I.D. a HEMI 392

Help
is there anyway to I D a Hemi 392 from a 331 and a 354 hemi I got a deal on what a guy is telling me is a 392 but is there any way to tell without pulling a head ?

 

there's a number in stamped into the block in front of the valley cover...

http://www.hothemiheads.com/hemi_info/hemi_engine_id.html

 

Thanks for the info Ill be checking it out.

 

Keep us posted...real interested in what it turns out to be.

 

Hey a fast way to tell is to look at the distance from the Water inlet holes in the Block to the Deck.
Check out this pic at PAW in link below it shows it well

http://www.earlyhemiengineparts.com/identification.html

Good luck.

 

Yes. It's very easy to identify a 392.

If you can't easily identify a 392, you should steer clear, because 9.9 chances out of 10 it is a Desoto or a Dodge. Both of those are worth about 1/3 a 392. Selling a Desoto as a Chrysler 392 is one of the first tricks people pull to make money from the unwashed.

Rule #1 is to never buy a hemi that doesn't run, without pulling the intake, pan, and the heads.

If someone says they got a 392, ask them how they know that. They should then educate you on the spot. If they say "that's what someone told me it was" then it's a Desoto.

Dodge them dodges!

 

Geez... I've broken rule #1 seven times... sorry!

 

I still think checking the numbers off the front of the motor is the easiest way....

If it doesn't have a "N" or a "C" or 57, 58 in the engine code then it's not a 392.

 

There is nothing inherently wrong with a 354, or a 331, or a 341 or.....
The 392 is tops, but, you generally pay alot more for top-o-the-line of anything.
What are your plans for the engine?? That sometimes help decide which one to chase after.

.

 

Yep, the Chrysler hemi ID numbers are pretty easy once you read through them a time or two. If the valve cover says IMPERIAL that tends to be a help also -

 

392 Chrysler hemi was made in 1957 and 1958. On the front of the valley cover, on the radiator end of the block, you will see the numbers that could start with NE 57 for engine made in 1957 or NE 58 for the 1958 version. There will also be a series of numbers and or letters after the NE 57 or 58. There might even be a C prefix before the 57 or 58.

The 331, 354, and 392 were very good engines........

 

But industrials and marines may also have 57's and 58's in their # and still be 331 or 354

 

Casting # is between the head & valley cover, pass side rear. Difficult to read with the intake is on, if the Use code pad in front of the valley cover is blank.

 

You can also look at the height of the water crossover ports on the heads. The will be different than the 331 and 354 since the deck is higher.

Now.... I can't remember if the gap between the valve covers and that port are more or less than a low-deck. Have to dig through some pictures...

 

Dude - check this Hemi Spotter's Guide I re-posted:
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328770

Gotta love recycled posts!

~Jason

 

All industrials start with IND and there aren't and IND-57's or 58's...

 

Here's a quick comparison for you. Hope this helps...

Check out the difference in water port locations related to valve cover position. Dead give away for a 392. Greater distance between the valve cover and water crossover for the 392 compared to the 331 and/or 354 heads. That's assuming the heads have not been swaped, of course.

 

Thanks for that info Scooter....I had not come across that in my reading...

 

Hey Scooter:
Wasnt thinkin about the Heads good to mention this.

But if your just lookin at the Block revert to my earlier post above. 5th one

 

...close...CE57, NE57, 3NE57; 58C, 58N, 58N3
No 392 truck or industrial engines.

.

 

I've heard there were 354 industrial blocks out there that were only machined to 331s...

~Jason

 

I think the numbers on the front valley cover pad are the best way to ID

 

You're thinking of the one that I have. It was a 1956 Chrysler 331 Truck motor (for a Dodge truck). The casting was based on a 354 casting but under machined for longer service life (multiple overbores and rebuilds).

This is just what I heard and it seemed to make sense to me. I do not know the validity though.

 

It would be nice to have the numbers...........gottem yet??

 

I wish I could find one for the Fiat....the chevy would be gone in a New York second.

 

Bud:

Here is some sites for number refs..........

http://www.thehemi.com/

http://www.earlyhemiengineparts.com/

http://www.thehemi.com/forums/

http://www.classichemi.com/392hemi.shtml

http://hotrodsandhemis.com/right.html

http://www.hothemiheads.com/

Also Abomination relisted this post for you....

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328770

Luke
Whats this intended for

 

Or you could have just posted THIS link.... jeesh!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=121000&highlight=hemi+tech

 

Sorry Scooter. Your Social group is great I had a Brain Fart..

Now Al Pacino is cool ...buuuutt... Bring back OTTO..

 

I have two 1956 or so IND56 industrial engines that have the block casting number of a 354 as well as a pair of 1956 M45S marine engines with the same block casting number, all of which are bored only to 3-13/16" (the 331 bore).

I believe it was simply due to mass production where they used what was available. For 1956, 57, and 58 production - well if the blocks cleaned up at 3-13/16" bore then they were used for the 331 production as it was still required for the 331 marine, industrial and truck engines. Chrysler low deck automotive engine production was 354 cubic inch (hemi and poly) engines for 1956-58.

 

Me too. I bought three engines just to make one good one...

Which is why I advise against it