Hemi Engines

[GlennLever]

I currently, in case you do not know, have a Pontiac engine in my dragster.

It has reached the limits of a stock block. An after market block (Pontiac) is 5 grand.

Thinking out of the box, if I were to go to a Hemi what should I know and what should I look at?

I would want to run 7.5 with it with the possibility of going to 7.0

[Paul New]

Hate to say it but you will spend more than 5 grand to convert to a hemi you may as well buy the block!

For 7.0 racing I wouldn't start with anything less than a Donovan blocked 392  with some decent heads

For 7.50 racing you could run a cast iron block with some worked over 354 heads

[GlennLever]

Hate to say it but you will spend more than 5 grand to convert to a hemi you may as well buy the block!

For 7.0 racing I wouldn't start with anything less than a Donovan blocked 392  with some decent heads

For 7.50 racing you could run a cast iron block with some worked over 354 heads

That's 5 grand just for the block (Pontiac)

[Paul New]

Yes I realize that is just for the block, but you do have all the other components already purchased.

[GlennLever]

Yes I realize that is just for the block, but you do have all the other components already purchased.

True, more than you know (another crank, cam and set of heads.

Sure would be nice to get into a more "standard" setup though.

[Van]

No Glenn it would not be nice to make it more standard, as running what you have now is in my opinion the way to go. I like Matt,run the BBF - 385 motor. Back when I started there wasn't many parts to run them on blown alky. I made everything myself, enjoyed every minute of it. An example, I ran a 1968 Lincoln 460, I had the crank offset stroked and ran that cast iron crank, stock block, stock lincoln heads with BBC intake & Pontiac exhaust valves, made my blower manifold from a Offy tunnel ram, stock 1968 Lincoln dist with dura spark pickup, T 400 behind it, in a home made funny car. it ran 7.50 at 3,000ft track, never ever had to lean on it. every main bolt, head bolt was stock. I ran a 390 gear and a 36 inch tire, 6,500 RPM.
 That said I reaLLY hate the Chevy= Chrysler mentality.  The fact that NHRA has banned the BBF from most every class I want to run confirms that mentality. Keep the Tin Indian  please.

[ricardo1967]

"...
It has reached the limits of the stock Pontiac block.
..."

Glenn, what makes you think that?
I don't know Pontiac blocks, but is it that weaker than, for example, a SBC? How much horsepower you are making?

Going against the grain is always harder, but way more rewarding. I may put an inline 6 in my car one day, maybe a pair of them.

Now, if you're set in going Hemi way, that's super cool too.

[GlennLever]

"...
It has reached the limits of the stock Pontiac block.
..."

Glenn, what makes you think that?
I don't know Pontiac blocks, but is it that weaker than, for example, a SBC? How much horsepower you are making?

Going against the grain is always harder, but way more rewarding. I may put an inline 6 in my car one day, maybe a pair of them.

Now, if you're set in going Hemi way, that's super cool too.

The Pontiac block is inherently weak in the lifter valley, I have been advised that around 850 HP they like to split down the middle. On the dyno this spring it made 813. Since then I have leaned the air / fuel mixture out just a little to get the 8.0 mark (a little more HP).

I do have valley braces in the block and it is a ram air III block  I believe I am safe at this point but would not like to push it any more.

[225digger]

why not go with a BBC ?  i know they have valve train problems and stuff when you really start putting out the power , but there are alot of guys running stock blocks over 1000hp blown ..... if you didnt go crazy buying high end parts you could put together a pretty reliable bbc for under 8k i would think .

i have looked at the hemi route myself for the car im building , but i dont see myself going faster than 7.0 so the bbc will be just fine for me i think .... ill do a hemi on the next car i build

[wideopen231]

Glenn,
   Good and bad with Hemi thing. Good points strongest thing out there. If look at round and hit up higher class alky cars you can get good deals. Fuel stuff I would say stay away from. Now blocks and cranks you can get deal on thru Holbrook Performance(Jimmy Rector) ,Wizzards  Warehous(Tom Aykers).Heads and vavletrain same thing. ROds go new. Intake for blower deal lots around.On heads go with older fuel style for more parts intercahngablity. Old BAE fuel style work great if find a set not beat to death.

  Down side parts not a readily available in used market as BBC. Nowhere near as many parts at track if need something. Cost depends on new or used. Im running injected Hemi in my FED.Reason I have 3 blocks,3 almost new cranks and 2 sets of heads plus lots of spare parts. If not I would go BBC.

[fuel749]

 That said I reaLLY hate the Chevy= Chrysler mentality.  The fact that NHRA has banned the BBF from most every class I want to run confirms that mentality. Keep the Tin Indian  please.
[/quote]


The Chevy=Chysler mentality thing isn't as much about being in love with one brand or another, it's about parts availability. Not everyone has the time, money, patience or ability to make every little thing on their car or engine. The RED bracket racers have been the driving force in BBC development for years now, and as a result there's plenty of new and used stuff out there for reasonable money to go fast with. Same with the Hemi stuff, except its been the big dogs of the sport spearheading that development either decades ago or right now. I always get a kick out of my nostalgia customers with blown injected combo's towing to the line running 7.50's while my RED guys drive their cars up and back while running 7 flat.

                 That being said, I do love different combinations. But racing is expensive enough without paying extra to go just as fast as the guy next door.

[GlennLever]

I would like to stay "different" not Chevy or Ford.

I built this dragster to look like it came right out of the late 60's and think the Hemi would look right.

Might just stay with the Pontiac as I do have extra parts.

Suggest good reference material reading to research Hemi's??

[225digger]

. I always get a kick out of my nostalgia customers with blown injected combo's towing to the line running 7.50's while my RED guys drive their cars up and back while running 7 flat.

             

  my last RED i had a 632 with junk heads and a not so good convertor  , it would run 7.4's at 186-188mph .... on 116 race gas .... 1 1300cfm carb ... lol .... i only towed it to the track in the trailer ..

[ricardo1967]

Suggest good reference material reading to research Hemi's??

Racing the early hemi, by Gene Adams:
http://www.thehemi.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2851

[GlennLever]

Suggest good reference material reading to research Hemi's??

Racing the early hemi, by Gene Adams:
http://www.thehemi.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2851

Will do.