Top End Troubles - Tearing Down A 426 Hemi That Never Ran Right (A 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Update)

[@heavyearly2232]

I think Beige is cooler than black in this case, and the column shift was icing on the cake.

[@Vaino_Hotti]

Everything is big with a Hemi! Big cubes, big heads, big power, big torque and big bills!

[@bjornljung9375]

The block is actually same as the 440, just 8 extra inside boult fittings for the heads.

[@robertspence831]

@@bjornljung9375 And the cross bolted main caps.

[@ThePaulv12]

@@robertspence831 And the smaller bore, the engine mount ears, the cylinder head oil returns, the pushrod routing.

[@adam03110]

Phantasm for sure! I was pretty young when the 1st movie came out, scared the crap outa me! love all the movies now, glad reggie stayed with it. Im 56 now, would love a hemi cuda!

[@DPWheeler67]

I'm gonna guess that there's .020 to .025 wear in those cylinders, based on the amount of light coming through those cylinders. Great video from Dead Plymouth Garage!!!!!

[@petermoto409]

Jim's Automotive Machine Shop, Inc. channel is awesome for explaining and showing all their engine work.

[@dadgarage7966]

Nick's Garage is the place to make this engine perfect again but, sadly, Nick is really far away.

[@randylear8264]

Way to go Jamie. I have a 340 in my 70 Challenger. A 440 in my 70 GTX. V-6 twin turbo in my 91 Stealth. And a inline 4 single turbo in my 88 Conquest TSI. But no 426 HEMI. I do have a 5.7 Hemi in my 09 Challenger R/T. Looks like it will be as close as I will get. Nice tear down and review of the HEMI. And the fact that you have a HEMI is pretty cool. I’m jealous. Thank you for the video.

[@fastinradfordable]

Nice fleet there brother

[@jimringo2569]

A scavenger's special show! Thanks and look forward to the reassembly.

[@michaelnault5905]

I'm looking forward to this test drive :⁠-⁠)

[@dantupper1784]

Glad it held together long enough to get these problems fixed.

[@fredphuckpuss801]

Nice forensic disassembly. AND REMEMBER "It's a HEMI that's why!"

[@jasonnelson6624]

Joe Dirt approved 🤣🤣

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

“My Hemi!!”

[@harrywalker968]

@@DeadDodgeGarage hemi george.. watch a vid yrs ago, had like 12 hemi,s. just sitting around..

[@harrywalker968]

@@DeadDodgeGarage aand remember if it aint broke, it aint a chev.. the old chev i6 engines had rockers on toobs.. like dodge, ford kent, what happened,?, did they have a brain exit.??. theres a 383 long block, trani, here in aus for 1,200.. thought of getting it as i hate the dizzy at the back..replace my 340.

[@allanperryman388]

Awesome car. I learned more hemi stuff and things. Thanks for another great video.

[@Full_Garage]

My understanding is that the bench seat/column shifter weighed less than 2 bucket seats. And im sure that the column shifter weighs less than the floor shifter and console. Great video, 1st time seeing Hemi guts.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Would be curious to know if this was an "ordered" car or a "sales bank" car. If it was ordered this way, I'd think the original owner intended to do some racing. Biggest Engine, least options. If this were a Sales Bank car.... a programmer within Chrysler either a) had a sense of humor or b) figured somebody would turn the car into a racer.

[@Mercmad]

Polishing conrods goes back to the days of steam, 1700's . It's not for reducing friction ,it's prevent cracks propagating from the marks left by forging or casting so the rods don't break. And it's not just performance engines as I have rebuild engines like Singer SM (english car) and small capacity jags such as the 2.4 Mk1 XK engines .Both of which had highly polished rod beams.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeah, you’re right. I have heard it explained as being intended to reduce windage. I suppose we should call that a secondary characteristic.

