Hemi Small Block Heads

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    Author Topic: Hemi Small Block Heads  (Read 7397 times)

    Offline ESGEE

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #15 on: July 13, 2006 - 07:32:18 AM »
    $8500 :eek2: I seen 5.7L Hemi crates for 7k and 426 for $11500, i think i just would borrow 3k more and buy a real Hemi :bigsmile:
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    Offline ChallengerHK

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #16 on: July 13, 2006 - 07:56:50 AM »
    Quote from: ESGEE on July 13, 2006 - 07:32:18 AM
    $8500 :eek2: I seen 5.7L Hemi crates for 7k and 426 for $11500, i think i just would borrow 3k more and buy a real Hemi :bigsmile:

    Agreed. I'm sure they put a lot of work into making these, but the value seems to be low.

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    "She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

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    Offline Green Drop Top

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #17 on: July 13, 2006 - 08:34:41 AM »
    I saw the display and spoke with the owner. It's a nice well thought out and complete conversion (around $8,500.00 for everything intake to pan to make it all work). The basic result is a reproduction clone of an early 354 Hemi, looks almost identical to one in fact.

     The ports are rectangular like the 354 rather than round as with a 392 (which is good). When it's all said and done the engine will fit (VERY tightly) into an A-body, but you may have to do a bit of hammer clearancing for the headers/steering, etc. Personally I'd just go with a 426 Hemi if it were my project, not that much more money and you get the "real thing".

    On a side note.....They also made an interesting announcement, they will have thier OWN version of a 426 block available for sale in August (projected price, $2,900.00). It will be a Siamese bore cast iron block and be exactly like an original 426 block except will be stronger and higher quality (they claim) than the Mopar versions currently for sale, and will look exactly the same on the outside only lack the Mopar casting numbers (for copyright reasons).

    If it were about 1K cheaper I'd consider it, but I can get a Mopar block for $500.00 less and don't need anything "Better" than a siamese bore Hemi anyway (PLENTY tough as they are IMO).
    « Last Edit: July 13, 2006 - 08:37:13 AM by Harms inc. »
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    Offline ChallengerHK

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #18 on: July 13, 2006 - 08:49:38 AM »
    Quote from: Harms inc. on July 13, 2006 - 08:34:41 AM
    Personally I'd just go with a 426 Hemi if it were my project, not that much more money and you get the "real thing".

    Thanks for the info. What I've been trying to do is develop a plan to maximize my 340 while keeping it streetable, and their heads seemed like a good option for that.  If it was just a question of wanting some flavor of Hemi between the fenders then I agree, I'd just get a real Hemi.
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    "She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

    - Han Solo, Star Wars

    Advice Thread - Taking Pictures Of Cars

    Offline Follicly Challenged

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #19 on: July 13, 2006 - 09:23:54 AM »
    I always wondered about an updated hemi head for kits sales on the Mopar small block, considering the derivitive/commonalities, and design updates, from the original 354 stuff, thru the 318 poly's, to the later la 318/340/360. They just weren't THAT different, that it couldn't "be done", and someone has gone ahead, good for them !

    Unit sales will dictate price, as always. R & D will dictate performance later on, but the "eye candy" effect would be there from the outset.
    Any mention of valve sizes, or did I miss that ? Still "limited" around the 2.02" like the 354 brethern ?

    Just curious, how about a 408/412 based, SB HEMI, using the 4 bolt 340 resto blocks ?
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    Offline Green Drop Top

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #20 on: July 13, 2006 - 09:25:29 AM »
    BTW, if you want to build a high HP small block (natuarally aspirated) it's pretty hard to beat some of todays modern small block heads anyway, especially for the money. Also keep in mind that a stock 340 block will only handle about 550hp before they start to fail (cracks in the lifter galley area are common as well as main cap "walk"/ instability). They are short skirt thin wall castings and don't have the worlds best ridgidity in the first place.

    If I were building a big bucks small block I'd start with either a Mopar R3 block or a new 340 resto block cast with siamese bores, those puppies will take all the HP you can throw at them (about $2,500.00 bare though, same as a new Hemi block) but be prepared to have 10-15K in the final build if you go top shelf on all the other componants. After a hard look into all the options a crate 426 Hemi starts to look pretty reasonable

     :bigsmile:
    « Last Edit: July 13, 2006 - 09:27:25 AM by Harms inc. »
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    Offline ChallengerHK

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #21 on: July 13, 2006 - 01:15:09 PM »
    Quote from: Harms inc. on July 13, 2006 - 09:25:29 AM
    BTW, if you want to build a high HP small block (natuarally aspirated) it's pretty hard to beat some of todays modern small block heads anyway, especially for the money. Also keep in mind that a stock 340 block will only handle about 550hp before they start to fail (cracks in the lifter galley area are common as well as main cap "walk"/ instability). They are short skirt thin wall castings and don't have the worlds best ridgidity in the first place.

    If I were building a big bucks small block I'd start with either a Mopar R3 block or a new 340 resto block cast with siamese bores, those puppies will take all the HP you can throw at them (about $2,500.00 bare though, same as a new Hemi block) but be prepared to have 10-15K in the final build if you go top shelf on all the other componants. After a hard look into all the options a crate 426 Hemi starts to look pretty reasonable

     :bigsmile:

    I was afraid of all of that. It may be time to consider the new Hemi crate motor route; I really want to stick with a small block for weight reasons (if only they'd made a mid-engined Challenger  :)).
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    "She'll make point five past light speed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, and I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

    - Han Solo, Star Wars

    Advice Thread - Taking Pictures Of Cars

    Offline Green Drop Top

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    Re: Hemi Small Block Heads
    « Reply #22 on: July 13, 2006 - 01:25:19 PM »
    Oh yea, I forgot to mention that an R3 or Resto 340 block weighs about 50 pounds more than a regular 340 block, About 210# ( A bare Siamese bore Hemi block is only 30-40 pounds more!) vs a 160# stocker. Yes, the heavier new small blocks can be milled to take some wieght off  and get the down under 180# but it all costs money.

     :pullinghair:
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