Thread: Very Early Hemi

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Early Hemi. I run an early Hemi in my 26 Chev roadster,A 331 bored to 354 with modified oil system( small block HV pump and gallery block off etc) and An Isky roller track cam,the intake is a Bohnalite dual quad,set up for WCFB carters.The ignition is a small block electronic with an orange box.Pistons are Jahns,dome type pop ups.the whole set up is balanced and "will" be connected to a Ford Bullnose top loader tranny.I ran a home made planetary trans,so I could do quick changes on the salt.Didn't work out as the Hemi has too much torque and screwed the inside of the box up like a aluminum can.
Any body else out there running something as old as this?
I did most ofd the work to this thing years ago when Hemis were still out in the wildeness,so to speak,and came up with the idea of using small block bits by looking and adapting myself.
I need to find an Isky rev kit to keep the rollers from skipping,so if anyone knows where i canm find one send me a email briskiwi@bigpond.com.au
cheers ,Mercmad

Hey mermad. That is a bitchin' old ride dude. I'm glad you made this post. I am not currently runnin' one but have a line on an old 331. I've been seriuosly considering it and am in the process of findin' something to put it in now. So...... I'd like to know, how long have you been runnin' it and how do you like it? I'm lookin' at probably a little milder build to make a driver out of, more street, less strip, but other than what I've read online, I really don't have any experience with them. Neither does my friend who I'm gettin' it from, he remember's a few from when he was real young, but not enough to have made an opinion.

Right on, anudder hemi!!!!!!!

I've had this so long I was Bob Walkers first international customer!,he's since bought out hemi specialists,"hot heads".If you need Hemi info it's real easy today,Just give hot heads a visit on their site and ask away.
These engines are great,the quality of the castings and factory machining is an indication of a company that had just finished building aircraft engines for the US airforce.To run an early 331 is simple,run a modern Hydraulic cam,higher comp pistons,electronic dizzy,Hot heads intake,and hi volume oil pump.I run a small block chrysler double row timing chain also.
The sheer size of even the "small" 331 is enough to impress the import jap kids...
The rest of the car is pretty neat,in the photo I'm running a 23 "t" bucket body.but it was too small,over 120mph the wind lifts the whole car in the air ,not a pleasent feeling!
So about 10 years ago i tracked down a geuine dirt track roadster which had a steel 26 chev tourer body cut into a roadster.BOB style.
I've used that body ,after removing all the roll bars etc from my chassis and the dirt tracker(so i could get the body off!)
I made the big mistake of junking the dirt chassis ,it was model A with 34 beam and splits on the front,a real early Falcon diff mounted with a T spring and V8 split wishbone.the tank was a square '24 chev item.I'm using a round alloy tank from a speed boat,has a cool quick release filler.
At the moment the whole deal is in peices so i can get it street registered.

".......I need to find an Isky rev kit......."


Since you've been playing with these "a while" you already know that Hot Heads, PAW, and E Bay are about the only games around.

With the exception of different inductions, the old hard core race parts just don't show up that often. You might try to get ahold of the some of the old timers like Don Garlits (maybe through his museum in Fl), Gene Adams (Adams Performance) or Art Chrisman. They might either have or have a lead on where you could find it.

BTW I'm doing a 354 into a 57 plymouth and a 331 into a 37 Dodge PU.

Good luck. Mike

Hi Mike,I have spoken last year with Don Garlits and found him really helpful,as you could imagine.I didn't realise the great Gene Adams was still alive !(Just kidding)he's been around as long as my engine!.
Actually, I was going to contact Isky Himself and see if the rev kit they list for the Chrysler "RB" engines will fit.The amount of stuff that interchanges with the hemi and small/big blocks is amazing.Re Hot Heads,As i said before,I was Bob Walkers first overseas customer,back before Hot heads,and in the days when he wrote his catalogue by hand.
In fact ,I don't think world wide there were too many people messing with these engines.i met Skip Readio years ago when he came out to OZ and attended the Street Rod nats at the Gold Coast.A mate had his Aussie bodied Desoto Hemi 34 Roadster pickup there and Skip just couldn't help himself!!.
Personally,I think a Hemi in my roadster is a bit much!,but i can't help it!!
The feeling you get when that old girl snaps your neck back with a kick in the throttle is indescribable......

Here in the States the HEMIs popularity really picked up about 5-10 years ago. I really believe a lions share of the credit goes to HotHeads and PAW. I remember before that just finding stock rebuild parts was a major exercise in frustration and expence (OK there still not the cheapest engine to build).


Even here though you'd be surprised how many people have NEVER seen a HEMI in person. I remember once a few years ago when I was hauling one of my "finds" (a 331 out of a 55 Ney Yorker if I remember correctly) home in the back of the truck. A guy somewhere in his late 20's came over to see what it was I had when I stopped for gas. He asked if it was "one of them new Dodge Diesels"

Got to admit they sure fill an engine bay

Great pics guys, post anymore if you have them. Mercmad, I'm lookin' at buildin' a roadster or coupe my self, just waitin' for the right one to pop up. I've got a couple of good connections for the bodies and I really enjoy the way the old hemi look and sound. I'm really glad to see some other guys using them too. I've always wondered why many didn't. We've always had guys using 392's, but the older 354 and 331 didn't gain the popularity it seemed. Yes I have checked out Hot Heads and I have a curent Egge catalog, lotsa stuff in there. PAW didn't have as much as I had expected, but I may not have looked deep enough. I was looking at the Mopar electric dizzy and also the HEI replacements. What are you guys runnin' for water pumps? I have been lookin' at the SBC & BBC conversions, any thoughts or opinions, maybe comments?

Like I said, I'm lookin' at an old roadster or coupe. Something I can leave the hood off of. I just love the way an old hemi looks, nothin' tougher in my opinion.

one day at the salt ,a young rodder came up to me and asked what size flathead i was running..