whale Hemi engine into a 46-48 Plymouth

Does anyone have first-hand experience fitting a 392 Hemi into a 46-48 plymouth, dodge, Desoto coupe?? I have this whale motor staring at me saying, "please stuff me into that engine bay- no matter what you have to do" .
Wondering if the inner fenders will be an issue. I think there's enough room front/rear with te electric fan only. I've seen 440's in these cars- which are very similar length, but those huge Hemi valve covers are the bitch.

The car has no power steering box, or brake booster in the way. Plus it has rack/pinion steering- all from a Camaro subframe.

Thanks to all who can chime in- and a bonus if you can send me some pics! ~Cheers
benjamin_lick@yahoo.com

 

Check out '41 Plymouth Coupe 392 Hemi build thread by Farmer 12. 125 pages of good information for you.

The 392 is commonly known as an "Elephant Motor". Whales were 426 Hemi Generation II.

 

Any engine can go in (almost) any car. Why dont you hang the Hemi on a lift and start lowering into the hole (assuming you've already removed everything that looks like interference). If it it don't go, remove the restriction. Keep going-lowering and removing-until the engine sits where you think it ought to be. Once in a nice comfortable position, start fabricating mounts to fill the gaps between the engine's mounting points and the chassis. Engine swap 101.

 

It's the other way around. early ('51-'58) Hemis are all called whales, though it's not a term used as much anymore. There's only one Elephant, and that's the 426.

 

Tear down, check out, and if necessary rebuild the Hemi FIRST. Had a friend fit a "good running" Hemi into a Dodge a few years ago, only to find that the motor was trash and the cost of the rebuild set his project back for quite a while.

 

Is there a term for the new 472's, 528's, 540's ? Mammoths ???

 

Don't ask me I'm plainly cornfused.

 

I always thought it was:
EarlyHemi; Late Hemi; and then 'that new fangled stuff'...

The 392 width is about the same as a 440 w/exhaust manifolds.

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My '48 has a Cutlass clip. the 331 fits in nicely. You'll have to trim the inner fenders. Mine has the Long BBChevy W/P & fan, radiator is a bit forward. When I replaced the 455 in mine the P/S pump bolted right back on with aftermarket brackets & Alt wires(alt in generator location) hooked right back up as did the fuel line & body to engine ground. had to move sterring column to the left a bit.