331 Hemi

[Tom]

Does anyone know what needs to be done to put a 331 Hemi in a 71 cuda.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

One of the hardest swaps to do , the 331 is wider than the 426 & barely fits between the inner fender on the passenger side & the steering column , you will also need custom headers etc , I seriously looked into this back in 78 when I had a 354 , everyone then told me to forget it , now I would bolt in a 3rd gen & go

 

[moparleo]

There are really no aftermarket parts available for the 331. Ahead of its time in 1951 but not in 2013. As Chryco was saying fitment is a problem as well as many other things. The best of the first generation Hemi's were the 1955-56 354 ci. These heads would be put on a 1957-58 392 ci. long block. better flow when the ports welded and ported. The 392 was used for raceing purposes all the way up to 1964 when the second gen 426 Hemi was born. No true auto trans in 1951. Fluid drive, . There are bell housing adapters made to put an aluminum torque flite on a 392. Back then there were no flex plates. The torque convertor bolted directly to the crankshaft. This makes the space too small from the block to bellhousing. The cure is a spacer plate between the block and housing and a bolt on flange for the crankshaft that allows a flexplate to mate the crank to the torque convertor. Used and new aftermarket parts are available mostly for the 392 and 354. Still a poor choice for street performance. Extremely heavy, 750 lbs for complete engine.

For more info, contact:http://www.hothemiheads.com/

 

[Tom]

The 331 I am looking at was professionally rebuilt and is putting out about 385 horse , it has a rebuilt 727 with 3000 stall converter. it weights about the same as a 383.

 

[moparleo]

So not really built as a street motor. Very odd engine to put that kind of money into. What was the engine originally built up for? A street rod ? Race car ? 385 horse not much of a return for the money spent on the build. You can get more from a 318. But the looks of any Hemi is hard to beat.

 

[Tom]

The engine was built for a street rod , then He got sick and has to sell it. The engine was built more for reliability than Hp.I need to buy an engine and transmission anyway. As long as I don't have to cut up the car to put it in ,it would be cool. I am a millwright by trade, if I need to fabricate brackets and stuff it's not a problem.

 

[moparleo]

A lot of things to consider trying to put this engine into the e-body engine bay. Engine set back (clearance for rear mounted distributor) motor mount adapters, transmission crossmember location, transmission linkage ( unless it is cable) Oil pan to k-frame clearance. Custom exhaust, steering box clearance. Clearance between inner fenders and cylinder heads. Master cylinder clearance.
ETC..... Unless this motor is complete, running and dirt cheap. You will be fabricating everything to make it work. Other than for looks, your money would be better spent on something that is period correct, and that all parts are plentiful for.

 

[burntorange70]

Not sure about E bodies but I know on A bodies the heater blower motor some times is in the way.

It may weigh the same as a 383 but you can push one well past 385 hp easy and it fits. Or a SB would weigh less and can make that or more hp easy. Not sure but I would think the cost would be less as well.


331 would be cool just be prepared.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Personally I would use it in a street rod build of some sort but I would not try to fit it into an E body

 

[76 Powerwagon]

I would love to see some pictures of that motor.

 

[Tom]

Here is the latest picture, I had just ran the cam in.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

Sweet

 

[03HDFB]

Very Nice!