[@fastinradfordable]

It also helps oil drain because less oil holds on to a mirror smooth rod. Compared to a rough casting. I did my crankshaft. Rods. Cam. And the inside of my block. Lightening the rods and crank are great mods. Divid Vizard style. I did all these on my 1.9vw tdi. Ended up taking like 6lbs off the rotating assembly. Not counting more weight reduction on the flywheel and pulleys. Maybe like 9lb total. Every lb you remove from rotating pass is literally more power from every stroke.

[@juliancocetta3240]

Honestly, in most cases I’m not picky with authenticity at all… but this car was basically the epitome of sleeper, ordered right from the manufacturer. That’s an absolute gem!

[@LongIslandMopars]

Yep. I'll take sleeper over flash any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[@billyeichler176]

Jamie please enjoy the build I never had the money and experience to build one bless you Pal jealous

[@jasonnelson6624]

Why would you want a column shift hemi? Because I will take what I can get.

[@paulhare662]

Back roads parking, 1970 gender studies were better without a chrome fence post between the seats.

[@jasonnelson6624]

@paulhare662 here I thought you might suggest it was so woman could drive. That's why I buy manuals still today. Most woman and sadly men today can't drive manual. If a woman can she gets cool bonus points. 🤣🤣🤣

[@fastinradfordable]

Easier for the ladies to get close.

[@fastinradfordable]

@@jasonnelson6624I personally don’t trust a woman to press my clutch pedal right.

[@jasonnelson6624]

@fastinradfordable yeah I got that when I read it. My response was what I thought before I actually read.

[@waynebuzzell2483]

Sandpebble beige with column shift. Because stealth.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s right

[@LongIslandMopars]

​@@DeadDodgeGarageI'd take sleeper over flash any day of the week and twice on Sunday

[@beljames1563]

Interesting look into the mighty one.

[@raymond_sycamore]

Man I wish I knew as much about cars as you brother!

[@minnesotatomcat]

I’d never sleep again knowing my engine had one valve different than all the others 🤣 that hemi must have been put together by a flipper.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Let the fun begin

[@22vx]

Another fun vid 👍 Thank you for sharing!

[@mb2stroke816]

What an interesting combination. My 70 barracuda is a Column shift, non rallye dash, and i love it. it also has bucket seats at the moment, but I have a bench seat I'm gonna re upholster and put back in it soon

[@ricksaint2000]

Much love for a sleeper, Thank you Jamie

[@burtbacarach5034]

Actually a very nice car,has everything you need and not much else.Who needs a fancy interior when you have a Hemi?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Exactly!

[@DanMopars]

Another reason for the column shift, bench seat is the Fathers excuse/reasoning when the wife at the time, in traditional families, said there was no room for the 3-4 kids and two adults. The Fathers answer? Bench seat has fold down for the child! 😅😂😅😂

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Absolutely. Haha.

[@DanMopars]

Jamie if you look at a lot of the high impact Chrysler display cars at world fair etc, most have buddy seats. Even the pictures of the events and the brochures have families looking at them. One such is 70 coronet Rt v code bench seat 4 speed fj with white interior that member droppeda100van beat us (Mopars5150) to, a few years back.

[@iamnoone.]

JAMIE nice to see a hemi not have windows in it.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The windows in mine were already welded up 😅

[@ryanomalley430]

The inside of the hemi heads are really cool! Those are some massive valves!

[@GeekGinger]

Cross bolted mains are much stronger than the Chevy four bolt design. That's why the Ford 427 tunnel port, another NASCAR engine, had them too.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yep! For sustained high RPM action, that’s what you want.

[@322skimteller]

I've seen the 2 bolt CSB machined for 4 bolt , and those go at an angle , someone's paying attention , Maybe not me but someone is

[@20CentMotors-z3b]

I think it was in "Tom's" 1971 Dealer Sales Data Book video where he mentions the highback bench with armrest was a $16 option. I had a C body with highbacks/armrest and it was quite comfortable. Lots of upper back support. The center armrest made a fine travelling companion. So lets say you did a weekend test drive of a new '70 Cuda with all that after sitting in the one on the showroom floor with the console. Sure, it's the neatest console ever made, but you also have that new girlfriend, Sally, and Sally isn't shy about sitting right next to you, being your personal armrest when she's available. A guy might be persuaded to go with the bench with the fold down Sally.. I mean armrest.

