HEMI Tech- Identification

Wow! This is important! How do you know what you have until you've actually looked at some numbers! The obvious visuals are a clue, but how about year, make, where things were casted, where it came from and what it was used for.... We need to get this topic moving for sure!! Lots of questions on the HAMB about "what Hemi is this?"...

1) Visual I.D. of make and models...
- How do you know when you have a Hemi (DUH!)?
- Visuals to tell them apart (make, model, size, etc.)?
- Where the heck are the numbers on this thing???

2) NUMBERS!
- Block numbers?
- Head numbers?
- Crank numbers?
- Cam numbers?
- Valve train related numbers?
- Intake numbers?
- Rod numbers?
- Piston numbers (stock)?
- Ignition related numbers?
- Oil system related numbers?
- Flywheel numbers?
- Cooling system part numbers?
- Misc. related numbers?

This is a HUGE info hog!! Please keep postings orgarnzed to help make things easy to reference. This one will take some time to fill out! I have some excellent references for most of those and will post them as I get time. Just wanted to get the topic started. If anyone is itching to post some numbers, have at it! Otherwise I'll post them as soon as I can...

 

This may help,,,http://www.thehemi.com/castings.php

 

Here is a good site to ID your hemi www.hotrodsandhemis.com .It also has casting numbers.

 

Thanks for the thoughts on adding this catagory, BTW! Very important!

 

http://classichemi.com/index1.shtml that's another casting number site...

 

the most compehensive source for casting # is Leo Lundquist's book. [email protected] 114 pages. covers things you wouldn't think had #s!

 

The sites listed are pretty comprehensive. They list most of the Major parts. none show piston casting numbers. I can lit some of the piston numbers , there may be others , I have no dope on 331 pistons.

354 pistons 3 15/16 dia. 9.1: 1 compression. 1956
1619727
1732946
I can see no difference between these two piston numbers --- perhaps weight? The 56 300 had 9.1:1 or 10.0;1 compression but I don't think either one of these #s is a 300 piston, the compression height is exactly the same.

392 Pistons 4.00 dia. 9.25 :1 or 10.0:1 1957--1958.

1957 1732504 9.25:1
1958 1827804 10.0:1

The 331 engines had 7.5:1 at first --raised to 8.5:1 in later incarnations.
Tell you what , I won't even try to convince people that boring a 331 to 354 size & using stock 354 pistons will raise the compression in it -- because ALL the books & Bob Walker say that you will end up losing compression when you do that---so don't bore your 331 motor .125 & use the 354 slugs you found at the swap meet for 15 bucks, Buy a set of 500.00 pistons from somebody & send ME the SWAP meet ones--OK?

 

The block numbers are found directly in front of the valley cover. On the top of the block, right at the front. The Chryslers have the year in the first group of casting numbers, along with letters that will give you the model. (ie. CE55-xxxx is an Imperial from 1955, 58N3-xxxx is a Chrysler 300 from 1958). 1951 - 1955 are 331 cu. in., 1956 are 354 cu. in., 1957 - 1958 are 392 cu. in. The Dodge car motors all have a D in the first group of numbers, the DeSotos all have an S in the first group. Marines all have an M, industrial motos all have IND. The Dodge truck motors are the funny ones, as far as numbers go. Also, if you can't tell the difference between an early Hemi (1951-1958) and a 426, then look for the distributor. Early motors have the dizzy in back, 426's got 'em up front.

 

If that is blank/unreadable there are casting #s pass. side rear between the head & valley cover.

 

what george said.
dan

 

You beat me to it. It's a great little book, but I thought it was kind of pricey.

 

I'd hate to think of how much time/effort went into the large amount of obscure stuff in there!

 

You have me there. I'm just a tightwad. ;-)

 

seems like a "DUH" to us, but it's amazing/irritating how many times someone says they have a Hemi in the shed, then when you look you see spark plugs sticking out the side of the head, instead of wires going into the valve covers! (Not to mention smart ass Chevy guys w fake valve covers!)

 

HOW pricey IS pricey?

 

Very true!

 

The rest of that frustration is that EVERY Hemi in the shed is a "392" , yup thats right---a Dodge 392 or a Desoto 392 --- then of course you get , " All hemis are 392s -- they didn't made any other size".

 

Picked up his newest edition in May. Total price 21.50

 

BINGO!!!

 

Here's some Chrysler Cam casting I.D. information
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252517

There's not a lot of info at the other sources for cam casting numbers. Maybe that will help some people!

Thanks ks662!

 

If this isn't the right place to post this question, please PM me and I'll remove it. I don't want to clutter a tech thread

I recently purchased a Hemi for my project truck, a '50 Dodge.


