ATTENTION: Rocky and Hamburgers- It's HEMI TIME !

[19Fordy]

YES, It's gonna have a HEMI in it. Gonna put a 354 hemi built by Rod and Custom Machine in Dixson, TN in my 51. That's why I was asking about the availablity of 3:73 rear gears to be used with a 700R4. Now I am wondering about the headers. Who makes headers that will clear the stock Merc steering box? Anybody done this. Thanx.

[Rocky]

Glad you "saw the light". I don't think anybody makes a pair of headers just for this application but I've seen the early hemis in merc sleds before. They may have used the stock manifolds. Keep us posted with photos of the swap, ok? And, the early hemis are heavy...gonna swap out the front springs? What will you use for a tranny? Hotheads and a few other companys make adapters for several different tranny choices, both manual and automatic.

[19Fordy]

Yes, Indeedy. It's heavy ( and so is the car -3900 lbs. cause it's a convert.). Have been told to use 54 Merc springs.(Is that right.) Front end is stock but with ECI disc brakes , Fatman dropped spindles and steering arms with linkage. Rear is Ford 9 (73 Mustang) in with 1990 Lincoln 10 x 2 1/2 " brakes,drums and backing plates.Tranny will be 700R4. Rod and Custom Machine is supplying adapter and related goodies.I too have seen pix of mercs with hemis ( but none in real life) and am wondering if Sanderson makes block hugger headers for hemis. Car is apart, engine is still in TN, but am taking pix. Just gotta fgure out how to put them on the HAMBurger stand. thanx.jim (Now if I could just find a buyer for the 454 I'm not gonna use.)

[rikaguilera]

Call up Sanderson. They will custom make some if they don't already have some in production. I would also try "Hot Heads". I think they make some block huggers. They are who I am getting most of my Hemi parts from. I am building a 331. They have been a good source for hard parts.

[Andy]

Sanderson makes them but they are not real close to the block. They just come straight down from the port. I worry about your steering clearance. I was going to put a 354 in my 60 Chevy but the head was way too wide for it to fit. I thought that anything that will swallow a 348 will take a 354 NOOOOO! Good luck. If you could use a crosssection templet of the 354 ,I could make on from paper and mail it. I hope you don"t get something that is too big to use.

[Bugman]

With a car that heavy, will a 700R4 be strong enough? You can't baby a Hemi car around you know. In fact, it's against the law in 43 states http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[19Fordy]

Yeah, me too. The engine compartment of a merc is huge so i knw the hemi will fit. My buddy in Orlando is also stuffing a 354 into his 51 merc so I guess where there's a will there's gotta be a way. He's got one of those PAYER plastic motors we can use. jim

[19Fordy]

Wonder if Florida is one of those other states? Guess I'll have to get a "bullet proof" 700R4.

[Bugman]

Also, unless you really like the look of headers, or are going to build a really hot 354, stock 354/392 manifolds will work just fine. You wouldn't really notice a performance differance. The other option is to make a set yourself, or have a set custom made, but that can get spendy.

-Bugman Jeff