Hot Rods I Just Bought 3 Early Hemis. I’d Like Your Knowledge/Input.

Thank ALL of you for looking at my post. I just bought 3 Early Hemis. I sure could use some help in figuring out EXACTLY what I have. ALSO, I would like to hear from you all about what you think would be a good/fair price for me to have paid for them, it was a package deal. If you don’t want to say publicly what you think the price should be that I paid then please send me a private message (if that’s possible on this forum).

First picture is of a Desoto. I was told it was a 330, as I recall.

2nd picture is of a Imperial 392, no transmission.

3rd picture is of a 354 with a 727 automatic transmission, (as I was told, I don’t know for sure). The seller didn’t say what it was out of originally, more than likely because he either didn’t know or didn’t remember.

 

neat!

So you didn't look at the numbers stamped on the top front of the blocks?

did you know the 727 was introduced a few years after the Hemi was discontinued, and has an aluminum case, which has the bellhousing included as one piece (not bolted on separately)

 

need more information, did you run the numbers stamped in front of the valley cover to verify that they are what you say they are? Do they turn over? Did you get them from a friend, do you know any history on them? Also depends on where you are located, prices will vary around the country.
All I see are cores

 

All 3 look to have been exposed to the weather for quite a while. Never a good sign. Did you pull dipsticks?

 

Unless it has some sort of adapter, the old Hemis would have a cast iron transmission.

 

331-354 driver side top water pump bolt is very close to deck of block . 392 driver side top water pump bolt are about 1/2 inch from deck of block..........early 331 had internal bell housing......331 heads do not have water outlets on heads........354 heads have water ports dodge red ram does not have side motor mounts as stated numbers are on top of block in front of valley cover go to hotheads.com for number id.... hope this helps

 

Here is a list of engine numbers from Hot heads. Great reference material.

https://www.hothemiheads.com/hemi_info/hemi_engine_id.html

Hope this helps,
Cliff Ramsdell

 

In my area (South Eastern/Western Ontario, Canada), prices range from around CAN$1,500 for non-running/incomplete to around CAN$3,000 for ones that supposedly ran at one point.

 

This should help you ID the engines, understand what it will take to revive and possibly values.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/hemi-tech-index.534354/

 

They are heavy

 

If you paid less than $3000 for everything, you probably did ok****uming that they are rebuildable.
If you remove the transmission from that one, save the starter plate that’s sandwiched between the block and the bellhousing. They are often needed when adapting a different transmission to the old hemis.

 

You got screwed, I’ll give you $500.00 for scrap and then come and pick them up at my earliest convenience.

 

$100 per core = $300

 

Thank you all for the feedback. No, I did not check any numbers. I knew by looking, of course, that they were Hemis. When I was told the asking price I first had a stroke then I immediately said I’d take them all. The one with Imperial on the valve cover, that’s supposed to be a 392, turns over. I was told it ran when it was pulled out of the car.

The other two didn’t turn over. At least not with my socket and breaker bar. I didn’t put a lot of pressure on them because I didn’t want to possibly break off a bolt or do damage. Those two were in some type of shed or barn when the man I bought them from acquired them. He had them all under a shed with tarps over them when I bought them.

I have one more to unload off the trailer into my shop. I’ll try to get the numbers off of them later today or tomorrow and I’ll report back.

Thanks again for everyone’s input!! Mark

 

Soak 'em in atf and acetone for a month; they'll probably free up. I had an FE 390 that sat under a tarp for a year before I got to checking it out; it was a low mileage reman and didn't need anything

 

years ago I got a desoto hemi that looked just fine, but it didn't turn. This is why. All the acetone in the world wouldn't fix it.

 

I've had a couple of engines that wouldn't budge, but after ATF/Acetone squirted in each cylinder and sitting over time, they broke free. Doesn't take much to get them to stick.

 

Not like squirrel's "stuck"!

 

When buying motors that you don't hear run, never pay more than you are willing to watch go up in smoke. I love Hemi's and own several. Lately it hasn't been a good program.

This little Dodge motor was built for me by a local Friend, Machinist, Drag Racer from way back and known for his Hemi's and Flatheads. Looked dynamite and nothing that concerned me till it came time last Feb to light it up. Wasn't long till it was on the Floor in pieces and the decision to do a total replacement.

This little Jewel came along with a long list of new receipts and good history of hands on. Never turned with a starter motor and would bolt in,, sorta. I'm in, what could go wrong? You can guess how much $$$ was spent between these 2 motors.

Apparently, it wasn't enough and this is the same Motor that was Yellow after yet another total going through again by My local builder of choice. He and I have lost track how many motors total he's handled for me personally and my Customers over the years. In this photo it's loaded for Bear, burped and purged and we're both smiling.

This is it 30 minutes later and the starter motor still hasn't turned it over. I did find replacement heads for this 2 year only motor and I sonic tested them before we started the new machine work. Life is a continuing Education course. Not everything is a good as it looks. Buyer Beware!!

 

When looking at real old engines, it's wise to****ume that something was wrong or wore out or they still might be in a car. Anything with moisture in it is going to be trouble with time. I had a y block once that had anti freeze in one cylinder. I was amazed at the amount of damage it did in a short time. Everything has a value. The value for resale may have nothing to do with it's value to you but be careful estimating resale value. The market is always changing.

 

My 389 Pontiac was a little rusty and stuck. All of my tricks and all of the ones from here on the HAMB didn’t get it to turn. I disassembled it a little at a time, tapping things this way and that until I could lift out the crank. I found that the wrist pins were frozen in place and prevented it from turning. Most everything except the pistons was salvageable though, just took a while to get it safely apart.