Depends on the vehicle. Hemi is "it" and always will be!! But I got a 409 sitting in the floor with 6x2's for a future rod project. So for me, a W engine. But for most, I would say a 392. And tman hit it on the head!
I'm putting together a deuce roadster with a 348 and 4 speed. In this blog many of you like it but many call it a piece of **** engine. Back in the early 60's I drove and raced a 58 Belair hdtp with a 348/4 speed, only problem I ever had was a couple of bent push rods, no big deal. Guess I was to dumb to realize what a piece of **** I was driving.
travj31 ... This might surprise you (since I have a 392 in my coupe) ... but I'd say go with the 348! You just don't see Chevy W-engines in Hot Rods very often ... and I think they (348's & 409's) are good looking motors. Also ... it seems that everyone is building cars with 331, 354, or 392 HEMI's these days ... not that that is a bad thing ... it's just that it was kinda nice having somewhat of a unique Hot Rod
Wow! ... speaking of the ignorance of some folks in this thread ... Our 392 HEMI powered Hot Rod has been driven in every (lower 48) State west of the Mississippi River (& several east of it) ... so HEMI's can be built to be very "street-able" (reliable) engines ... granted it's no GBP FED ... but our coupe has run some respectable 12's @ over 113mph ... on street tires!
Funny, the ignorance in this post. Hemi's have a wide fan base for a reason, and it's not just because they look good or are "the cool thing to do now". The reason is that with minimal work, they run GOOD. Sales figures between the two brands are really apples and oranges, and you should know that. Also, speaking of sub 13 second 1/4 mile times, my coupe ran a tire spinning 12.90 at over 100 mph at the Day of the Drags a couple of years ago...and I have no doubt that it's capable of low 12's and maybe high 11's with some real slicks. This is with a 4 spd trans and 3.50 rear gears, mind you, and I do drive it on the street. Heck, I drove it 4 hrs in the rain to the Lonestar Roundup a few weeks ago. It's not stock, but it is only a .060 over '54 331 with 4 Stromberg 97's, stock heads, an Isky solid cam, and 10.5:1 compression. Nothing trick or overly modern...but it makes enough power to leave a permanent pucker mark on the p***enger side seat bottom. Anyway, enough story time. He said he found both, and wants to know what will give him the most bang for the buck. In this scenario, he could take the 392, put off the shelf 10:1 pistons in it, pay for good machinework, put a fairly large cam in it, and do essentially nothing else but use a decent ignition and balance the rotating ***embly....and I'd say he'd have less money in it than the 348 with all the high zoot parts and still make comparable power, if not more. However, if it is truly all about style than it's a pointless argument anyway...because either would look great in the right application.
I am going for over 500hp with my 348 stroked to 434, it will own me a **** load there are same pics in my album. Hot Rod deluxe, janury 2009 also has a good write up on a 348, Prehistoric Rat.
Got a hemi? Yeah everone does dare to be driffrent go w- motor every open hood car today has a hemi or a flathead in it getting so sbc are in again just my 2 cents
This is kind of what I'm thinking right now... Don't get me wrong, I love both and I think no matter what way I end up going it will be cool, but I just hate having the same thing as everyone else. I'm still fairly young (26) so I'm hoping one day I'll find the proper place for that Hemi. I'd love to build a 38/39 Willy's g***er...
You two should understand my point. Many of the posts were talking up Hemis based on an apples and oranges comparison such as a stock 348 in a 62 Belair Vs a Hot Hemi in a 2000# hiboy. Hemis are great engines and have been driven all over the country. But lots of the posters think just having a hemi will mean it is a 9 second car. Too many folks believe those Hemi commercials froma few years back I agree with your 392 build you mentioned B***, in fact that is Exactly what I did with my 348 for under $2500 and no exotic parts save for the Isky 409 cam.
Tman, SHHHHhhhhh!!!!! You're letting the hemi secret out. I work on the gunfighter principle. I like showing up with my tough looking hemi and intimidating folks. ;-)
Trent ... us two (nut coddling Hemi Zombies) must have just misread your post ... thanks for the clarification ... now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Understood, Trent....and of course, no harm...no foul. I feel that it's good to get real factual info out in the world in order to allow others to more accurately form an opinion. There is a lot of ignorance in the world, and I like to offset it as much as possible. I'm in total agreement with you on the common misconception that simply installing a Hemi will get you a fast/ quick hot rod. That of course is not the case, and the same could be said for the 348. But with the right modifications and quality machinework, either would be a lot of fun in a light car. The 392 would still run circles around the 348 though.
i agree with dragging both home.. Keep the hemi in a mopar .. and put the W in an old chevy i have two 354 hemis at my disposal for a Fargo project, but i would love to have a 348 or 409 for the one chevy project i have. i am kicking myself for not buying the 348 i found last summer so now i have to hope to stumble on one again ..
I spent $1751.01 on machine work on my 354... clean and mag block and heads bore .030 line bore block resurface block recondition rods paint water jackets (stop rust pits) install cam bearings and freeze plugs install new valve guides and hone to fit valve job resurface heads cut heads for valve seals cut spring seats balance engine dis***emble rocker arms to clean and reface rockers grind crank (I also spent an extra $1200.00 to install 4 sleeves in the block and ***emble the engine. The block I used came from an irrigation pump in Lubbock, TX and had holes in four cylinders.) I also spent about $2000.00 for Venolia custom pistons, Clay Smith cam and kit, USA made stainless valves and stuff from Hot heads like gaskets, bearings, etc. So you can do a Hemi for about $3600.00 + or - less induction/ignition/bling.... not counting sleeves and ***embly. The 348 should go to a shop familiar with boring those blocks with that stepped bore... not difficult to do but some guys would be skeered to do it... You can spend lots more on either engine but it's not needed IMHO.
Take the 348..... and then tell me where that 392 is !!!!!! Drove my 392 500 + hp 4spd 6 hours to the jalopy showdown in 2006,Raced laps on the dirt and drove 6 hours home same day ..no problems.. Just got back from the 2009 showdown again no problems. GIVE ME THE 392 PLEASE . oH YEAH iGOT A 59 348 TRIPOWER RUNS MINT WITH A MUNCIE 4SPD that I would trade for a 392 pm me anyone want to make that deal
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