1938 Plymouth Coupe - Install 392 Hemi or Sell to Fund Build?
Hey Guys - (Sorry this one is a little long winded)
I am looking into getting into hotrodding. I did an introduction thread on another forum also asked for opinions on purchasing a rust free 1938 Plymouth Business Coupe with an expensive frontend suspension and rear already installed.
Based on the encouragement it looks like I am going ahead with the purchase. Here are some pictures of the car. The body was placed on the frame for the photos only. It is not attached to frame.
[/URL']http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zps6wjqoela.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsrwlp4slv.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsincv70oc.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsezfe3air.jpg.html]
[/URL]
I know I have a lot to learn and this will take time and patience and $$$.
A member posted in my original thread about the work and heavy skills involved in installing a 392 Hemi in a late 30's Plymouth. Which was both an eye opener and a slap in the face back to reality!! Haha!
So here is the conundrum - I actually have an awesome professionally rebuilt 392 Hemi with a bunch of goodies. I bought it a few years ago to help out a family who had a terminally ill member. I knew little about Hemi's at the time and simply bought it knowing I would sell it after the family member passed away.
But now the hotrod bug has hit me and a 38 Ply is on the way.
So I am looking at two scenarios:
Have someone do the setup fabrication to install the 392 OR
Sell the Hemi, get a cool/cheaper but maybe friendlier install motor, and use the rest of the funds to complete the build.
I was thinking if I sold the hemi I would like to install a 340. What I would really like to install is a 440 6Pak. But I don't know if I will have the same issues with the big block as I would with the hemi (The issue - I want to use the entire hood. So I am not sure if the 440 is too wide. I know the 392 is too wide).
So what do you guys think? Do I lose too much of the cool factor not installing the 392? Or would it best to sell it and get a less expensive motor that is easier to install and also have funds left over to complete a lot of the build?
I also do not know what a 392 is worth. I tried selling it before and it was a nightmare. I need your help in pricing this 392 if I sell it. It was professionally rebuilt by the owner of an engine shop for his personal car. He didn't repaint it as it was going in a survivor car. I was told was it was a 1958 392 with a hotter cam. No details on the cam. BIG BONUS - It has new adjustable rockers (see Pictures).
I posted pictures on here when I bought. Here was the response:
"I think you hit the jackpot. As an added bonus the engine has adjustable rockers, which probably means it's a (better) performance engine most likely out of a letter series Chrysler.
Those adjustable rockers, by themselves, often bring over $2K on eBay. Just the rockers. And that's if they're NOT rebuilt.
58N would indicate that the engine is out of a New Yorker. That would mean that the rockers shouldn't be adjustable from the factory, so they must have been added. Another fun fact, the engine hasn't been run with those rockers and those valve covers. Adjustable rocker valve covers had bumps in them for clearance. Those rockers will likely hit those valve covers if they're run as is, even with the factory cam the adjustable rockers hit the non-dimpled vavle covers. The factory adjustable rocker valve covers looked like the one's below, although its not uncommon for folks to use a ball-peen hammer to create the clearance they need as the "bumps" sit under the wire covers anyway.
Also, based on what the heads look like, I would have to say that's either a VERY low mileage engine, or that at the very least the heads were removed and hot tanked. Engines from this era used parafin based oils, and its really easy to tell that from the heads/rockers. Those are WAY to clean for them to have been run with the oil that they would have seen in that era."
I have found only two other like this in Canada and asking price is over $10K without the rockers. I don't know the American market but I was thinking with the CDN exchange rate I could give someone an awesome deal in the US. What do you think the motor is worth?
All opinions and help is greatly appreciated.
Pictures:
[/URL']http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114041_zps0mmxz1ml.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113834_zpsqefqsavp.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113933_zpsfzkehakp.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114342_zpsqpbaxbnq.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114327_zpsowokv8f1.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113951_zpsutjnropu.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114401_zpsfkdy6u9y.jpg.html]
[/URL]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114422_zpspq5p4sd1.jpg.html]
[/URL]
Sent from my iPad
Hey Guys - (Sorry this one is a little long winded)
I am looking into getting into hotrodding. I did an introduction thread on another forum also asked for opinions on purchasing a rust free 1938 Plymouth Business Coupe with an expensive frontend suspension and rear already installed.
