Thread: 331 Hemi Info

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Hello All,
I figured I would draw on everyones expertise. A guy in Naples just south of me has a 1953 331 Hemi from a Chrsler new Yorker for sale for 900 bucks. He says it is complete (disassembled) including the original tranny and ALL engine accesories. Does anyone know what this engine is like as far as transmissions adapters, rebuild parts, etc? Also does anyone know what to look for when looking at one of these engines for problems? thanks for any info! Don Jr

Mike P. is our resident expert, you might look over these posts:

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=hemi

Hi Don, things have changed a bit since I originally wrote those things.....for one thing Hot Hemi Heads now does offer a couple of adaptors fo the extended bell 331s which gives you a couple of good transmission choices. The Chevy 3/4 speed looks to be the easiest while the 727/518(od) looks like a bit of work for the trans to mate (cutting the bellhousing.

http://www.hothemiheads.com/transmis...vy_manual.html

http://www.hothemiheads.com/transmis...o_727.518.html

As far as what to look for, the obvious any damage to the block or heads, and completness, especially rockershafts and head/main bolts/etc. A good set of valve covers (especially if they are able to be chromed) is a plus. You might also want to look around and see if he has the factory windage tray (there should be a picture of what it loooks like in the last thread Bob posted.

Good luck and let us know if you pick it up

While I will bow to Mike's expertise ( I read and agree with his post's that were link too here) I will add something here. I am a early Hemi guy, I have owned 7 Hemi powered Hot Rods over the years have,I have 5 Early Hemi's now and my Model A is Hemi powered. But $900.00 for a 1953 Hemi 331 "CORE" is not a real good deal. Hot Heads has changed the whole deal on Hemi's, parts are available now not just from Hot Heads but from severeal sources. But an Early Hemi-- any Early Hemi is a pricy rebuild when compared to just about any other engine. I have a very good 392 that was a easy rebuild, another words no bent or broken parts, still cost a little over $4200.00 just for the parts and some machine work. They are not cheap to build.

The 331 has one big draw back and that is the extended bell housing, Big Pain!! I have never found the 331 to be rare or hard to find. I also don't have a big problem with the Desoto or Dodge and find the smaller displacement in the Red Ram's to be a cool thing if all out speed and power isn't needed.

But without a doubt the easy ones are the 354's and the 392. Parts are no problem, either one will produce enough power for anyone. And they both are so cool they just hurt. That is if you are a car guy. And you should not have a problem finding a 354 Core motor for your $900 and there are 392's out there as well, some even in that price range --- Maybe.

Roland

i machine up a 425 nail head not to long ago that job was about 3800. with my work and parts at the time my friend was machining up a 392 we were comparing notes on parts and price he told me that main bearings were hard to find .as well as the lifters were a off size lifter bore size from stock and he had to send them out for a reface .thing you would not thing to much about can cost alot of $$ like the bearing for the hemi and the nail head were hi has well as the shaft rocker parts even that i rearc the rockers i still had some that were no good so i had find some to buy. new old stock ones$$$$ so there cool and i like to machine and build them get ready to spend some $$$ i was going to do a ford flat head for a guy gave him the price on parts and machine work he was jump off the floor mad . the stuff is not cheap not like a sbc and takes more time to find and get the parts

I want to add that some of the information in the posts Bob linked to is now close to 5 years old and somewhat out of date. Were the threads not closed I would love to go back in and do some editing.

Pat and Roland comments are both correct. The price Roland quotes for rebuilding his 392 is about identical to what I have in my 354. I have considerably less in my 331, but that was because I collected parts over several years for it and fell into some good deals.

As most people have found out the initial investment is usually the cheap part of Hemi ownership. I would recommend looking thru Hot Hemi Heads and PAW and adding up the standard rebuild parts before jumping at buying one of these.

Don if all you’re looking at is the engine at that price I think I would hold out for the later non-extended bell housing (54 ½ -55) 331, 354 or even 392. Part of the advantage would be getting the bigger valve heads, and a wider variety of transmissions available.

That being said if this motor was complete and had a complete 3 speed stick setup (overdrive being a plus) I personally would jump on it……but only because I have this crazy idea that at some point I would like to do an era correct late 40s early 50s Ford or Merc sedan with the 51-3 Hemi and trans (possibly with the 2 X 2 2bbl truck intake)…...kind of a moonshine car thing.

some were if i can find it is a photo of my dads 49/50 4 door chevy with a red ram in it back in the mid 50s

Hey guys,
Thank you very much for the info! i think I will pass on this engine for now based on your info and my gut feeling. The later hemi seems like a much better choice for me and parts availability is important if you plan on driving these things any amount of time. Thanks again! Don