354 HEMI from a 331 HEMI Build and Run

1955 331 HEMI bored to 354 HEMI. Triple nickel heads, Isky Cam, Hot Heads intake, Hot Heads Water pump and oil filter adapters, adjustable pushrods, windage tray, high volume oil pump, and stainless headers.
Build Video 1957 Plymouth • Building a 57 Plymouth
Build video 1937 Dodge PU • 1937 Dodge Truck HEMI
Music credits: Spencer Davis Group; gimme some lovin, War; Summer

[@jeffjones6226]

I did sort of the same to my early long bell housing 331. Drag legend Ernie Hashim had a machine shop in my hometown of Bakersfield CA and he bored my engine, made a set or 354 pistons from two used sets, ground the crank, conditioned the rods, and balanced the system. Many years later I discovered that truck hemi heads have big valves and big ports like 392s, compared to the tiny ones on the early 331s, and they don't use the water crossover, thermostat is in the intake manifold, making them compatible with the early engines. One small problem is they use hot water manifold heating with tall ports that must be welded to fit the crossover ports on passenger car manifold. Benefit is the two inner exhaust ports aren't Siamesed as on passenger heads so headers work as they are supposed to.

[@joshjones3408]

Holy shi. I thought that was Christine for a sec I was fixing to jump in the closet....great video 👍👍 i

[@tomsettles6873]

A coworker from 1980s used to acquire, rebuild and sell the 392 hemi with supercharger or dual quads. I saw him race one of his cars (dart, polara ???) with the blown 392. It ran 9s and was unbelievably fast for that time. I had never seen a regular car go faster than 11s. I was in shock. He told me afterwards that a blown 426 could run 8s. I couldn't wrap my head around a full sheet metal car going that fast.

[@rodderbob]

That engine sounds so sweet Mike...............great job.

[@fecustom]

Thanks Bob, I always figured it would be the last motor I'd build and go into the last car I put together. I couldn't be happier with the results. Should make for a fun 68 Valiant.

[@danielsacks7152]

Perfect build! Thats how it was done in the old days. Use the credit card as a scraper and learn to build stuff and scavenge! I have a 1958 D700 tandem semi U.S. Navy, with 19k mile on its 354. We had a 354 spitfire poly also. Dodge polys and built 318 polys. Got a few 392 parts. Love the cars! My wife has a 49 Dodge Coronet coupe with a gyromatic. Getting edgy head. Offy 2x1bbl, cam and Reds headers. I have dads green 68 monaco. 4.56 gears, 400, ported heads custom mechanical cam Milodon Gear drive and long rams with 2x TQs. Great work!

[@randallacton2506]

Great video and yes I’m just watching this……lol

[@MikeFL2TX]

I have a 354 pulled apart in my garage right now. I’ll be building it and it’s going in a friends ‘49 Ford Shoebox.

[@kenlassiter3107]

Perfect song for that engine, awesome dude.

[@firesculpturevideo]

That sounds amazing! I am even more pumped to start my build!

[@charlesramirez928]

That combo would go really sweet in a 65 dodge dart...it would be epic...a..nice little 390 Dana...would be awesome...

[@jonstephenson609]

Omg...

[@charlesramirez928]

Those were the small block hemis that ran like a Mother...

[@KB10GL]

The Chrysler 331 & 354 Hemi engines were hardly the "small block" of their time. The real "small block" Hemi engines were the Dodge, & to a lesser degree, the DeSoto hemi engines. The Dodge came in at 241, 270, 315 & 325 cubic inches & the DeSoto at 276, 291, 330, 341 & 345 cubic inches, all of them in cylinder blocks significantly smaller than the Chryslers.

[@fredmitchel1236]

Lower music volume...so I cam hear the Chrysler better

[@shortchange26]

I say Rat Fink instead of roadrunner. Cast iron WCFBS there?

[@woolyhighlander7280]

Did you "Break in" the new Cam & lifters ?

[@fecustom]

I was just going to ignore the question or make a smart ass reply, but I realize that there are many first time engine builders out there that may not be aware of the importance of breaking in a flat tappet cam. To answer your question yes the cam and lifters were broken in on the FIRST engine startup and it's as important as any of the other steps in building a new motor. If at all possible all the engines I build are broken in on the engine stand. The stand makes it convenient to to detect any leaks the motor may have. The engine is filled with a high Zinc motor oil, an oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge and Tach are also connected, The exhaust is connected to quiet mufflers (not the ones currently on the motor) so that any unusual noises can be detected.