354 Hemi worth the expense?
 

Hi.

There's a guy selling a Hemi from 1959, I think is a 354. Will this engine worth the expense?

How easy is to find parts for this engine?
How reliable is?
Can I use it with a TF 727 or A518?

Here's some pics attached of the engine:

Folks here in SO-CAl use them in Hot Rods all the time... Parts are still around for them... I have not built one in about 10 years, At that time parts where not hard to find...

a 1959 will not be a hemi. the chryslers of the 50s had 354 hemi in 1956 only. before that was the 331. for 1957- 1958 was the 392 hemi. 56-57-58 had 354 polys. never had 392 polys. when i type chrysler in dont mean dodge or desoto. and the plymouths had NO hemis in the 50s. the 354 hemi will be about 750 - 850 lbs. one head bare is 45 lbs each. the valve rockers and stantions will be about 70 lbs for both heads. they are very well made engines. i have taken 392s with 170,000. to 200,000. miles and the cyl taper was .001 - .003" to know what you have you need to decode the number stamped on the block. behind the water pump.

many race parts are available. not so many for street. they are heavy for mild power. a blower will be a good street machine. in a street car the car will NOT go around corners well. i had a 392 in a 59 ply. was fine in a straight line. but still could not beat GTOs if i had to do it again i would do duel carb. with AFBs. at 500 cfm. an other trick is a stroker crank.

Old Hemi needs a blower to make any serious HP

the hemi in 50s are very tuff. i bought a 1956 new yorker. 354 hemi. the owner told me it had a spun bearing. and he drove it like that 50 miles. i take it apart and it looks like he NEVER changed oil. the center main was wasted as was the that journal. BUT ALL the other journals miked nominal. try that with a chevy.

Attachment 8998
Attachment 8999
:)

Sounds like this engine could be an interesting project. I was planning to use it on a 71 Demon. What kind of engine mounts will this engine need? can I use the TF 727 or A518 behind this engine?

PD: I've been looking on ebay and summitracing and there's not too much parts for this engine :(

if you put a 50s hemi in a 71 demon you need to find the stiffest torsion bars that fit the frame. that frame was NEVER ment for that much weight. and your "A" arms might bend a lot. above all do NOT run the adjusting screw for ground clearance to bottomed out. and any time you want to adjust it be sure and clean the threads or they might strip out. that screw has a LOT of pressure on it.

I'm a bit confused. How some people install big block on this cars and doesn't have stress problem on the engine frame?

About the screw that are you talking about, where is it located? Does the 70s C-bodies have something like that?

The old hemis were a LOT heavier than 440s. Do some Googleing. There are a few guys who've done this. There's a guy over on FABO named Zigs who is taking one out of a 68/69 Dart

http://spokane.craigslist.org/pts/4520828802.html

I'm going to try to contact this guy. About the weight, If I'm right the 354 weights 720 lb and a 440 weights about 750 - 780 lb.

For parts try http://www.egge.com/

TO" josehf34 i only said that cause i put a 392 in a 1959 ply wagon. and it did put some strain in the suspension. i was just trying to warn you that the early hemis are VERY HEAVY.

pitifully someone else bought the engine before I can buy it, so the project is ended :doh:

Thanks everybody :D

A late model 5.7 is doable . Would look cool !!!

Is a good option for a budget project but there's not enough parts for make a build from this engine. For example since I remember I've only see 3 carbureted manifolds for that engine (sorry I hate fuel injection) and I've read that convert that engine to distributor is a nightmare (sorry again but I hate the look of the coils on the valve covers)