For those who question the durability of Ma Mopar's steel and aluminum...

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Krooser

Krooser

Building Chinese Free Engines since 1959...
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I used to be the local vintage Hemi collector. When ever I spotted one, or got a tip, I bought it. Got a '56 354 300C engine out of a manure pile... was in there since 1964. Fixed it.

Travelling around the country dragging a 48' flatbed behind my Peterbilt made it a bit easier to get to the rescue locations. At one time I had 12 engines in my shop. (I also had 18 Ford Flatheads at one time... different story).

This piston/rod combo came out of a '55 Industrial 331 that dropped a valve at 4,000 rpm. I bought it from a rancher in Texas and it came off of his irrigation rig. After 20 years of use it broke a valve and hydrolocked. He said the pump was an 8" and it could pump water for one mile... wow.

The engine had the desired Triple Nickle heads. The intake valve was jammed sideways into the valve seat. New seats, a skim cut to the heads and a valve job fixed it. Block needed a sleeve.

I used to hear that the Hemi rods were weak and converting to Pontiac rods was the answer. I don't think so...

Tuff stuff.

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I bought a 1956 354 that sounded funny when it ran. Turned out it had hydrolcked? and bent the rod into a sort of S but kept going? wild stuff. Never replace any hard parts in an early Hemi unless you need to bore it to get good cylinders.
 
Krooser
did you use a ring groove chaser on those pistons?
polish the head
new rings?
thanks for the pics
back in the c/fuel days we took those shortblocks and stuck in our cam and lifters, heads, strombergs tipped the can and had fun'
when the stock block expired just get another one
sometimes shifted as it saved smoking and wearing out the tires no slipper clutches but Scheiffer was still on Monterey Pass road in neighboring Monterey Park
I can remember when we put a scattershield on (that's another sad story)
and where it led with our driver is still painful
 
Wyrmrider said:
Krooser
did you use a ring groove chaser on those pistons?
polish the head
new rings?
thanks for the pics
back in the c/fuel days we took those shortblocks and stuck in our cam and lifters, heads, strombergs tipped the can and had fun'
when the stock block expired just get another one
sometimes shifted as it saved smoking and wearing out the tires no slipper clutches but Scheiffer was still on Monterey Pass road in neighboring Monterey Park
I can remember when we put a scattershield on (that's another sad story)
and where it led with our driver is still painful
Click to expand...

My first trip to Bonneville was in '79. While roaming thru the pits I got hooked up with some guys running about three Street/Roadster classes in a A roaster. They had rooms in Wendover... I came in a rental car from SLC (my White Road Commander's cooling fan broke coming across I-80 and came thru the doghouse nearly taking out my co-drivers right foot. I was stuck in SLC waiting for parts).

We struck up a deal... I'd trade my minimal skills in wrenching and helping them clean parts to rebuild a blown SBC. I got a spot on the floor and a pillow. Done deal.

Like many before them they sent two guys off to the junk yard in Salt Lake to procure a forged crank and some connecting rods. They came back with a complete '58 283 with fuelie heads. Perfect for the class they were running the next day. They had many stories of guys going to the same yard coming back with Hemi's that they washed up in a bathtub at the motel, installed a new Dean Moon cam and went out and set a record. Halcyon days of hot rodding.
 
I thought Poncho rods were cast? We ran Clevelands in high school in my friends 71 Mustang and later in my 57 Fordor. We could get a Cleveland short block for $100, cleaned off the rack at a local dismantler and the heads were $25 a piece at pick-a-part off any 400M truck. Good times....Also gas was .85 a gallon.....
 
Every automotive rod and forged crank starts as a cast billet then goes to forging press. The only cast rods I know of are small engines and antiques.

Before the onslaught of import parts Pontiac rods were the hot set-up.
 
I noticed decades ago, the bolts and screws in early B bodies were so much better than the stuff starting around maybe '68. Better steel or were they dipped in something!?
 
barbee6043 said:
I noticed decades ago, the bolts and screws in early B bodies were so much better than the stuff starting around maybe '68. Better steel or were they dipped in something!?
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Don't know about the bolts but I worked for Mopar dealers from '68 until '72. I did a lot of warranty work and the fit and finsih of most of the cars was lousy... worn out dies with zero maintenenance done to them. Water leaks and wind noise ruled... but I still love them.