Based on the encouragement it looks like I am going ahead with the purchase. Here are some pictures of the car. The body was placed on the frame for the photos only. It is not attached to frame.
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsrwlp4slv.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsincv70oc.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/image_zpsezfe3air.jpg.html]
I know I have a lot to learn and this will take time and patience and $$$.
A member posted in my original thread about the work and heavy skills involved in installing a 392 Hemi in a late 30's Plymouth. Which was both an eye opener and a slap in the face back to reality!! Haha!
So here is the conundrum - I actually have an awesome professionally rebuilt 392 Hemi with a bunch of goodies. I bought it a few years ago to help out a family who had a terminally ill member. I knew little about Hemi's at the time and simply bought it knowing I would sell it after the family member passed away.
But now the hotrod bug has hit me and a 38 Ply is on the way.
So I am looking at two scenarios:
Have someone do the setup fabrication to install the 392 OR
Sell the Hemi, get a cool/cheaper but maybe friendlier install motor, and use the rest of the funds to complete the build.
I was thinking if I sold the hemi I would like to install a 340. What I would really like to install is a 440 6Pak. But I don't know if I will have the same issues with the big block as I would with the hemi (The issue - I want to use the entire hood. So I am not sure if the 440 is too wide. I know the 392 is too wide).
So what do you guys think? Do I lose too much of the cool factor not installing the 392? Or would it best to sell it and get a less expensive motor that is easier to install and also have funds left over to complete a lot of the build?
I also do not know what a 392 is worth. I tried selling it before and it was a nightmare. I need your help in pricing this 392 if I sell it. It was professionally rebuilt by the owner of an engine shop for his personal car. He didn't repaint it as it was going in a survivor car. I was told was it was a 1958 392 with a hotter cam. No details on the cam. BIG BONUS - It has new adjustable rockers (see Pictures).
I posted pictures on here when I bought. Here was the response:
"I think you hit the jackpot. As an added bonus the engine has adjustable rockers, which probably means it's a (better) performance engine most likely out of a letter series Chrysler.
Those adjustable rockers, by themselves, often bring over $2K on eBay. Just the rockers. And that's if they're NOT rebuilt.
58N would indicate that the engine is out of a New Yorker. That would mean that the rockers shouldn't be adjustable from the factory, so they must have been added. Another fun fact, the engine hasn't been run with those rockers and those valve covers. Adjustable rocker valve covers had bumps in them for clearance. Those rockers will likely hit those valve covers if they're run as is, even with the factory cam the adjustable rockers hit the non-dimpled vavle covers. The factory adjustable rocker valve covers looked like the one's below, although its not uncommon for folks to use a ball-peen hammer to create the clearance they need as the "bumps" sit under the wire covers anyway.
Also, based on what the heads look like, I would have to say that's either a VERY low mileage engine, or that at the very least the heads were removed and hot tanked. Engines from this era used parafin based oils, and its really easy to tell that from the heads/rockers. Those are WAY to clean for them to have been run with the oil that they would have seen in that era."
I have found only two other like this in Canada and asking price is over $10K without the rockers. I don't know the American market but I was thinking with the CDN exchange rate I could give someone an awesome deal in the US. What do you think the motor is worth?
All opinions and help is greatly appreciated.
Pictures:
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113834_zpsqefqsavp.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113933_zpsfzkehakp.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114342_zpsqpbaxbnq.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114327_zpsowokv8f1.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_113951_zpsutjnropu.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114401_zpsfkdy6u9y.jpg.html]
http://s62.photobucket.com/user/kmrumedy/media/20170511_114422_zpspq5p4sd1.jpg.html]
Sent from my iPad