Hot Rods 331 Hemi Buildup Suggestions

I haven't been around here in a long while, but glad to see the Hemi Tech archives are still up.

I have a '55 331 (for the '55 300 model) that I picked up a few years ago that I would like to start getting parts together to build it. Unfortunately, I have had neurological problems over the last few years that are racking my body and immune system all to hell! Been in and out of more neuro docs than I ever want to again. But last month the worst news came along......the big "A" word.

Yes, Alzheimer's Disease. At 52 years of age, that's not what I really wanted to hear. Apparently over the years I have had enough trauma to my head and body that it has caused traumatic brain injury and the Alzheimer's. I guess the beatings and electric cattle prod that was my step-mom's favorite was too much over time and now many years later as an adult, it has caught up with me. I'm about stage 2-3 of 7 and I am hoping that the new meds they say are out there now can hold off the worst symptoms for a few years, at least I hope so.

So, I am looking to try and build a nice blown, EFI street Hemi that I can take to the track every once and awhile for fun. I figure it may take about 2-3 years to finish, mostly due to money issues, it will take me some time to save up cash and buy parts as I go along. I'm hoping to have a final build plan so that I can buy the needed parts over time, knowing they will all go together in the end and hopefully not buy too much that I won't end up needing. I can't afford too much waste of money.

So, ideas on a build? Pistons, cam specs, blower info, etc., it would all be helpful. I know there is a lot of talent around here and I am hoping some of you may have a little time to spare to help me out.

Thanks in advance.......Jay

 

I normally don't answer these type of threads, but I thought I would try and beat the experts. My best suggestion is find a good machine shop that can tear the engine apart, clean it all, and give you an accurate assessment of what you have to work with. Knowing how bad the existing parts are will save you a lot of wasted time and money. Then get suggestions from the shop and others as to what your ultimate goal is, then you can make informed decisions.

If you buy parts before a tear down, you could end up with a butt load of stuff and a bad engine. Play it smart and check first. Most of all, have fun and good luck. Just the work and brain use involved can only help fight off the bad effects. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 48, I'll be 60 this year. Working on my cars is the only thing that has kept me from putting a bullet in my head. Hot rods and customs are my best therapy. Everything is ten times as hard to do, but it is my escape from life's kick in the nuts. Be safe, have fun!-MIKE

 

God I hope this is just a joke?..otherwise that's extremely sad.

 

I sold this 331 hemi from a '55 New Yorker to a local guy who dumped aprox $12K into it. It runs awesome, sounds awesome! yeah, it's in a '32 Plymouth "R_ _r_d", but the engine is far from anything half assed. There's a full write up on what he did to it in the magazine, it's pushing roughly 650hp at the crank. Also, there's a youtube video of it from a couple of years ago titled "whipping cookies in the country", he was having gmc blower tuning issues with it at that time and switched it out for a BDS blower now, more streetable now.

 

first i would like to wish you good luck with your condition. i believe when you do something you love it can only help, so go for it.
i have building hemis for a while now and believe "lost angle" gave good advice on inspecting the motor first, could save you a lot of money.
you did not mention if it is a long bell, if so it limits tranny usage and increases costs.
i recommend contacting "hot heads" in carolina, they deal in only hemi motors "parts" and are an excellant source of info.
good luck and god bless


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Long Tails were 51-4.
Wow! Mixed feelings here, lots of stories of projects being finished before time runs out and the resulting enjoyment that could be had in the time left. But.... Hemis are expensive(As above) & wonder about that & medical expenses with the train heading for a bridge that is out.
You can look @ the Hemi Tech Index & the Blower motor section of the Tex Smith book, Gary "73RR" here on the Board, Bob @ HH, ect. There are some parts you know you're going to need & should be bought as they come up, Blower, blower intake, blower cam matched to your set up, stronger rods, ect. I'd want as thick a Cyl wall as possible, get her dis-assembled & find out how the walls are, only going .030 would be great. Sort out the controversy on the oil pump, int. shaft & dizzy situation ahead of time. Good luck.

 

Coincidently I'm in the last stages of finishing my '55 331 hemi. I've had it for going on 15 years just sitting and gathering dust. It is getting harder and easier at the same time finding parts for this motor. The latest quest was finding new spark plug tubes.
I am deviating little from the usual guidelines but I have a couple of twists I included.

First twist was when I went to buy rod bearings. At that time they were over $200 for the set.
Research found that 402"(?) AMC rod bearings were the exact same dimensions. That is for one slight difference. The tangs were located opposite of the hemi ones. Since I was having the rods rebuilt I had them machined to accept the AMC bearings. It cost less than $50.

The second twist involved the stock cam. It was the "long" version. Well I had cut off the fuel pump bulge on my timing cover to avail the use of a chevy water pump so the extra length of the cam had to be remedied. I simply sawed it off. Well I did chuck it up in my lathe and square it up so that it was 1/16" inside the timing chain sprocket. I also drilled and tapped the center to 3/8"NC I then took a piece of 3/8' plate and set out to make a part to retain the sprocket. I didn't make a drawing or even take a photo of this piece, but I can put together a sketch if you would like. The outside diameter was large enough to include the indexing pin (the '55 and older sprockets are indexed with a step pin) and I machined step on the cam side to locate in the 1/16 deep recess to the front of the cam. I drilled and countersunk the center for a 3/8" cap screw. The 3/8 cap screw was notched at the outside edge so that after it was installed with thread locker I could take a center punch and create a raised "stop" to lock it in place.

I bought the Wilcap adapter kit (it's a real nice part) and am going to mount the motor at the front and rear using the adapter plate that they make "with ears". I just wasn't comfortable with using only the trans mount that far back. Plus I'm using a Powerglide.

Otherwise: stock reground crank, rebuilt stock rods smoothed and shot peened, 7 1/2 to 1 Ross pistons, reground hyd. cam, stock oil pump, stock pan, Cragar manifold with pop offs on the bottom (?), BDS (GMC) blower and dual throttle body injection.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

 

Blown EarlyHemis will suck up buckets full of cash. Be sure that you have a solid goal in mind when you start gathering bits and pieces. Additionally, any aluminum eye-candy that is not absolutely needed is probably wasted money.
With an EFI package, expect to spend $20k, probably more.

 

I don't know about you but I'm ten times more excited about this engine than all the SBC motors I've built.
It's so high quality inside I was blown away. It's no wonder the guys at Lions could run them right out of the wrecking yard! I was privileged to have been there many a night as a teenager.

 

Small Block Studebaker?

 

My .02 would be to not only speak to those who build blown hemis, but also speak to the guys who build the blowers for early hemis.