[@70stastic]

Grabbing a column shifter and wrenching it aggressively into 1st while flooring it is an experience that console shift can't give. All my Mopars are column shift btw

[@Darryl-69SE]

It’s a bad ass looking Hemi car period.

[@SE-me2pt]

Thanks Jamie for laying down the reality of lack of expensive extras on lotsa performance cars. Although my Charger is a premium price SE, I presume the buyer had priorities 440 Magnum ,727 Rallye suspension,sure grip 8 3/4. No slap stick,no machine gun exhaust tips,no tach or clock, was tempted over the years to add the options. Nah'

[@LongIslandMopars]

Subtle is classy.

[@mikegreen2229]

Yes, I will take this showroom Hemi in “Old Man Tan”. Where do I sign, sir?

[@MiniAdler13]

I love mopars, but i'm a volkswagen guy. watching these videos makes me glad that i don't own a mopar lol

[@scottsmith1897]

Its a HEMI Cuda............... doesnt matter color or options. Very few people can say they have a hemi cuda..........another great video ! Also like its a you problem not a me problem........ 🤣

[@mikemullay5622]

Basic works just fine for me. I had a base '72 Skylark coupe. 350 two barrel. Bench, column shift. AM radio but the first car I had with power front disc brakes and power steering. I loved that car. I would like to have another one.

[@petergrey7125]

Love the video, as always Jaime!

[@burthenry7740]

Rebuilding an engine that looks like it was recently rebuilt (or has run very few miles over the years) ? Pretty common, unfortunately, not everyone has the required skill and finesse, whether now or 100 years ago, to rebuild an engine. But from what I've seen, Jamie, you know your ....stuff !! 👍

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Funny you should say that… I tore down a brand new engine with zero miles on it today which was fired up and made horrible noises immediately. Fun times.

[@Mike-Olds-1]

While the hemi is very cool for my money the 440 for a street engine is just fine 👍🏁🇺🇸

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Agreed!

[@hansblooeyribbon4207]

Gimme a BEIGE Hemi any day! Crushed goldchainers everywhere

[@LongIslandMopars]

Yes!

[@louislepage5111]

Maybe it was ordered as a somewhat sleeper , the callouts on the shaker could have been off . Or the dealership didn't know what they doing 😊

[@rong4189]

True story, my oldest brother, RIP, sat down with a salesman in late ‘71 to spec out an order for a 1971 hemicuda convertible, black on black, and he told me he actually wanted the split bench seat and auto on the column, go figure. But knowing that soon he would be buying a house, getting married, then kids etc., spending $5000 whole dollars at the time just wasn’t in the picture!

[@US-191]

"..I don't normally do the whole decoding thing.." And that is why I tend to watch, and enjoy, this channel. Hmm- and yet none of the hecklers commented on the bench seat? Or the floor-mounted spare wheel location? In your defense, at 15:32 I was thinking: "OH- he musta left those 2 bolts on so the oil pan wouldn't come crashing down on the camera" ..noop- just human. And perhaps a tired one.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeah… pobody’s nerfect on that one. Looking at the footage, it was *very* obvious. It’s probably obvious that I couldn’t see them at all from my perspective. Oh there were definitely comments on the bench seat and column shifter from the usual geniuses in the peanut gallery…

[@johnelliott7375]

Jamie I feel for you and people who don't work on restoring them or wasn't alive or old enough to understand that back in the day 500 dollars was like 1,500 today give or take I am a mechanic not a accountant. Noticed I used a couple of phrases for those who don't understand what words used to mean and gets twisted around and the meaning changes every year almost. Have a great day and enjoy your evening.

