426 Hemi engine advice needed

[doberjoe]

I have a non-numbers matching original 1968 Hemi GTX I'm putting back together. I have two '68 blocks in various stages of needing welding/crack/window repair, a few sets of original heads, used rods, pistons, original intake with carbs, exhaust, etc. I need re-pop oil pan and pump, crankshaft, fasteners, new cam, timing chain, bearings, etc.

I'm looking for stock appearing, *reliable* motor, I'm not too interested in a radically built motor. The 426/465 Mopar crate motor would work well, it would bolt right in, but the price tag is scary (yeah, you shouldn't have bought a hemi!). I'm thinking I can do better by repairing/machining/assembling what I already have.

1. Does anyone know of a dependable Mopar big-block/hemi engine builder/machine shop in Seattle/Tacoma/Portland area that you'd trust to build something like this? I don't mind doing the assembly myself, but I'd want the machine work to be done incorporating any little-known mopar lessons learned on clearances, oiling, part fit-up, etc. I want to take advantage of someone's Mopar experience that I don't have.

2. Does it make more sense, even with the higher price tag, to simply get the crate motor and bolt it in, and then sell off the used original stuff? (The original parts are not from my car, so I'm not separating anything that hasn't already been separated.) No, I'm not made of money, and with kids in college...

Thanks in advance for any observations or recommendations!

 

[Meep-Meep]

Well, certainly don't have the guy who put the hemi together that's in my 66 Charger do it! Lol! That engine came from the Portland area but I don't know the details. I do know it's the most pathetic engine I have ever encountered. A hot 318 in that car would be an upgrade. That said, the magic in these as I understand it is getting the flow to balance between the intake and exhaust. From my own experience looking at parts for may years, there are no good used heads. Either milled excessively, cracked, repaired cracks and various attempts to save battered parts. Unless you find a set of perfect heads that can be brought back to factory specs (to the letter) by a good shop, just buy new. Ultimately it will be best to have them touched up by someone with a flow bench, but if you find a good shop that can follow factory instructions (rather than thinking they can re-engineer the parts) then you should be OK. Don't forget about checking the valve train geometry too. I urge you to do a dry run assembly of your existing parts, complete with cam and valve train just to check the geometry and verify clearances, etc.. Short block work is pretty standard and anyone who is competent can handle that. Some names to consider for getting work done: rev.ronnie (right here on this site). John Aruzza. Chuck Lofgren. Neither are in OR or WA but all these guys have data to back up their work.

 

[Roadbird]

There is Jim's in the Port of Tacoma area. PM me for directions.

 

[super-bee_ski]

My 70 Hemi is stock....
Dyno'ed at something like 457 HP
Stock automatic cam...


Gee, if it were me...
Seriously, I'd ask Mark Worman where to take it....
"Grave Yard Carz" guy...
He cant be that far from you AND...he is an expert...
He seriously is...

It is 280 Miles one way...you can do that in 4 1/2 hous
Now, that is DOWN (South) the I-5 to Springfield OR
I bet he send his stuff up somewhere closer to you, maybe Portland OR?

 

[chooch]

just my personal opinion but if your not worried about numbers & 100% correct concourse show car & all you want is a fairly nice show / driver I would sell all of the old stuff to a purest numbers guy that would probably give you deacent money for it & buy a new block with new or nice used parts if not atleast a crate motor but i'd plan on atleast tearing that down & having everything checked.
by the time you have the cracks/windows/welding repaired along with machine work to make it a usable block again you will have just as much if not more than a new bare block will cost you, then you get to go through the same bs again with the heads & all the other parts. then you will have a heavy rotating assembly with questionable 40+ year old mismatched parts that will cost you a fortune to balance.. not trying to say that either way is better or worse but i've learned a few times that if your using used parts on a hemi build it will cost you more in the long run unless you know the entire history of them & if they where abused

 

[super-bee_ski]

Good point chooch...

 

[AMX364]

Hemi and abused are like Bonny and Clyde. They have always worked together.

 

[mentor70]

theres a guy down here in Socal, Dale Reed, he dose Mossers Hemis.

maybe call him and possible Email some good pictures and get a recommendation.

a friend of mine tried that route your on, and got burned hard over a "repaired" block...when it got out here from the east coast, we pressure tested it, and it leaked like a sieve.

definitely proceed with caution.

 

[dieseldazzle]

Its already not a numbers car so I would definitely go aftermarket if I were in your shoes.

 

[snakeoil24]

Old junk is exactly what it is, paper weight. A Crate engine is a cheaper way to get a motor. If you want a reasonable performer then expect to pay 20K for nothing more than a good stock performing Hemi.
A new Block 3500.
Crank Properly Balanced 1000.00
Rods 600.00
Diamond Pistons 750.00
etc etc many people can build these

 

[doberjoe]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I'll get my stuff looked at (and tested) locally before making a final decision, but a crate motor is sounding better after hearing from some of your lessons learned, maybe even money and hassle-factor ahead.

 

[Rustyiron]

My 0.02 is sell the parts you have and buy a crate engine. I first started gathering used HEMI parts back in the late 80's and it was hard finding parts that were not used up back then. Then the new blocks came out and all the rest of the parts that were sitting on shelves started getting built into engines over night. Then the good parts really dried up.

 

[bm02tj]

As they say cheap man pay twice and the thing is we all do it
unless you will save 50% the risk is not worth it