 1956 354 Hemi Pistons Size

Hello I just bought a 1956 354 Hemi. Block # is VT549-1972C. I got it seized 2 days ago. I started taking it apart and notice that there was no piston size only numbers. I got on google and tried looking for numbers and couldn't find any.

Piston # is 1828970 X

I am wondering if this engine has ever been rebuilt

Thanks

 

Ref doesn't list a piston starting with 182, maybe Gary 73RR can shed some light.

 

Thanks I looked in the parts book and found nothing. I also looked on google with nothing. There's got to be some reference to this number someplace.

 

Edit you title to include 354 Hemi in it, might get some specific responses.

 

I'm sure you understand that you can get a inside mic and measure the bore. You will wind up doing that eventually anyhow.

Pat

 

^^^^^ This, even an inexpensive digital caliper from Harbor Freight or the parts house will tell you the id of the bore and the od of the piston. That could be an oem piston or it could be a standard replacement piston that wasn't marked as standard. Measuring right on the ridge at the top of the cylinder will tell what the bore was before it got worn.
Yes for those who are confused, that is a left handed caliper.

 

OMG a left handed caliper lol. Ok should have done that yesterday when I had it apart I guess. But I did get the a picture of the numbers for some credit.

Anyhow once I get the inside diameter of the bore and outside diameter of the piston. Can some tell wait they are if I post the measurements.

I am looking at the number om the piston and I now can't figure out if it is 1828970 or 1826979. Think I will take it back apart and find that out and measure the inside of bore and outside of piston.

 

I have tried and can't edit it

 

You can mic the bore/piston to get an idea whether it's been bored or not, but you will need to measure it with a dial bore gauge to get a more precise measurement.

 

If you go to Edit, then either More Options, or Advanced, you’re able to change the title as well.

But it looks like you’re getting a handle on things!

 

You can Google 354 Chrysler specifications to find what a stock 354 bore is. I could look in a Motors Manual but I'm not going to do that for you. Then as suggested measure the bore and see if it has been rebored and how much. This is easy stuff you are making hard by trying to make it easy.

 

Oh that's good. But isn't this why people come on here is to get help? That's fine you don't want to look in the book.

 

354
The Chrysler 354 was a 354 cu in (5.8 L) version produced in 1956. Bore was 3.9375 in (100 mm) with a 3.625 in (92 mm) stroke. It was used in the 1956 New Yorker, Imperial, and Chrysler 300B. Dodge used a modified version of this engine in the 1957 D-501. The engine was rated at 340hp. An optional 355hp version was available, making it the first American V-8 to be rated at one horsepower per cubic inch.

Sorry I can't be more helpful....good luck

 

I think you got it now

 

Ya I just needed to click a few buttons. Thanks

 

Thank You

 

Block # is VT549-1972C, is that industrial or marine?

 

For those of you that haven't ever heard of the Dodge D-501 it is one of, if not the first, purpose built American muscle car. It was a factory build, consisting of a mixture of many Mopar heavy duty and high performance parts.

 

It is a light duty pickup engine.

I just went outside to look at this engine. One thing it does not have is the water outlets on the heads. I have another set of heads. Same thing no outlets. I'm alright though I think because hotheads make a thermostat housing for that.

Light Duty Trucks____________________________

VT-334 ....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-334 ....... 1954 ....... 260
VT-336 ....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-338 ....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-338 ....... 1955 ....... 260
VT-338 ....... 1956 ....... 270
VT-350 ....... 1954 ....... 331
VT-434 ....... 1955-1956 .. 260
VT-436 ....... 1955-1956 .. 260
VT-444 ....... 1956 ....... 260
VT-448 ....... 1956 ....... 331
VT-448 ....... 1959 ....... 354
VT-534 ....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-536 ....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-538 ....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-544 ....... 1956 ....... 315
VT-548 ....... 1956 ....... 354
VT-549 ....... 1956 ....... 354
VT-550 ....... 1956 ....... 354
VT-576 ....... 1958 ....... 354

 

Over size pistons are not always marked. After grabing a 428 Ford that a though was standard because of no marking that turned out to be .060 over. Now I carry calipers at swap meets I even check piston sets found one set of big name pistons that were marked .030 that varied .007.

 

@Bambamshere

two things......first, @RichFox WAS helping you by pointing out where you could find the readily available info you wanted. “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for the rest of his life”.

second, The chart title is a bit misleading. It says ‘light duty trucks’ (should also include ‘medium’ in title). To the best of my knowledge, no Dodge pickups ever came from the factory with 354” engines. At minimum, it was ‘medium duty’ trucks that got the 354” engines. Those engines typically have sodium cooled valve stems and other heavier duty components than pickups.

Ray

 

put "Hemi Tech Index" in search & start reading.

 

Are you sure it's a 354? All I have seen had the water outlets on the outside of the heads. Maybe not trucks, but I am interested in knowing if you know what you have.

 

Ya I know it is a 354 and no there is no water outlets on it.

 

I understand you but as I was saying. This forum is here to help. Yes it took 15.9 seconds to google it. But if I have the information why not share it for all that read this post.

 

You mentioned Hot Heads back there somewhere.
There is an abundance of information about the Hemis on their website.

Tommy

 

Hmmm. . . . I never heard of a factory 354 w/ no water outletv heads. Only thought they came on 331s. Could your engine be a 331 bored 1/8" over making it a 354? That's what I did to my long-bellhousing 331 and used used, stock 354 pistons. Also could be a factory 354 block that someone put 331 heads on? They readily interchange.

 

Not sure of heads but I now have 2 engines that are 354 that don't have water outlets on heads.

I you look up top with the block number and the look at block numbers up a couple posts back VT-549 is a 354

 

@Bambamshere ......I am attaching a few photos of pages from Leo Lindquists’s comprehensive book on Chrysler Corp engines with major attention to the hemis.

Are you sure about the ‘9’ in your engine code? Perusing the truck code page I could not find VT549 listed. Other variations of VT54_ but none with 9.

Maybe it’s my oversight on the number, but it is not uncommon to misread engine stampings.

I hope you do have a 354, but there are some anomalies here that may require a little further investigation.

Ray

 

Could they be truck engines by chance? Those had no water X-over and big valves and big ports, hardened valve seat inserts. Really attractive heads I think. They do need some bosses ground off and the heat X-over passage (hot water, not exhaust so there is no Siameze port between the two inner exhaust ports. A big plus) in the middle of the heads shortened to fit passenger manifolds. Also need new valve guides since they have large sodium filled stems. With some work they look very attractive for performance heads, definitely easier to find than '54and up non-X-over big port heads.

Some pics of truck heads