Thread: Hemi guys, need your advice.

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Good deal Paul. BTW, when I called Hot Heads the other day to ask if a 291 was worth buying, the guy there said "Have you ever heard of Jim Allen (or some name like that?) I told him it didn't ring any bells. He told me that this guy ran or runs a top fueler in the under 300 CI class and he dominated that class with a 291 Hemi. So I guess Don has a pretty fair base here for a nice street motor.

The blower idea is interesting, but then again, I'm very good about spending my Son's money.

Don

You bet .... I don't think you went wrong at all for that price. That's the kind of engine for the rpu or A bone cpe. That'd even look very retro in mine '46!!

Paul

I don't know anything about them thats why I didn't say anything.
Kurt

If I fell over one of those,I would build me a 32/5w,but....cant see that happening in the near future...

Bill (Gastrick) on here has a sweet 32 that he put a hemi in, I think a 392. It changed the entire complexion of the car from hot rod to HOT ROD! Just something about those four little letters that make them so cool.

Don

"...... If I fell over one of those,I would build me a 32/5w,but....cant see that happening in the near future....."

You never know, several years ago I felt the same way, then over a couple of years time I ended up with 2 and the parts to build another one. They were all either a great deal (being in the right place at the right time) and either having the money available (like Don) or having good trading material the other guy wanted.

I also was thinking the other day about my and others comments about the cost of building one of these.

Back around 91 or so when I got my first Hemi (a 331) the only rod and main bearings you find were NOSR .030 and were around $100 a set for the rods and the same on the mains. The Chrysler Hemi Water pumps were also an impossible part to find and I bought one of the first sets of Chevy water pump adaptors that were $90 when they first came out. The only option you had on cams were to have one of the originals reground.

Fast forward to now, bearings in all popular sizes are now available and depending on the brand you choose the prices aren’t really that much more expensive than they were 20 years ago. For the Chrysler engines I now have a fairly good choice of new cams for not much more than I could have had a cam reground. The water pump adaptors (for the Chrysler) are also less than $35 now.

Building one of these old Hemi’s will never be as cheap as building a SBC, but that’s kind of like comparing apples and oranges. A couple of non-main stream engines I’ve build over the last 10 years include a 401 Buick and 365 Cadillac. Parts and prices on these builds were roughly equivalent to doing an early Hemi. I’m currently doing a 500 Caddy and that one also looks like it will be in the same price range as doing an early Hemi for an equivalent build (the only difference being that core engines are easier to find). Basically if you want something that not everybody else has it’s going to cost a bit more.

The cool looking carbs and the counter sunk spark plugs do it for me.
Kurt

Man, you guys are like me..........what are we doing up at this time?

Don

Pain keeps me up odd hours. So I take the long slow walk to the computer, to hear my wife yelling get your bleep in bed. HE! HE! HE!
Kurt

"......what are we doing up at this time?......."

I wish I knew Don........ Actually this is the first week of working 4 10 hour days a week (I go in at 5:30 now) but get every other Friday off.

Usually at this time of year I would go out the shop and putz around when I wake up early like this but it's in the low 40's here right now and the recliner in the house is a bit nicer place to be.

Oh yeah, it's 3 hours earlier than you guys here right now.

Hopefully I'll be in your time zone pretty soon Mike.
I am looking at moving back home to Vegas.
Actually Pahrump near the the line south of Vegas.
Then when I need a good old part I can take a little trip
over the line to one of those great rust free junk yards
you guys have down there.
Kurt

Kurt made a comment in Rolands thread about videos, so rather than hijack that one I figured I throw this link up for inspiration for Don. Sorry about the sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5VEbByTEUc

I really want to get it in the 37, but I’m waiting till the new shop is up.

Well I slept in as I was awake during the night because of all night long severe t-storms going over----

I guess I'll get started on my 392 as I just have 2 sets of ss headers to build for Robins 33 and a friends camaro before i can work on MY stuff. I'm building a 8:71 392 AND a 53 flathead, planning on ar random periods to switch back and forth with one chassis, which at this time will be a Downs roadster.

We build a lot of engines here and except for some full on competition engines for class racers(not dial it brackets) I don't think the hemis are much more expensive than the ford or chevs---every body is doing stroker cranks, forged I or H beam rods(mostly chev sizes) and by the time they do roller hyd cams and a set of roller rockers, fancy valve covers etc they are up there with what the hemi will cost---it already has rocker arms that are good, valve covers that are the envy of every body at a show--
Modern clutches are same price range, custom pistons same, rings same---

Now if the guy that beat me out of the Enderle barndoor injector a couple years ago on ebay( think it was one of ours)----

Nice Mike I like hearing them old Hemi's run.
Kurt

Mike P,I know what you mean,just at the moment,my work load has dropped off,and with it,obviously the money,so I cant plow any into Lyndas Customline,or the house...,so the thought of anything else just has to be pushed far into the background...
Don,a hemi is the ultimate for me,for a hotrod,anyway..they can transform anything into a desirable rod..I hope you guys can get that hemi sitting where it belongs...maybe in the r/p??Looks kool.
Anyway,here I am,sitting on my butt,better go and do some work..
Have a good day tomorrow guys...Its FRIDAYYY...well,down here anyway...