Desirable Hemis ?

JavaJeep-INDONESIA · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:32 am Post subject: Desirable Hemis ?

In the late 50's and early 60's the Indonesian government imported a lot of big american luxury cars for government use and occasionally the total basket cases are available for parts before they are scrapped

I guy I know in east Java picked up this 1956 354 cubic inch Wedge Big Block FirePower V8 for $500

I think an old engine like this would be cool in my Jeep J20 pick up

Are these old hemis hard to find in the USA now and can you still get parts for them ?

clay · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:38 am Post subject:

I'm not exactly sure, but if Barrett Jackson in any indication, they are worth a decent amount of money. Granted these are in show cars that came with hemi's originally, but the market and desire seems to be there. I don't know about parts as I mainly mess with Fords and Chevy's, but I would bet there is a source for parts somewhere. Cool stuff you have access to though. Clay

JavaJeep-INDONESIA · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 10:03 am Post subject:

I was talking about the engines rather than complete cars

If a complete car is reasonable and running they want too much money for them in my opinion

jeep_406 · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 11:08 am Post subject:

One concern I would have is the reason they called them Elephant engines was because of their weight. I had one in a 53 Ford sedan and it didn't like going around corners at all. it sure filled up the engine compartment Shocked

clay · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:

The Barret Jackson thing seems to have sparked a lot of interest in hemis in general be it complete cars or just engines. It just seems like you hear everyone talking about hemis. Regardless, I think they are pretty cool because they are different and agree it would be neat in an old Jeep. The downside is like Jeep_406 said, every picture I have seen they are large by huge. Clay

JavaJeep-INDONESIA · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

The engine bay of a J20 would handle a hemi no problem and now Jeep is part of the Chrysler family its also a good fit

While I found a lot of the chrysler V8s dont look as good on paper (ducks for cover) than Chev and Ford they seem to have a very wide usable torque band

I guess its a childhood dream to own a Big Block something , I remember when I was growing up in Sydney there were heaps of small block chevs , fords and holdens (GM also) but no one had a big block on the street , the only place I saw them in Australia was at the drag races and boat races

I think today we are living in the 2nd golden age of muscle motoring and probably like people back in the 60's and early 70's we dont realise it yet. Look at the specs and performance of todays cars and if you still yearn for the 'good old days' you can buy 500 and 600+ cube crate motors ... I think we have the best of both Worlds now Smile

JavaJeep-INDONESIA · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:58 pm Post subject:

I remember in junior high school winning a bet with the 'car guru' of the school (his brother owned a tow truck service so we had fun driving old '50s buick straight 8s , VW split window kombis and other junk exotica around the yard before they went to the crusher, he ended up working as a product manager for champion spark plugs last I heard 10 yrs ago)

The bet was that Ford had also built a hemi V8 for which I was howled down by my fellow 12 and 13 yr olds , they didnt know I had a magazine article at home about a 429 Boss Mustang , no one had heard of it.

Big Dave · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject:

JavaJeep-INDONESIA · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 12:07 am Post subject:

Big Dave · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:05 pm Post subject:

They were infamous to we proud few who were still choosing to champion BBC's in the light of overwhelming evidence that a rat roaster equipped Hemi would eat the shorts off of an L-88 427 in a Camaro.

But we few proud fools never let mere physical evidence sway our opinion as to the ultimate supremacy of the BBC (at 500 cid and 15.4:1 compression) triumphing over a similar 500 cubic inch Hemi (as proven this afternoon with Greg Anderson walking all over all comers setting new Pro Stock ET and MPH records in the NHRA.

Big Dave

tyrfryer · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 5:43 pm Post subject:

The engine in the foreground with tranny attached looks like possibly an old BOP engine - maybe a buick nailhead?

Big Dave · Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

That is an old 318 Polysphere Chrysler "A" engine, not a "Nail head Buick".

http://www.sweptline.com/tech/polyv8_tq.jpg

The scalloped valve covers were unique to these power plants (and a pain to keep from leaking oil). This engine and the Slant Six were the two best known engines ‘Mother Mopar’ had going for it until the raised block 383 440 and 426 Hemi ambled along.

Big Dave

tyrfryer · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 5:03 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info. Embarassed

MrLutz · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 1 131.50 points

Do a Google search and type in 'hemi engine parts' and it'll show up many sites that deal with them. Btw, the later Hemi (mid 60's to early 70's) the 426 walked over everyone. Research the days of them in Pro Stock and NASCAR and what both did to try and slow them down. Heck, NASCAR even banned them after a short time.

AtomicWedgie · Newbie Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 1 132.22 points

1st: A Hemi and a Wedge are two different types of Engines. They get their names from the design of the combustion chamber in the heads.

2nd: You will find parts for the early style Hemi @ hothemiheads.com

3rd: The originals are getting harder to find. Most of those hotrods at Barrett Jacksons have a new crate motor from Hot Heads Research and Racing.