I found a 392 marine hemi on craigslist. It's a daul carb 392. Guy says it still turns over, and it's a good price. It's about 5 hours from me though. How do you tell if it was a normal VS. counter rotation engine? Is there any way to I.d it without taking the thing apart? What parts are different? Is it just the cam or is there more that has to be swapped out to go back to clockwise? Thanks
Rotation 'issues' are generally cam related. The Marine crank, however, is different than pass car stuff so a replacement will be needed. During the rebuilding /conversion to car use the rotation problems will go away. The biggest issue with any marine engine is salt water vs. fresh water use. There are plenty of old salt water blocks that are barely good for scrap. Look inside the water passages very carefully, including the intake manifold. .
Perhaps some did it that way............but there are a LOT of counter rotating engines used in twin installations........one CW....one CCW Ray
Liked the looks of this one... so much so I copied the alligator dash covering! Any idea of the cubes on it? It was on display at the Roar and Soar event at the Fantasy of Flight Museum in 2008. Gary
The distributor is in the rear of all the early hemis, only the 426 had it in the front. I'm starting to think I need to get some more info from the seller, as i'm starting to think he may have a 331 or 354 and be thinking it's a 392.
I believe George forgot to emphasize the word 'front', knowing that the engine sits backward in the boat, ... he was likely tugging on your chain just a little bit. ...and, everyone with an old Chrysler Hemi for sale knows that it is a 392 'cause that what the guy told them when they bought it... Check the ID code. .
I know thats true, I don't know how many I have been to look at that were supposed to be 392's. I did have hope that this guy knew what he has.Since he also had a 354 for sale. I'll have to get him to get me the block casting number. it was blank up in front where the stamped code is supposed to be at.
CRIDER...it's true about the HEMIs not being marine engines, but after they are fited with special pumps, manifolds, and other special equipment then there marine rated. if that engine still has all the marine equipment attached. well my friend it's worth a small fortune!...POP.
I'm still waiting on the pics. He says it's complete, so I guess i'll see. he was going on vacation, supposed to be back in 2 weeks. He did say it has dimple covers and adjustable rockers.
That should be "392 HEMIs" there were 270, 331 & 354 from the factory. People have installed 392 in boats, they just are car engines with the marine extras.
A easy way to tell a 331 and 354 from a 392 is look at the top waterpump bolt hole. A 331/354 the bolt hole is almost even with the gasket surface. A 392 is a little over 1/4 of an inch below it. The boat in the picture has a 331 in it if it is original and the carbs look original. Considering that the boat is a Chris Craft Cobra and is worth around $150,000 if solid it probably has the original 331 in it. Chris Craft only made them one year and the are huge collector items now.
QUOTE=crider;4846097] "So all 392 boat cranks are different automotive?"[/QUOTE] --------------- -------------- No. If it's a 392, it has a standard 392 'automotive' crankshaft. That's all there was. Read the above post from TR Waters that I've pasted above... There WERE NO 392 "Marine hemis".....only standard automotive 392's. Any 392 in a boat is a car engine that someone has added marine equipment and converted it to marine use themselves. Mart3406 --------------- - P,S. Just to set the record straight too and to squelch all the numerous 'old wives tales.' misinformation and outright lies floating around out there, besides there being no such thing as a dedicated, factory-built "392 Chrysler Marine Hemi", there were also NEVER ANY factory-built "392 Chrysler Industrial Hemis", or any factort-built "392 Dodge Truck Hemis" either. The 392 was a passenger car engine only, used only in 1957 and 1958, and only in Chrysler and Imperial passenger cars. If it's a factory "Chrysler Marine Hemi", or a factory "Chrysler Industrial Hemi" or Chrysler-based heavy-duty Dodge "Truck Hemi" it's either a 331 or a 354 ....not ever, ever, ever. a "392". =================
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