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Stage V Hemi Head conversion #2498076
05/20/18 12:36 AM
05/20/18 12:36 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 411
Big Island ,VA
J
JC Childress Offline OP
mopar
JC Childress  Offline OP
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Big Island ,VA
Are these still available ? Has anyone on here ever had experience with them ? Any info is appreciated. Are they extremely expensive ?


J.C. Childress (434) 665-9541
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498106
05/20/18 02:08 AM
05/20/18 02:08 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,152
Bend,OR USA
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Cab_Burge Online work
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Cab_Burge  Online Work
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Bend,OR USA
I don't think Stage V has offered that kit in a long time work scope
Even if they did a stock 400 or 440 block wouldn't hold the power the heads will make work
Don't do that tsk twocents
Put your money into a new block and heads, Hemi or B1,B1-MC, Predators and so on up scope


Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: Cab_Burge] #2498108
05/20/18 02:15 AM
05/20/18 02:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 411
Big Island ,VA
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JC Childress Offline OP
mopar
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Big Island ,VA
I understand that, but I meant just for a street car....nothing hi horsepowered. I'm supposed to be getting a 65 Coronet and I thought I'd make it like an A990 clone kinda. Just a street car.


J.C. Childress (434) 665-9541
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498118
05/20/18 04:16 AM
05/20/18 04:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,489
Minnesota
Hemi_Joel Offline
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Minnesota
I have no first hand experience with these, but from what I've read, I can tell you this: they have many one off parts that are not common, like pistons and custom headers. If you want a budget Hemi, you are dollars ahead to pony up for a real hemi block, then scrounge deals on used Hemi parts, which are becoming fairly common.


[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]
31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum
RS23J71
RS27J77
RP23J71
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WM21J8A
I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do.
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Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498183
05/20/18 12:33 PM
05/20/18 12:33 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,032
Mt Morris Michigan
mopar dave Offline
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Mt Morris Michigan
I was looking at that set up a couple yrs ago. They are super hard at contacting . never answer the phone and very slow with email. If i remember correctly the whole kit was about 6500-7000 dollars. I have the price sheet some where around here.

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498250
05/20/18 02:40 PM
05/20/18 02:40 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 28
Victoria, B.C.
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Pat Mac Offline
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Victoria, B.C.
I don't think Eric likes dealing with the public. Your best bet is to contact Tim@FHO if you are interested in a kit.This conversion was designed when Hemi blocks were starting to become hard to find and expensive in the late eighties...are Hemi blocks easier and cheaper to find now?
The pistons were made by Arias, special roller lifters were Crower. I think TTI makes the raised port headers.
Hope that helps.
Pat

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498408
05/20/18 10:29 PM
05/20/18 10:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 114
napa ca
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procharged 484 Offline
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napa ca
The set I had fit stock exhaust intake and pistons . The exhaust rockers were 1.4 ratio and the the rocker arm stands also different .

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498807
05/21/18 10:25 PM
05/21/18 10:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Spokane Washington
They were expensive then too but made sense to some degree back in the 80's when Hemi blocks were drying up fast and were big bucks (even more than now in 80's dollars) but since new Hemi block castings are now (somewhat) available they don't make sense anymore unless you found a 100% complete set up second hand for a lot less than they cost new. You can buy a top shelf custom Hemi build for 20-25K now days, I'd wager you'd have nearly as much into a Stage V 440 conversion if you had one built with quality parts.

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498959
05/22/18 10:02 AM
05/22/18 10:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,360
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
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Marion, South Carolina [><]
From what I've seen, I don't think there's that much price difference b/t the two right now. Especially since you're building the conversion motor w/ a cheap 440 block...since any new aftermarket hemi block is going for 5k to almost 9k right now.
The biggest downside is resale...no one is gonna pony up decent money for a "conversion motor".


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2498999
05/22/18 11:42 AM
05/22/18 11:42 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,296
NE Ohio
DoubleD Offline
top fuel
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NE Ohio
I looked at a Stage V conversion HEMI back about 20 years ago - scary to say the least - while the heads and the valve train looked pretty good - the amount of hacking on the block that was done to make it all work - just seemed like it was going to be a very fragile combination. The one I looked specifically had a 8-71 blower on top with six=pack rods and a stock crank. It was all show - I passed on it.

If you can round up a block - the rest is pretty straight forward and readily available - valve train is the most pricey part of a good HEMI build - everthing else will pretty much compare in cost to building a similar HP wedge

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499079
05/22/18 02:51 PM
05/22/18 02:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4 Offline
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gulfport, ms, west mi
After building my Hemi , all after market build. What the Hell was I thinking?


it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: rowin4] #2499089
05/22/18 03:09 PM
05/22/18 03:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,468
N.Y.
sixpacksteve Offline
pro stock
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N.Y.
there's No such thing as Low buck, budget, cheap hemi build. as the saying goes: you get what you pay for! the money you save can be your own!
as everyone on this forum says do it the right way. call Tim @ FMO or who ever. unless someone is looking to bail out of a project.


