Technical Early Hemi #2 (354 Hemi build thread)

I was so focused on Hemi parts I overlooked the obvious! Oh well, I’m back to work tomorrow, once we get classes settled I. I’ll start on the heads, I’ll clean up everything on the surfacer take care of the guides and then go from there.

 

Good to have a plan, one step at a time.

 

Fargo, before you start makin' shavin's, Do a zyglo or whatever you fine folk up there do to make sure the castings are good! Hate to have you go through everything, then find out it's got issues.

 

I will check for cracks for sure.

 

So question for @73RR And @gimpyshotrods and anyone else…aside from cutting the ugly boss off the corner of the truck heads, what else should I be doing before getting carried away with them? I’ve read so much about this stuff it’s almost overwhelming…

 

three hundred and fifty plus inches will be a good mill for the truck, just keep in mind the truck and the roads you are driving. We all want that top fuel idle and that crisp rev to 8 grand, but that's not what you are building. Keep it cool, keep it lubricated, select components for the RPM range you expect, clean and fit everything, then clean it again! I'll let the other guys get into the weeds, but this stuff is the same for any build.

 

Well, being a bit lazy in my 'senior' years I would just leave them. It would take multiple hours to remove them and leave a clean contour.
Now I suppose that if you had access to a 5-axis machine and found a 9 year-old to programme it...

 

73RR,
So maybe you should just stamp up a set of FARGO valve covers and tell everyone that it's factory truck engine with super rare Canada only valve covers?

EDIT
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/330318-dodge-fargo-with-a-440-hemi-what’s-it-worth/

 

...very doable...

 

I have lots of time, I’m more thinking about what I need to do to get water out of the front of the heads…best way to do that?

 

Fargo, I'm glad you got the Hemi you wanted. They are beautiful engines.

 

...aaahhh....you want to run a 354-392 intake. TR Waters made the pieces you need but Tom hasn't been around for awhile. TR Waters – Early Hemi Parts

Did you get the oem 2x1 intake with the engine?

 

No intake at all with it, it was my understanding that wet four barrel intakes are harder to come by? Of course there is a very high chance I’m wrong…

Again I’m all about keeping it simple.

 

The 'easiest' 4bbl would be the 1954 331 and yes, expensive....but compared to all of the monkey motion to use a 354 intake? The truck intake was often a 2-1bbl affair. The carb mount was/is big enough to mount a 2-bbl so you'd have a 2x2. They exist, might be an option.

 

I love dual carburetors. I won’t be ready for an intake anytime soon anyways.

 

Dude, I have a 5-axis machine, and I can program it, and I am almost 54!

I'd leave them, too.

 

A single 4-barrel Iron manifold can be had for small money on that eBay. They flow fine.

An example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145161449613?epid=11012502667&hash=item21cc4bf08d:g:ziYAAOSwC5ZkmxHf&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA0Cg4KrlBJ+Zr73Wc+4pH3F1OEDtMdsKwfjMZmSh6LqSY1HT2WhQa9quFhRIdUSw2vQEd2+ajjgTdHPjk080PO9krWTQ6JtgP9nDDqtBRqCrSxpKgwEiFf2QEuBGmzYrD1JjFVIHdd94NpzDYwWKSLp6/ukRoqdB3hYYPlGXDZgv+KfQpvFy7ZwiRSrm94SlfBw+PdPmIkxyNEgk2GAgPl9HDlquRvBAie4AOjHFJEMGISyTRoPJ9dHoG+xjzdGSsgb5TztFxiUcbfOOfxEM9ySk=|tkp:Bk9SR5y3nb6ZYw

An inexpensive adapter from Trans-Dapt will get you to a more current carburetor.

I am not sure about the crossover ports in the center. Something sticks in my head about them being taller on the truck heads, and needing a way to close them up so they don't leak.

@73RR will likely know. I am having a difficult time braining today.

I could put fittings in one of these for a remote thermostat housing, at the stock head port locations.

 

These are pretty neat:


If you can only get the manifold, throttle bores on these are quite large. A pair of clever adapters could get you into dual 2-barrel carburetors.



Most folks send them on their way, because they are "not hot rod enough". If I had one and truck heads, I'd just run it! Plenty fine for a cruiser, with a little more cam.

 

Yup, that is one of the intakes I mentioned. There is a similar manifold that is a 2-piece from the Marine side. Very little demand from the usual hot-rod crowd since it is 1) oem and 2) not aluminum.
And yes, the water cross-over port is tall and skinny and the 56-58 intake does not cover it. But, a little elbow grease and some JB Weld to fill in the top ½ and all is good.
As to the 56-58 intake, I have a pile of them that have been bored out to match the Holley base gasket and still can't sell them because 1) its oem and 2) not aluminum.
I have used these modified intakes on some pretty hot 392's and they perform very well. They are a very good 2-plane design and make plenty of low speed grunt.
The big challenge with the later intake is the t-stat plumbing that usually ends up less-than-attractive.

 

Does Hot Heads have a manifold that will work ?
I’m not sure what all interchanges on the Chrysler truck stuff .

Tommy

 

A good place to save time and money is get new rods from hot heads. By the time you recondition the old rods and get new rod bolts you will have more money in your 70 year old rods than the new ones. You will find with a 354 that rod bearings at times can be nearly impossible to find. They can also be crazy expensive. The hot heads rods can be ordered with the tang on the opposite side. Then all that's needed is a pontiac 400 bearing. They are cheap and readily available. Let's see the front of the block. Two different timing chain covers were used. Both are available from hot heads. Being a truck block the oil pump may be a 392 item. It's a good idea to check. Also upon assembly make sure the intermediate shaft engages the pump. Several lengths were made. Never assume you have the right one just because it came with your engine. The book you have while very outdated has good info.

 

My saving grace Brian is I can do all of the reconditioning myself, plus this is not a high performance build at all, basically close to stock.

 

Since I’m not looking for maximum performance, I’m actually kind of hoping to find one with f the dual one barrel intakes, if not it may be a newer one to keep cost down. I can deal with the plumbing for a thermostat as a last resort, it’s not a show truck.

 

I should add I really appreciate all of the advice and input on this.

 

As mentioned, you can use the gm bearing if you add a new slot to your rods. Given the exchange rate and cost of new rods I would think your oem pieces would do a fine job.
In years past I put blowers on top of stock rods and never had a problem so yours should be fine. It's all about the correct pile of parts.

 

If anything happens to have a ‘51-‘53 331 timing cover let me know.

 

I'll look. Had a cracked engine that went with the New Yorker I pulled the current good one out of. Sold the car and broken engine but did keep a few pieces. Also got a bunch of hemi parts after that. I do have a 354 truck block so there is that. I do also have a one year only 1954 wet 4bbl intake I would sell.

Dave

 

@dwollam, message me with what you have please, when you get a chance. Thanks!

 

@57 Fargo Will do! Give me a little time. Its cold out there!

Dave

 

No rush at all!