Help, Hemi Head Location, Early / Gen2

[10thumbs]

Hi guys,

I have another question concerning 392 Hemis compared to Gen 2 Hemis. As far as I can tell, the heads on the early Hemis were not staggered like the 2nd generation, meaning left head more forward than the right side.

I'm sorting out parts for a new project and trying to get the correct (or at least the best of those I have) Hemi for the build. The motor from the AMT Wild Willie car, as well as the Bantam Altered have a block with the heads staggered, but with the magneto on the rear of the block. The heads are pronounced staggered, it's real obvious. What's the deal? I'm thinking of just changing the block around and fitting a magneto up front, because of the head positions.

So, were the 392 heads aligned as a pair, or somewhat staggered at least?

I would really like to do a blown 2nd generation Hemi, I have more of them at disposal.

Thanks for looking,

Michael

[disabled modeler]

The 1958 392ci Hemi I once owned had staggered heads and the distributor was in the back of the intake valley pan...its just less obvious due to the look and shape of the valve covers on the early ones far as I could tell. Neat bit of information is the valve cover from one of these old Hemi engines will cover a small block Chevy intake manifold...LOL...

[gtx6970]

The only Hemi with the dist in the front is the 426 .

And other than its a ' Hemi ' it shares nothing with any of the earlier Hemi engines

Ps, all the Hemis were staggered cylinder heads,,, regardless of year or size.

pss, the engine in the Borsch Charger AA/FC kit is a 426 based,

The engine in the Borsh AA fuel altered is a 392 based

Edited July 3, 2015 by gtx6970

[bobthehobbyguy]

All engines have to have the heads staggered because the rods can't be in the same place.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Conventional V-8 engines will have to have staggered heads.

This is a semi-raw aftermarket 392 Hemi (Chrysler FirePower) block. The cylinder bank offset is clearly visible as the step on the RH side of the casting.

[10thumbs]

It seems to me the 392 Hemi heads are offset about an inch, the later Hemi quite a bit more. Therefore the motor from the AMT Bantam Blast is just too wild, it really seems to be too exaggerated for an early Hemi.

I checked out http://www.hemihaines.com/Early-Hemi-Engines-6-146.html, there are a couple of clean pics of both motors.

The 392 Hemi from Miss Deal kit is nice, barely offset heads. I recently built this motor. The old AMT Double Dragster has a similar block, maybe a bit plainer in design but good, I'll have a closer look at mid 70's Revell F/C Hemis. The Lindberg S/S Dodges are OK too.

Does anyone have pics of the Wild Willie or Bantam Blast motor?

Michael