Technical 354 Fire Power Rebuild

I'm going to pound on the compression subject again...these engines run just fine at 10:1 and you will not likely miss the 23 inches. Decent cam, electronic ign and Holley 3310 and your set.

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Nothing wrong with a 331, I really like my '54.

 

73 RR I had a widow of a friend ask me what a 55 Desoto Hemi (291) and trans are worth (powerflite) in the car which has a crushed roof on 1 quarter. I told her from 1000-1200 as it's a automatic and a 2 bbl. It was bought from the owner after sustaining the roof damage in a storm, and I presume it was running. Am I far off?

 

I would not be a buyer for the car at that price...if you're talking about just the engine then $300-$500 is reasonable. Remember, a proper rebuild starts at $3k.

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But, if you could get it running w/o any smoking....

 

All of the hemis I've rebuilt need the rocker arm shafts cleaned out. If you just fire it and drive it - ***uming it's never been rebuilt - it will probably run the rockers dry.

 

I recall my buddy having problems with the heads on his freshly rebuilt 354.
I think the shop that did them had the valve stem to guide clearance too tight.
When you (not if you) have the engine hot tanked prior to rebuilding it, make sure the shop removes All of the oil galley plugs, and especially remember the little threaded plug inside the distributor bore area. More than a few people here have experienced low oil pressure readings after rebuilding their Hemi engine due to this plug being left out.