I weighed an all iron 1958 354 Poly engine, with accessories, and an all iron 440 (except the aluminum intake but with a rolling dolly). The scale is calibrated.
I'd guess that the 440 is heavier. The block on a Chrysler hemi/poly, when stripped bare is hardly bigger than a Chevy block. The 440 series blocks have a heavy cast in timing gear housing that would ad several pounds to the block. The difference in intake manifolds may give the edge to the 440.....but I'll stick with it out weighing the poly by just a few pounds. Ray
Could you actually read the scale on the poly or are you just supposin' ? I'll wait 'til the OP reveals the facts............. Ray
Sorry, the poly is kinda dark but it reads exactly 700lbs. The comparison is not exact as the engines are in a slightly different state of assembly but it's close. Neither has oil in it, and both are wearing their OEM iron water pumps and iron housings. The scale is calibrated by a national firm that does a lot of high-end work on test and calibration so I know it is quite accurate.
526" Hemi with siamese bore iron block and Stage V aluminum heads, Indy intake but no accessories or small parts. 606lbs.
TR is right. No need to go further. Question is which do you want to build. Dollar for Dollar the 440 is the least expensive dollars per HP engine probably in the world. Poly or Windsor block can be converted for Hemi heads . A bit awkward but not really difficult however will it be able to make the HP of a good 440 in mild trim? I would be very surprised. That said there is nothing like the look of an early Hemi. The weight difference probably isnt enuf to be concerned about. Don
Indy had a cool 440 based motor at PRI. It made over 700 Hp & over 900 ft/lbs on pump gas and weighed 60 lbs less than a small block chevy! (Aluminum INdy Max Block) It ROCKED! No matter, the 440, set up simple and right with mostly Mopar parts, is just one of the baddest engines on the planet.
The 354 is out for a rebuild and change over to Hemi heads. Then it goes back in the car it was born in back in the Los Angeles Chrysler plant in 1958.
Hopefully you can post the weight of the 354 with the hemi heads for comparison. hp per dollar? 440 far and away the better choice.
Very nice car and (I think) you are making the right choice for the engine. Congratulations on both. Ray
The 440 can also be convereted to hemi heads if you can find 426 heads. I have done both, you have to put an external drain on the B/RB. I like Polys but for power to weight ratio I would take the 440 hands down. Now if I were building a traditional rod and had to hit an era maybe the 440 would not work, but it is worthy of mention that the 440 can be dressed to look like a 413 or an early tall deck 383.
I really only posted the 440 for weight comparison purposes; I've never considered using one in the '58. I've had more 440 cars than I can remember so I don't need yet another. Plus, IMO a '58 Chrysler should have a Poly/Hemi engine in it without exception.
Well, the engine is back in the car today after the usual rebuilder cluster-fluck*. I weighed it and you can see the results, though of course the state of assembly is a bit different and the Hemi version has the engine stand adapter bolted to it which probably weighs a good 10lbs. I also re-did the whole front accessory drive and added an AC compressor. *Never again will I have someone rebuild an engine for me! I can do it better faster and cheaper.
How did your car run after the conversion? I am currently buying a 354 Poly. But I may have to Hemi it. It is missing some parts. I am getting a 331 Poly too... Perhaps I can get that engine running. Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
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