The engine is a Chrysler Industrial.

I'm trying to figure out exactly what I've got. Should the casting number be visible on an assembled engine or will the heads, intake, and valley cover need to be removed? Also, I recall reading that the industrial heads didn't have a water crossover in the rear. The heads on this engine appear to have block-off plates covering the crossover location. Is this typical?


Thanks for any help, I'm new to this Hemi thing.

 

Your engine should have a stainless metal ID plate near the dipstick indicating what model you have - and it appears to be gone. Your engine is either a 331 or a 354 Chrysler. The actual block casting number is located on the top of the engine block adjacent to the valley cover. It would be below where the ignition coil is laying in the above picture. You can view it with the intake manifold still attached - just look down between the intake runners. One note - I have a couple 1619829 engine blocks (typically used for production of 354 engines) that were only bored to the 331 size. Keep in mind these things were mass produced meaning they used what they had available and what was approved to meet production requirements. Without the ID plate, the only way to be 100% sure is to actually measure the bore size.

The head casting numbers (must remove the valve covers to see) will also help identify the year of manufacture. The heads you have are the "automotive style" as there are water outlets at the ends. The heat crossover in the intake has engine exhaust running through it on your engine (some others like marine and HD truck engines used engine coolant in the crossover).

The intake manifold casting number can also be helpful in determining the year of manufacture.

Your engine appears to be a very typical example of a Chrysler Industrial engine, and it is very similar to the car engine.

 

The heads can be bolted on either side, so the water openings facing the rear are blocked off.

 

Hey guys/gals... Bumping this up with a link to a thread that was started by checkedgoldtop, regarding the subject of Industrial, Truck, and Marine Hemis. Check it out...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=363819

 

Fisher Man Matt's hemi is a good example of a later production Industrial engine. Basically a car engine with a 2bbl intake. I have seen some that had 555 heads with the large stem sodium exhaust valves.

As a side note, I have yet to see an Industrial that actually had adjustable rockers.

 

Block Identification Numbers.

The following is a long list of numbers that I have found over the years but in no way do I claim that it is a complete list... Hopefully it will be of help. All codes shown will have a '-' and then production related numbers, ie. C51- 1001001

These numbers are stamped on the top front of the block, on the machine surface, just ahead of the valley cover.

Chrysler Hemi________________________________
C51 ....... 1951....... 331 ....... 2-bbl
C52 ....... 1952....... 331 ....... 2-bbl
C53....... 1953....... 331....... 2-bbl (last year)
C54....... 1954....... 331....... 4-bbl (on all following years)
CE55.......1955....... 331
NE55.......1955....... 331....... New Yorker
3NE55.....1955....... 331....... Chrysler 300 dual 4-bbl
CE56.......1956....... 354....... Imperial
NE56.......1956....... 354....... New Yorker
3NE56......1956.......354....... Chrysler 300 dual 4-bbl
CE57....... 1957.......392....... Imperial
NE57....... 1957.......392....... New Yorker
3NE57.......1957.......392....... Chrysler 300 dual 4-bbl
58C....... 1958.......392....... Imperial
58N....... 1958.......392....... New Yorker
58N3....... 1958....... 392....... Chrysler 300 factory fitted with fuel injection, later replaced with dual 4-bbl by dealers.


Chrysler Spitfire_____________________________________
WE55....... 1955.......301....... Windsor ....... 2-bbl
WE56....... 1956 .......331.......Windsor ....... 2-bbl
WE57....... 1957....... 354.......Windsor....... 2-bbl
WE57....... 1957 .......354.......Saratoga ....... 4-bbl
58W ....... 1958....... 354.......Windsor ....... 2-bbl
58S ....... 1958....... 354.......Saratoga....... 4-bbl


Dodge Hemi__________________________________________
D44.......1953....... 241....... Red-Ram ....... 2-bbl
D48.......1953....... 241....... Red-Ram ....... 2-bbl
D50.......1953....... 241....... Red-Ram ....... 2-bbl
D55.......1953....... 270....... Red-Ram ....... 2-bbl
D55.......1955....... 270....... Super Red-Ram....... 4-bbl
D56.......1955....... 270....... Super Red-Ram....... 4-bbl
D500......1956.......315....... 4-bbl
D500......1956.......315....... Power-Pack....... dual 4-bbl
KD500....1957......325....... 4-bbl
KD500....1957......325....... Power-Pack....... dual 4-bbl
D501..... 1957.......354....... Chrysler engine....... dual 4-bbl


