To be clear, you are talking low deck and high deck Dodges here. On the original question, the poster asked "Do those small ones have the same size heads and valve covers as the bigger ones?" which could be construed as Dodges vs DeSotos vs. Chryslers, which do not interchange.
Ok, now, as paul harvey said, is the rest of the story.Fast forward from the 1962 fragrance between my Merc powered 53 ford against the dodge hemi. I raced a 1958 chrysler with the big 392 ? Hemi with my 1957 Merc 368 turnpike cruiser engine. Again, the hemi beats me by a fender length. So my shrink says that is why I still have nightmares about Hemis.wish I had one!
I was curious more about weight. I often hear they are heavy engines. At 392 cubes probably less of a factor, at 240 a lot of weight (I'm only theorizing). I actually had a 392 years ago, in a Sanger Jr. V-drive boat. I'm really pissed that A) I sold the boat for $1,700 and B) I have no photos.
I found this on the internet : Engine Weight Chrysler 331 Hemi 700 Chrysler 354 Hemi 720 Chrysler 392 Hemi 740 DeSoto 276-291 Hemi 630 DeSoto 330-345 Hemi 670 Dodge 241-270 Hemi 580 Dodge 315-325 Hemi 610
In my experience when racing any body. The Mercury will run out of gas (low gear will breck when pushed to hard)
That's about what mine shows. That includes the huge generator/PS pump. going with modern Alt. & P.S. pump saves a lot, not to mention an alloy intake.
'56 D500 from a wagon(with overdrive) was bought new by a doctor in ND. Remember, they did house calls back then! He must have done his research, 'cause that wagon would cover a lot of ground very quickly! Farms were(are) well spread out. Upped compression from 8.8 to 10.5:1 with Ross forged pistons;still using solid lifter cam which is a little healthier than stock. Going back into the wagon.
Reportedly the 51-3 2 bls are under rated @ 180. They supposedly actually made 200 but that was a lot of HP back then for the 75-to-dead folks who buy Chrysler brand cars & didn't want to scare them off.
He was a rescue that a pal of mine saved from the county. It was already his name and he saw no need to change it. Very good dog, hangs at the shop all day on occasion.
It's all about the combo build a 300 inch motor with a big cam heads and heads carb that will turn 8000 rpm stick it in a car with a stock converter and a 300 rear gear it will be a dog.
a 368 against a 392 and you only lost by a few feet. were you racing them old couples sunday morning on there way to church?
With an aluminum intake and a aluminum chevy water pump you will be surprised how light a hemi can be