[@DarthEcoli]

According to Uncle Tony and a few others I respect, the Black ghost is a myth. I too would go with Phantasm.

[@DanMopars]

1,000 percent myth and marketing scam. Gator top not on the fender tag, cars floors rusty,,,bunches of drama lol

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I mean… it exists 🤣 yeah, the stories are overblown. That didn’t keep it from being displayed in a glass case on the NATIONAL MALL.

[@markscheidlmeier6523]

Hey J, Those Motor Mounts? Another good use for the wrenches you rarely use. (Shallow sockets on either end of short bar...Ford Motor Mount/Intake bolts almost require them! "Flex Head Double End Socket End Wrench" or some such) Keep up the good work...Always like taking something apart that the last guy used a case of super glue in lieu of a gasket!

[@rickseeman5679]

I think the last rebuilder wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer

[@Bbbuddy]

I wonder if Ed Pink Engines still has a record of building this.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

They said they might, but I think it’s kind of a moot point given what has obviously happened since they had their hands in it.

[@dwightwaldvogel2783]

So that car was the ultimate sleeper ! I know very little about hemis so I found that interesting . As far as machine shop steps there is a very you KZbin channel with a father/son shop in Colorado I want to say it’s called Jamis but they explain everything very well

[@SchoolforHackers]

Now hear me out: when I was in my teens, a bench seat was great for letting your girlfriend sit next to you a while you drove, as was on-the-tree shifting. An automatic made it a hellacious sleeper that let you keep your hands where they should be. 😊

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Absolutely! The sweetie seat is a great feature in many classics.

[@pcbullets8726]

Who cares if it's a "base Hemi Cuda", it's still awesome. Fun fact about Phantasm, the Hemi Cuda in the movie was the actor Reggie's own personal car.

[@ProjectFairmont]

Phantasm, haha love it. FWIW that was a 440-6 pack car.

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

My dad had a HEMI Cuda back in the day that had that same side body molding. Tor red automatic rubber bumpers 😎

[@fastlanegaming2000]

Just drove the 60’ valiant and of course it leaks all the oil but damn am I glad to watch a DDG video

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Outstanding!

[@TJ-oi5qe]

Awesome info and awesome car!

[@richardblanke5521]

Love your tilt steering

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Custom 🤣

My now deceased business partner bought an orange 70 Hemi Cuda with the 4 speed trans and a 4.10 Dana 60 differential new in 1970. It had the rally dash and wheels. The car was a low level rocket ship and I don't ever remember losing a drag race whenever I drove it. The sad part was the car was stolen in 1973 and completely stripped when the police finally found it.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Ouch…

[@66balsam]

My 73 Cuda was a 318 auto with console and slapstik, ralleye gauges too. Pretty sure by then that stuff was either standard across all models or the ‘Cuda’ designation brought it despite the smaller of the 2 small blocks available. I love that Cuda black, but would be kinda cool back to fac’try

[@travis50907]

Column shift Hemi car gotta be rare I love it

[@Redgrave-v2p]

The eternal sadness of knowing well never see a beige hemi cuda with a black vinyl top is real

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

😭

[@44hawk28]

Call Big Block Chrysler has high volume oil pumps on them. Even a lot of the small blocks did. They might not have been marked high volume because the standard volume for a Mopar was always larger volume than for a Chevrolet or Ford

[@antoninoorfano8187]

Column shift , basic interior is the best .

[@jamesblair9614]

Lots of killer Mopar race cars came with bench seats and either a column shift automatic or typewriter buttons.. I wouldn’t mind it a bit if my Cuda had come with a column shift rather than that crappy plastic console. I do however draw the line at beige paint and vinyl rub stripes.

