354 hemi worth picking up?

[THE CHARGER PUNK]

in my local buy and sell there is a 354 hemi for sale for $50 is it worth picking up or what?-MATT

[hotrod98]

Most defiinitely. The old hemis are getting more popular since there are companies building more parts for them than ever. I can't remember for sure, but I think the 354 is the one that shares some parts with the 392. I gave away a truck load of 354 and 392 stuff back in the eighties because no one was making parts for them.
Either way, you can't go wrong as long as the block is okay.

[cudaken]

 For $50.00 and you got room for it sit I would guess so. But as far as using in a B-body, cost of part's to make it fit would be out of the butt.

                             Cuda Ken

[hotrod98]

The street rod guys are using them a lot. 
For $50 if it's complete with valve covers, it makes for a hell of a conversation piece.
They look kind of impressive just sitting on an engine stand. 

[BB1]

Vrooom Vroooom 

[Old Moparz]

There's some old Hemi's that have the bell housing cast into the block, & those are the ones that nobody wants. (Not sure about the 354) The 392 is the most sought after since they are without bell housings. Make sure it isn't one of them before you end up with a $50 boat anchor you'll trip over for a long time.

There's a Hemi ID page on this site:
http://www.earlyhemiengineparts.com/indexframeset.html

[41husk]

Yes the ones with the fluid drive tranny had a bell housing cast on the block, and is pretty much worthless inless you are going to use the fluid drive tranny, but for $50 the heads and valvve covers are worth that.  I wish I had saved those valve covers to hang in the garage.

[RD]

can you not cut that bellhousing off and machine the block for use with other tranny's?  I know it would be expensive, but is it possible without damaging the block?

[Todd Wilson]

There's some old Hemi's that have the bell housing cast into the block, & those are the ones that nobody wants. (Not sure about the 354) The 392 is the most sought after since they are without bell housings. Make sure it isn't one of them before you end up with a $50 boat anchor you'll trip over for a long time.

There's a Hemi ID page on this site:
http://www.earlyhemiengineparts.com/indexframeset.html

The Dodge truck and old Mopar car and street rod guys all are interested in the old Hemi's. Theres no big interest in the old Hemi's in the muscle car world.


Todd

[cudaken]

 I think you can cut the bell housing off the back. But the total cost could be mind bending. God, some 25 years ago I helped a friend drop a 392 Hemi into a 70 Charger R/T. Back then the headers cost $800.00? Makes TTI seem cheap.

May be lower now, but then again?

                                                           Cuda Ken

[ChargerBill]

I would get it if it's the one without the bell housing. And even if it is, like already said, the valve covers and heads are worth the $50. Heck, I'd love to have a 354 or 392 Hemi just because...