The bad part of working for Dodge and Plymouth back then was you were forced to test drive 340's, 440's, 383's and Hemi's everday. I remember banging second gear in a yellow '72 Cuda and I snapped the driveshaft 200' from the driveway... pushed it back to the lot!
 
Krooser said:
Every automotive rod and forged crank starts as a cast billet then goes to forging press. The only cast rods I know of are small engines and antiques.

Before the onslaught of import parts Pontiac rods were the hot set-up.
Click to expand...

not these.......
1-Copy.jpg

"..The most common Pontiac connecting rod is the cast unit constructed of Armasteel, a specific iron alloy that boasts some steel-like qualities. While suitable for a mild performance rebuild, entry-level, stock replacement forgings are a much better option, particularly anytime performance is increased beyond stock levels...
...During the 1960s Pontiac introduced a strong cast unit constructed of Armasteel, a GM trade name for a pearlitic malleable iron alloy that possesses some steel-like qualities. Because of age, stability, and durability concerns, I strongly feel that neither of these original Pontiac rods should be used in any high-performance engine.

I knew I heard it somewhere so I had to look it up. My first V8 car was almost a primered 66 GTO with a transplanted 400 and a 4sp. I couldn't push the clutch in!
 
Remember when we couldn't give the hemi cudas , 6 packs, superbirds away?
How the Hemi's always came back from lunch with fouled plugs?
 
pishta said:
not these.......
View attachment 1715472209
"..The most common Pontiac connecting rod is the cast unit constructed of Armasteel, a specific iron alloy that boasts some steel-like qualities. While suitable for a mild performance rebuild, entry-level, stock replacement forgings are a much better option, particularly anytime performance is increased beyond stock levels...
...During the 1960s Pontiac introduced a strong cast unit constructed of Armasteel, a GM trade name for a pearlitic malleable iron alloy that possesses some steel-like qualities. Because of age, stability, and durability concerns, I strongly feel that neither of these original Pontiac rods should be used in any high-performance engine.

I knew I heard it somewhere so I had to look it up. My first V8 car was almost a primered 66 GTO with a transplanted 400 and a 4sp. I couldn't push the clutch in!
Click to expand...
Forgot about the General's innovations...
 
Wyrmrider said:
Remember when we couldn't give the hemi cudas , 6 packs, superbirds away?
How the Hemi's always came back from lunch with fouled plugs?
Click to expand...
We had a 69 Six Pack Superbee at Dodge City that was there for three years! Mustard color...don't remember the code. Got all the wheels stolen off of it and it sat on the brake drums until it was sold in 1972.

The rumor was the Mopar dealer in MN bought every leftover hipo car left in inventory he could find. Stored them inside and that was his retirement fund.
 
Wyrmrider said:
Remember when we couldn't give the hemi cudas , 6 packs, superbirds away?
How the Hemi's always came back from lunch with fouled plugs?
Click to expand...
I did a 130 mph test drive one afternoon not knowing I passed the Boss doing a four door sedan demo ride to some elderly customer.

I got talked to after that....
 
Krooser said:
We had a 69 Six Pack Superbee at Dodge City that was there for three years! Mustard color...don't remember the code. Got all the wheels stolen off of it and it sat on the brake drums until it was sold in 1972.

The rumor was the Mopar dealer in MN bought every leftover hipo car left in inventory he could find. Stored them inside and that was his retirement fund.
Click to expand...

I HOPE he sold them when the market had peaked!!!!!!!!!
 
barbee6043 said:
I HOPE he sold them when the market had peaked!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...
I believe he cashed out in the late 90's....early 2000's. Should have been a good time.

My buddy Ralph who worked there at Dodge City said they sent a rollback to the shop...came with wheels and all the equipment to get it loaded without damage.

Evidently this towing operation was going Nationwide doing pickups. I believe the dealer was in White Bear Lake, MN just north of the Cities...
 
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