[@timrayburn2461]

Thank you

[@bretbarrish9141]

This is the way

[@localcrew]

Middling quality work on a 426 Hemi. That’s unexpected.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Agreed…

[@ThePaulv12]

Imagine restoring this back to OEM? Considering it's a genuine Hemi car it may well pay. A rare albeit pedestrian car. Kinda desirable in a strange sort of way - for the hard core Mopar aficionados no doubt.

[@61rampy65]

I think those horizontal lines on the pistons are there as an attempt to retain oil up there, preventing scuffing of the pistons. Or, they could be a way for the piston manufacturer to claim to have an 'improved' design, and charge more money for them. Jaime, do you also do voice overs for commercials? I saw an ad on YT today that sounded just like you.

[@DanMopars]

Actually common for oil retaining to help keep air cooled cylinders temp down from what I understand from the Porsche air cooled crowd; of which I have zero experience 😅😅

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yep, that’s my assumption too. Also… no I don’t 🤣

[@That_AMC_Guy]

ORANGE MOTOR MOUNTS???? To the Cornfield, Johnny!

[@randysummerhays4168]

A late friend of mine a Mr Paul vanderlee who is in the hot rod Hall of Fame did some work for a customer of his the customer spent his hard earned money on his once in a lifetime treat about a Mopar performance Hemi long block crate engine never ran right Paul tore it down and discovered it had different cylinder heads on it be careful what you buy Paul told me this to my face Paul was a force to be reckoned with he was a super super good guy

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The heads I got with my block were mismatched too. That’s fine, they were both cracked…

[@randysummerhays4168]

@DeadDodgeGarage were they new honestly I didn't watch the whole video

[@doublebackagain4311]

[@KartingwasmyLife]

My 1970 4 speed Hemi Cuda had the standard gauge package and no centre console.

[@danmcintyre9961]

That number one cylinder issue is interesting. I'm curious how THAT happened.

[@cowthedestroyer]

Someday i need to make the trek across the country break into your shop and borrow some parts. Always wanted a 426 in a 4x4 truck. How much torque? All of it

[@mattwhaley9917]

I would Love this thing in sand beige with the rub strip on the side, but I see how most folks don't. Black always looks good though.

[@PlymouthOnPlywood]

Chrysler made two engines with spark plug tubes. One was an engineering marvel, the other was a 426 cubic inch boat anchor. Jokes aside good video!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

So good 🤣

[@The_Painter31]

Does your parts list include either a 6-71 or 8-71 blower...Hemi's look so much cooler with them...

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

All I can say is that the engine alone is going to cost enough… but I’d be lying if I told you that the blower kit wasn’t open in a tab on my phone browser

[@michaeladamo1188]

I would put it back to stock!

[@JimmyLoose]

18:21. I've only rebuilt Big and Small block Mopars (no Hemis). I've never seen that groove on the cam journal in anything I've built. Is that exclusive to the Hemi? Is it to provide full time oiling to something?

[@DanMopars]

It’s an effort to get more oil up to the top of the rocker gear.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yes, that is a modification to feed oil to the top end full time, instead of only when the feed holes in that cam journal and bearing line up. That is a common modification on the slant six as well - although in that application, the groove is used in conjunction with an oil restrictor. I saw no restrictor in this block, so I’m actually a bit concerned about excessive oil going to the top end as is.

[@DanMopars]

@@DeadDodgeGarageagreed. Surprised if you find that crank to be standard, looks like Ed cut a groove in the crank. I’ve not seen hemi crank from factory with main journal grooves in the crank. Along with the full time cam timing,,,I see why the HV pump. Also 1/2 pickup in hemi and 3/8 on all other big block except Maxie’s

[@staceyrenner5418]

Was there ever an option for a shaker delete on a Hemi car? Or is there no room without the hole in the hood? Now that would be one hell of a sleeper.

[@Jaybird66sweptline]

I really wanna imagine a Granny driving a beige hemi Cuda to the grocery store and the hair salon and doing burnouts in the church parking lot.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Me too. Haha.

