1968 Plymouth Valiant First Gen HEMI

“……I’ve got a Gen I 392 Hemi I want to build and stuff into my 75 Scamp. Mine will either be a full custom or mad max style, so I won’t be limited to the factory inner fenders, but this build will still give me a lot of ideas……”



I think you’ll find it an “interesting” project. I know you’re aware of it, but for those that aren’t the Gen 1 392 has a taller deck height than the 331/354 Gen 1 HEMIs. There have been a couple of times I’ve thought I’m glad I’m not doing a 392 (and having to deal with the extra width and height).

That being said the not having to deal with the inner fenders, especially on the passengers’ side will eliminate some of the issues I ran in to. I don’t know, but the extra height and width may even work in your favor when it comes to dealing with the exhaust around the steering box.

The one suggestion I can give you is too keep an eye out for any deals on parts for your 392. I’ve been playing with the Gen 1 HEMIs for a couple of decades now and over the last couple of years I’m finding more and more parts that used to be readily available just not being out there anymore. The basic internal parts you’ll need for a good basic rebuild are still available (pistons, bearings, valves, gaskets, etc). Things like brackets, adapters, a choice of intake manifolds, valve covers etc, seem to be getting scarce. When I built my 354 a couple of years ago it surprised me what was no longer available or on back order (the cam I used was on back order for 6 months). Of course the price on stuff has been hit my inflation like everything else, what seems too high today may look like a bargain a year from now.