Dodge 'Poly'___________________________________________
D55 ....... 1955 ....... 270 ....... 2-bbl
D63-1.......1956 ....... 270....... 2-bbl
D63-2.......1956 ....... 315....... 2-bbl
D63-3.......1956 ....... 315....... 4-bbl
KDS ....... 1957....... 325....... 2-bbl
L325....... 1958....... 325....... 4-bbl
LD2 ....... 1958 ....... 325....... 4-bbl


DeSoto Hemi_________________________________________
S17 .......1952.......276.......Firedome....... 2-bbl
S16 .......1953.......276.......Firedome....... 2-bbl
('16' and '17' are not reversed...)
S19....... 1954.......276 ......Firedome....... 2-bbl
S21....... 1955.......291.......Fireflite....... 4-bbl
S22....... 1955.......291.......Firedome....... 2-bbl
S23....... 1956.......330.......Firedome....... 2-bbl
S24....... 1956.......330.......Fireflite....... 4-bbl
S24A......1956.......341.......Adventurer....... dual 4-bbl
S25....... 1957.......341.......Firedome....... 2-bbl
S26....... 1957.......341.......Fireflite....... 4-bbl
S26A.......1957.......345......Adventurer....... dual 4-bbl
S27....... 1957....... 325......Dodge Engine....... 4-bbl


Plymouth 'Poly'_______________________________________
P27 ....... 1955....... 241....... 2-bbl
P27....... 1955....... 260....... 2-bbl
-----P27 used for two engines------
P29....... 1956....... 270....... 2-bbl


Note on truck engines; on Chrysler blocks, look for a 'W' cast in relief between the core plugs. This indicates a 354 block although the finished bore may be 331. The 'W' is also found on pass car 354 blocks.

Light Duty Trucks____________________________
These can be Hemi or Poly, some numbers were duplicated
VT-334....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-334....... 1954....... 260
VT-336....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-338....... 1954 ....... 241
VT-338 ....... 1955 ....... 260
VT-350 ....... 1954....... 331
VT-434 ....... 1955-1956....... 260
VT-436....... 1955-1956 ....... 260
VT-444....... 1956 ....... 260
VT-448....... 1956 ....... 331
VT-448....... 1959 ....... 354
VT-534....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-536....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-538....... 1957 ....... 315
VT-544....... 1956 ....... 315
VT-548....... 1956....... 354
VT-549....... 1956....... 354
VT-550....... 1956....... 354
VT-576....... 1958....... 354


Medium Duty Trucks___________________________________
Hemi, some numbers were duplicated
VT-342....... 1955....... 270
VT-344....... 1955....... 270
VT-346....... 1956....... 270
VT-348....... 1956....... 270
VTX-442..... 1956....... 270
C-68....... 1956....... 331
C-72....... 1957....... 354
C-76....... 1954....... 331

Heavy Duty Trucks, Busses, (big stuff) ________________
-------some numbers were duplicated--------
B8, C8, D8, F8, FS8, G8, GH8, HS8..................................................1955-1956.....260
J8, JS8, KA8, KS8.........................................................................1955............270
R8, RS8, T8, V8............................................................................1955............331
K8D4, K8D5, K8D6, K8S4, K8S5, K8S6...............................................1957............315
K8C5, K8C6, K8C7, K8D7, K8D8, K8P3, K8P4, K8S7, K8W5,K8T7, K8T8.......1957..........331
K8C7, K8D7, K8D9, K8T7, K8T8, K8T9.................................................1957..........354
L8C5, L8C6, L8D4, L8D5, L8D6, L8P3, L8P4, L8S4, L8S5, L8S6, L8W5.......1958...........315
L8C7, L8D7, L8D8, L8D9, L8T7, L8T8, L8T9........................................ 1958.......... 354
M8C6, M8D6, M8S6 ........................................................................1959......... 315
M8C7, M8D7, M8D8, M8D9, M8S7, M8T7, M8T8, M8T9...........................1959..........354
M8D8 ......................................................................................... 1959 .........315


Marine ______________________________________
M44S-3 ..................... 270
M45S-3 ..................... 354
M45SP ..................... 331
M45SP-3 ..................... 354


Industrial___________________________________________
IND 18, 18A ................ 241
IND-20, 20A, 24, 24A ..... 331
IND-52 ...................... 260
IND-53,54 .................... 315
IND-56 ........................ 331
IND-56A ..................... 354
IND56A1 ..................... 325


If any one has additions or corrections please send me a note.

Additional info can be found on my web site.

 

S24A is a 1956 341 Adventurer dual 4-bl engine...

 

My keybroad made a mistrake...

.

 

HOLY CRAP!!! Great addition Gary!!! THANKS!!!!!!!!

 

Okay, this is what I've got, but how do I know which one it is? I'm totally new at this, so I'm sorry if it's an obvious answer.