[@ConnorLakeHavasu]

One of the freeze plugs had a tattle tale on it. Did this come from some engine mill?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I saw that. Obviously I don’t know its entire history but I wonder.

[@budlanctot3060]

Cam plug is not original type. I believe they were a convex disk type, that once installed you smack it with a hammer to flatten it slightly and expand it tightly in the bore.

[@LSSindustries]

That looks, interesting

[@12v71detroit]

hmmm just a thought hemi studebaker

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

You weren’t the only one 😅

[@danielh8045]

Please install the missing windage tray when you put it back together. I also didn't see an oil slinger; but maybe you had already removed it?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Both missing… on it

[@That_AMC_Guy]

You and I think very much alike. Right up to the 11-minute mark I was thinking the whole time: "That cylinder is prob'ly wiped. No combustion to help seal the rings - who knows how many miles - it's probably glazed like mad; if not scored". Contrary to poopoolar belief; gasoline is a terrible lubricant. Is my memory correct in thinking in the early diagnosis video you did.... that the oil smelled particularly gassy? I'm pretty sure you did an oil change on it earlier. Just seems odd that such a high-dollar engine got such a low budget build. Don't get me wrong; there is a poetic beauty in the art of the farm fix..... but it's not supposed to be permanent. A great man once told me "If you've got the time and money to do it wrong twice; you've got the time and money to do it right the first time." I love that line because nothing grinds my testicles more than having to do the same job twice. How did we not hear piston noise from #8?? I guess the exhaust leak masked it?

[@VolcanoPudding]

As long as it can outrun "The Tall Man."

[@nathanmccree2217]

It is a bad ass hemi car

[@steves9905]

a sandpebble cuda would sure be different...would have swapped the rubber molding for the hockey sticks tho...

[@DanMopars]

I’d have Oregon cams regrind that cam and reface the lifters if they are of vintage metallurgy and the new build is not going to roller. Cost is very reasonable but be warned I’ve been having 4-6 week turnaround.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

We have a brand new regrind from Oregon Cams in the box, and a set of NOS lifters 😁 I am well familiar with cam and lifter troubles.

[@DanMopars]

I’ve no doubts that you and Tom got this completely handled. I guess part of my response is to help viewers that read the comments, understand there are options out there to battle the flat tappet flat cam issues that have plagued so many, long with proper oil and additives of course; while using what most would consider “scrap” engine parts. Thanks Jamie!

[@roycervantes1341]

Good afternoon,,,,,,,,,, Yeee Yeee😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@dirttdude]

enjoyable video

[@pauljones2031]

Yup most hemi's got raced hard. Windowed blocks are common.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeeeppp… mine was

[@robertwest3093]

The underside of this car is awfully clean. Was it redone lately?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It’s been a while, but it has been well taken care of.

[@AllieRogers-mq1kf]

if your machine shop allows you to film that would be some good advertising. I wish I had a machine shop near by. My closest is 2 ish hours away. I'm going to probably need to familiarize my self with them for my 440.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

My concern with advertising for them is that they might get busier 😅

[@AllieRogers-mq1kf]

@ haha based

[@MattsRageFitGarage]

Isn't it crazy to tear apart all these old engines just to find the shoddy work people did in the past and probably charged good money for it?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yeeeep… speaking of which, I’m doing it again today, and it’s way worse 😅

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Wasn't basicest the Lightestest ?. We cant get enuff of this sort of stuff. lUvit !Thank you . Techno like wot was on that other show b4 preachy thing happened on Uncle Tony's Garbage. Just methinks butt. Luv UR stuff .

[@kart70]

This Sunday should be the "Some Bozo On The Internet Sunday Special"

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yesssssss

[@musiclovr2890]

The trick is to have someone else pay for the parts 😁 It's a hemi it deserves forged internals my friend Those Pistons appear to be knurled please do not use those , and for the love of God, pick the hemi up off of the head area and stand it up right so the head surfaces don't get ruined, I really want a hemi cuda😢