Early Hemi 392 Stroker Build...........

[Paul Stewart]

Well, I will start my long build story and add on as I move forward. I always wanted to build a Hemi, but prices have only gone up. An early 392 Hemi popped up on my screen from only 90 minutes away, so I decided to go and take a look. It was part of a project that was purchased and he decided to sell the motor and keep the car. It was too cheap to pass up and local, so I bought the lot. Everything was disassembled, cleaned, checked, honed, line-bored and surfaced. All standard bore, and everything was there minus a factory crankshaft, which I sourced an original standard bore unit out of the NE. Here is where it all started...................

 

[Paul Stewart]

The crankshaft was originally lost by UPS and then found. It was packaged and shipped from a UPS store, and this is how it arrived! Luckily, it was all good from the speed shop......

 

[Paul Stewart]

Crankshaft was a little crusty, so that's when I decided to stroke it out. Ground down the rod journals to accept BBC Rods which are cheaper and offer better sizing to more cubes! I purchased a set of Eagle Specialty 7.1 rods and will order custom pistons to get to the goal of between 451-468 CI.

 

[Paul Stewart]

Dropping weight as well as adding horsepower is what this build is all about. Picked up a Weiand 2x4 intake with re-built carbs from the great state of Michigan last month from an old racer. Stock intake weighs about 37 lbs and the Weiand is less than half that!

 

[69a100]

Sounds fun, even those early hemi parts aren't cheap. I've always wanted to do the same, even play with a flathead. Good Luck

 

[Paul Stewart]

Agree, but let's face it, nothing is cheap these days! My buy in was only $1200, so I started in the black! ;)

 

[Ironbuilt]

I'm watching this build, sounds interesting. Definitely needs a blower!!

 

[MoparLeo]

The 354 heads flow better. Get a main cap girdle. (weak spot on non deep skirt type blocks. The preferred blocks for this are the "A-1" block. Look for that casting letter next to the distributor hole in top of block. All are good but these were the best.
If you want to mount a modern trans to it, you will need an adapter for the Flywheel/torque convertor because the early torque convertors mounted directly to the crank shaft with no flex plate. So you need an adapter that mounts to the crank flange and allows you to attach for torque convertor flex plate to the adapter. This will also require a spacer plate to fill the gap created between the bell housing and the block from using the spacer.
Kits still available for not a lot of money. Might even be members here that can help you.
http://www.thehemi.com/castings.php

 

[Paul Stewart]

I have learned a lot about these early hemi's over the last nine months, that's for sure. Mine is the A1 block, and I have a set of the best early flowing heads in the 1955 331 "Triple Nickels" They were cut for the larger 392 valves, 2.00/1.75's !! Hemi Hot Heads has been a great help as well as other resources..............

 

[Ironbuilt]

Now you need a blower!!

 

[blue69runner]

Fantastic find. Boy those UPS guy's where rough on that package. If you went down to where they transfer every thing and watch stuff fall off the conveyer belt. Then they pick it up and toss it to the guy in the truck. Been lucky so far with part's shipped but they did destroy a pallet I had a rear end shipped to me. They just rapped it in the card board that was left. I know because the guy that sent it to me sent pic's of it before UPS got it. But very interesting motor build let us know how it turns out.

 

[MoparLeo]

A factory stock 392 tips the scales at near 750 lbs. ! And is wider than the 440 based 426 so room between the fenders is not easy to find. I saw your note of looking for a B-body to put it in. Probably will require some inner shock tower surgery for a 392.
Pretty rough looking combustion chamber in your picture. Lot of pitting. Standard chamber should be very smoothly machined. These engines were practically hand made and were dyno'd before installation at the factory. One of the main reasons they discontinued them. Very costly to produce.

 

[Paul Stewart]

When it's all said and done, my motor will weigh LESS than a stock 440. They put these into A & B & E-Body's all the time with no issues, so I am not sure what you are talking about modifying the shock towers???]

 

[qkcuda]

Very cool build. My buddy put together a stock 392 once, and I always thought the rods looked rather spindly. Those rods will be a good upgrade, plus the added stroke won't hurt.

 

[dla4567]

When it's all said and done, my motor will weigh LESS than a stock 440. They put these into A & B & E-Body's all the time with no issues, so I am not sure what you are talking about modifying the shock towers???]

I put one in an M body without much problem.

 

[Jeff Peterson]

A body........

 

[Paul Stewart]

That's cool! What K-Frame/Engine Mounts did you use??

 

[Paul Stewart]

I wouldn't mind recreating my old A12 car with this motor.............

 

[Jeff Peterson]

That's cool! What K-Frame/Engine Mounts did you use??

It's not mine, was posted on a local cruisen' Facebook page.

 

[Paul Stewart]

The heart of the beast was designed by Mr. Six Pack himself Bob Karakashian. He has designed all of my 440-6bbl cams/motors and now my first early Hemi! Custom ground in California by Engle Cams. I also only use Johnson Lifters made in the great state of Michigan. I love his cams as they are very mild on the street, but all Hell breaks loose when you drop the hammer. Can't wait to see how this cam makes this motor come alive on the Dyno!