Thread: 392

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I'm going to run a long crossram 2x4 on my 392. I plan on that, plus headers and a very stout cam. Any ideas of how much power that will make? Are there other things I can do within reason to get more power aside from roller rockers and roller lifters?

Sadly nothing about any early Hemi is reasonable. Just the rebuild alone is expensive at a minimum 4 to 6 times as expensive as a SBC rebuild. I love these motors but they are not for anyone on a budget of any kind.

As to the power output of a 392 Chrysler, you are going to need a ton of more information for anyone to come up with anytype of a number. Stout Cam well just how stout and what are the numbers for this stout cam? How much compression? What Ignition? What headers? What pistons? This list goes on and on. There are severeal guys on here who with a little more information can give you a pretty good number.

392's in the past have produced a lot of different HP numbers. The 392 was only available for two years and only in the Chrysler in 1957 and 1958. In those two years Chrysler rated this engine from a low of 325 HP to a high of 390 HP depentant mostly on compression one at 9.5 and the other at 10 to 1. That and induction was the main seperater of power in those motors. The 392 also in highly modified state in some drag cars put out in excess of 2,500 to 3,000 HP. So I guess one answer for your question without further infirmation would be ------ Somewhere between 345 HP and 3,000 HP

RS

id still love to build a sweet 392. i was thinking,

.060 over
.650 range solid roller
heads cleaned up
start at 7:5-1 comp
blown on gas

Also a major determining factor will be the intake. You mentioned wanting to " run a long crossram 2x4" on the 392. Chrysler never made them for the 392, only the wedge engines and the intake port spacing between the wedge and early HEMI are completly different making it virtually impossible to adapt the mainfold to the HEMI.

If you build your own or if an aftermarket one was produced a lot will depend on how effecient it is.

The intake I have is a custom one my dads late friend made back in the day. It's technically accurate
I'm planning on forged flattops, 10:1 if possible. I want my cam to be comparable to that in a stock 70 Hemi Cuda. My uncle had one and I loved the way it revved. I'll use electronic ignition and probably headers from Speedway, also with cutouts.

I don't think you'll get 10 to 1 with flat tops in a 392

Originally Posted by jerry clayton

I don't think you'll get 10 to 1 with flat tops in a 392

What should I use?

What is your 392 out of? The lowest compression for the 392 was 9.25 and the 58 Chrysler Imperial was 10 to 1. So a good place to look is what was in there in the begining.

10 to 1 is a easy goal to shoot for in a 392. There was more stuff made for them and there still is a lot of parts still floating around for this motor. It and the 354 are probably the two easiest early Hemi's to find parts for. A couple of the piston manufacturers may have a set or two on the shelf or may be willing to whip a set up. Egge Machine certainly will custom make you a set or the may "Just" may have a set of NOS pistons to fit your target build. Going with NOS would be the easiest on your wallet. When I built my last Desoto Hemi a 330 inch motor I had Egge make me a set price wise-- $204.87 each. Like I said nothing cheap about building one of these motors....

Roland

The 392 that I plan to use is out of a '58 New Yorker. It's an engine dad rebuilt and has had sitting unfired for 25 years. After pricing things and knowing what my budget is, the least expensive route for me is to take this engine (when I'm ready for it) to my friend who owns an engine machine shop, let him tear it down and see what it needs.
I'd like to use this engine to get the car operational. In time as money allows, build another more radical 392 and swap it inplace.

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Around 290 duration and 480 to 500 lift. But I think they use a different way of gauging it now…