Technical Early Hemi Information Thread

While I always liked the looks of a Big Ole Hemi in a hotrod, I never learned anything about them. So for others whose Hemi education may be lacking and they want to buy a Hemi for a project, hopefully this information will help them.










So if you found this information helpful to you, get a subscription to Hot Rod Magazine or their online website. The old magazines are a treasure trove on hard to find technical information. Get some of your old magazines out and park them next to your toilet.....like in the old days.

 

Nice contribution. Thanks for sharing this information.

 

Yeah, been a long time since I read early Hemi white pages.....

 

Thanks ma brotha

 

yep...thanks....will add to my collection......

 

Well here we have a case of serendipity

Today found this old video about the then "New" Hemi. It's funky old style but when you get past the intro parts about the Hemi there are a bunch of tips on maintenance and repairs that are great.
NOT my video just found it on the web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1031&v=PBQ6ztwz_ac&feature=emb_logo

 

I'll add this to it.
https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-tech/whats-old-is-new-again-early-hemi-engines-deliver-big-power/

 

Good stuff. There were some good mills back in the day, but once you have a hemi you wont regret it and wont go back.

 

Wow hell of an article, well deserved.

 

Probably should have added to the Hemi tech Index......

 

Thank you love the hemis and never have enough info

 

Great information, thanks for posting!
KK

 

This one needs a bump.....'....

 

GUYS I HAVE A EARLY CAST IRON LAYING ON MY DESK AND CANT FIND THE CORRECT SHAFT LENGTH ......FROM MOUNTING TO END OF PUMP DRIVE FOR A 331 HEMI ?? ANY ONE GOT THAT OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD , I GOT IT HERE SOMEWHERE ...ITS A PAR NUMBER IBB4103B DUAL POINT ??

 

Handy

 

Um, what? Int. shaft? if so the 331/354 is 5.25" with OEM dizzy & O/P.

 

From top of dist hold down to bottom of shaft in oil pump. 4to5inches ???

 

MOPAR Distributor shaft lengths
Chrysler 331/354 Hemi – 4.25″
Chrysler 392 Hemi – 4.5″
Dodge 241/260/270 Hemi – 3.875”
Dodge 315/325 Hemi – 4.25″
Desoto 276/291 Hemi – 4.00″

 

From the top of the dizzy hole to O/P shaft would be 9 3/4"

 

thats it , exactly what i needed ......... thank you thank you !!!!!!

 

HERES THE WAY I SEE USING THE SPECS THE UNIT MY CUSTOMER SENT ME FOR REBUILD IS FOR A DODGE 241/260/270 AT 3.875 SHAFT LENGTH ( HE NEEDS A 4.25 SHAFT ......) NICE UNIT , CAST IRON WITH NO VAC FROM FACTORY DUAL POINT ...... HE HAS A 331 CHRYSLER ENGINE

 

IBB4103B is for the 55-56 259 Poly. where it doesn't have vacuum advance there's probably better choices. Shaft could be replaced with a 331 one, I believe, or cut and extended with a collar. It's a 259, 260 is a Ford...

 

Late model Chrysler electronic distributors adapt easily to early hemis. For 331/354 engines weld about 1/4" bar to the tip of the shaft which is what I did. 392s need a longer adaptor available from Hot Heads and others. Rest is just bolt on.

 

Ok after talking to the engine builder dude we agree it would make a really nice distributor , rebuilt with new cap , rotor and contacts . Fit the engine ( firewall clearance is small with a Model T ) well with a good coil set up (proper resistance etc ) ... Note this project car has been all over (maybe a wife or two etc) for the last 10 years or so . Its back at my friends fab shop to start engine and finish the project ( for a different owner ) . So just for the hell of it heres "some hemi tech" These old cast distributors are a great unit and very seldong need bushings etc like the later mopars did . So i pick one out of the box with no vacuum advance from the factory ! Hard to tune vac on a dual quad cammed up hemi engine . Like the idea of points as theres little to do but wire it up and run it .. No need for the MSD star trek tuning box and low resistance coil (its a old hemi for gods sake , it wont turn 8,000 and make a million horsepower , so fake it and run a MSD decal or two no one will know).
Lets start with a trip to the blaster and glass bead what we can, then take out the upper dual point plate , just happen to have a carton of the old prestolite contact points. Remove the hir clip ( hardest part of job so far , dont lose it and be carefull using the correct pliers . Then remove cam , weights etc , note there are two springs and the posts are adjustable by bending . ( more later ) . Now all this stuff needs glass beaded, polished on a wheel etc . maybe some black paint etc . More as time permits . Questions anyone ???

 

Lol,,,,no questions.
I’m pretty sure you know your stuff already !

Tommy

 

This really should be posted to the proper section of the Board's "Hemi Tech Index".

 

Ok

 

Great Idea!

 

How we do that

 

Post on the hemi thread