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56D500boy

Posted 2022-02-10 6:09 PM (#619259)
Subject: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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.
I learned a few things including the stupid location of the water pump on the back side of the water manifold. Not very handy for replacement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOBkCNuvBpM

(NicksGarage_1956_354Hemi_teardown_WaterPumpManifold_Backside.jpg)

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Powerflite

Posted 2022-02-10 7:02 PM (#619261 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Yeah, I had my 331 water pump rebuilt, and the guy said he should have charged a lot more for it.

I hope he puts real pistons and a decent cam into the motor this time with decent compression. The Dodge motor he worked on was pathetic. I would have been ashamed to even post it.

56D500boy

Posted 2022-02-10 9:28 PM (#619263 - in reply to #619261)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Powerflite - 2022-02-10 4:02 PM
Yeah, I had my 331 water pump rebuilt, and the guy said he should have charged a lot more for it.
I hope he puts real pistons and a decent cam into the motor this time with decent compression. The Dodge motor he worked on was pathetic.

Yeh, that 241 from the 54 Pace Car he did was bad. Barely made 150 hp at the crank. Should have been 160 - 170 with the 4 bbl.

At least the designers of the Dodge "double-rocker" engines didn't follow the lead of the design of that 56 Chrysler 354 water manifold and water pump. The Dodge water manifold is a much better design for easier of replacement (even then, it is still a pain in the butt, just not a HUGE HUGE pain)

Edited by 56D500boy 2022-02-11 11:33 AM

Powerflite

Posted 2022-02-10 10:08 PM (#619265 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Should have been 170 with 1954 technology. If anyone today can't get more than 1hp/cu in from an early hemi motor, they should just STOP and let a real engine builder take over. If he had built it with any kind of real intent, it would have put out 260 hp and still been able to use a mild converter on it.

Mopar1

Posted 2022-02-11 10:06 AM (#619278 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Those bolts on the W/P are very easy to strip.

Mopar1

Posted 2022-02-11 10:11 AM (#619279 - in reply to #619265)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Powerflite - 2022-02-10 9:08 PM

Should have been 170 with 1954 technology. If anyone today can't get more than 1hp/cu in from an early hemi motor, they should just STOP and let a real engine builder take over. If he had built it with any kind of real intent, it would have put out 260 hp and still been able to use a mild converter on it.

Should put out decent numbers with 10:1 forged pistons. Advertised OEM C/R was 7-7.1:1, one measured out at an actual 6.19:1.

Powerflite

Posted 2022-02-11 10:56 AM (#619280 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Yep, the modern head gaskets are much thicker than the originals. So when you replace the heads, that advertised 7:1 goes down to 6.5:1. The only decent way to build one of these motors is with custom pistons, and to calculate where it will actually end up, so you are sure. And 10.5:1 is the sweet spot for an early hemi on pump gas.

Edited by Powerflite 2022-02-11 10:58 AM

Powerflite

Posted 2022-02-11 11:21 AM (#619281 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Also, since you are paying for custom pistons anyway, it's only a little more expense to stroke it. Grab a crank from a 325 poly and grind it down to fit. Get around 290 cu in out of a 241 or 320 out of a 270.

Manifest Predicament

Posted 2022-02-17 4:25 PM (#619499 - in reply to #619281)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Powerflite - 2022-02-11 10:21 AM

Also, since you are paying for custom pistons anyway, it's only a little more expense to stroke it. Grab a crank from a 325 poly and grind it down to fit. Get around 290 cu in out of a 241 or 320 out of a 270.

Being new here - Thanks for the tip!!

And yes - that water pump is also costly! Use the best anti corrosive antifreeze and keep an eye on it.. Buy all the antifreeze you need now as it's going up to about $40/gallon.

Manifest Predicament

Posted 2022-02-24 2:01 PM (#619765 - in reply to #619259)
Subject: Re: Nick's Garage Tearing Down a 354 Hemi in prep for a rebuild

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Location: Sioux Falls, SD

I wonder if that Nick fella knows there is a aftermarket solution for the heavy and costly waterpump.. I disagree his "That's how they did it in the 50s" No Nick - just that one..

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