Hell Hath No Fury Like Mine
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499209
05/22/18 08:50 PM
05/22/18 08:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,247
fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline
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fredericksburg,va
If you had the parts in hand, do it. Cost is the same except the block( all think they're gold). A 440 will hold 600 hp

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499232
05/22/18 10:14 PM
05/22/18 10:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Spokane Washington
Back in the 80's part of the allure of the Stage V was the cheap cost of a 440 block if you blew one up (although some of the extra machine work might cost a bit). Now that Kieth Black blocks are making a come back the repairability of the aluminum blocks sort of erases that advantage aside from the buy in cost up front. If I ever build another Hemi for use other than a stock/restoration I'll be building a KB for sure.

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499583
05/23/18 05:56 PM
05/23/18 05:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,565
Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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Motor City
I built my 528" Hemi with a Mega block all from scratch with my good guy WD pricing & pilfered & bought what I could from Craiglist, Racing Junk & Moparts Etc. I am lucky enough to have less in mine than what a crate Hemi costs even with all of the Nitrous foggers plumbed with more than double the power just on motor & much less than what the conversion costs.


1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499933
05/24/18 12:20 PM
05/24/18 12:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 21,318
Manitoba, Canada
DaytonaTurbo Offline
Too Many Posts
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Manitoba, Canada
IIRC the exhaust rockers and rocker stands are all custom and regular hemi stuff won't work. Don't forget to add in the custom pistons to fit your 440 bore. With the selection of aftermarket Hemi heads now and aftermarket blocks being a thing the conversion stuff would be tough to justify.

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: JC Childress] #2499940
05/24/18 12:23 PM
05/24/18 12:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,360
Marion, South Carolina [><]
an8sec70cuda Offline
I Live Here
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I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,360
Marion, South Carolina [><]
Getting a hemi block is the problem right now.


CHIP
'70 hemicuda, 575" Hemi, 727, Dana 60
'69 road runner, 440-6, 18 spline 4 speed, Dana 60
'71 Demon, 340, low gear 904, 8.75
'73 Chrysler New Yorker, 440, 727, 8.75
'90 Chevy 454SS Silverado, 476" BBC, TH400, 14 bolt
'06 GMC 2500HD LBZ Duramax
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: an8sec70cuda] #2499971
05/24/18 01:43 PM
05/24/18 01:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,247
fredericksburg,va
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cudaman1969 Offline
master
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fredericksburg,va
Originally Posted By an8sec70cuda
Getting a hemi block is the problem right now.

Yep, I think I'll weld up my broken one. At one time that was foolish thought, threw it away three times, now every day the idea seems better.

Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: cudaman1969] #2500107
05/24/18 07:53 PM
05/24/18 07:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,763
Walton's Mountain, Pa
Steve1118 Offline
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Walton's Mountain, Pa
I don't know if they make them or not. But, I will tell you this story. A pal of mine has a street rod with one in it, we used the coversion heads, stock 6.76 440 rods with old TRW Hemi pistons. Hydraulic cam, single 4bbl, just a cruiser. He drives it every day, and has for quite a few years. It has 95,000 miles on it now, and still runs great. Amazing.

I don't think I'd build a race motor out of one, but for what he does it's pretty cool. And, it has those big KB valve covers.....

Last edited by Steve1118; 05/24/18 07:53 PM.

"Old age and treachery trumps youth and enthusiasm, every time!"

East Central Director / Chrysler Power Magazine

www.reasbeckracing.webs.com
Re: Stage V Hemi Head conversion [Re: Steve1118] #2501934
05/29/18 08:07 PM
05/29/18 08:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,376
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dogdays Offline
I Live Here
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They're still on the Website. I don't think they ever "stopped" making them, they are just a modification on heads they sell. IIRC the kit included pistons for the multi $Thousand dollar price and what is cool is they make a 383 intake so that 400 block can become a Hemi.

No it won't live at the 900hp level, any more than a Wedge will, but for that Hemi look and 600hp I believe it'll cost equal or less than starting out with a Hemi block and buying everything else new.

Half or more of the guys on this page are real racers and for them nothing will match the real Hemi block. But for us earthlings who want the look and the power a stock street Hemi will make, I cannot see the downside. Yup, machine a 400 block and have $1000 in it vs buying a $5000+ Indy block or lucking out and getting a KB block? As Rodney used to say, "While we're young!!"

One of the problems dealing with StageV is they are pretty busy making stuff for real racers.

At this point I personally would go straight to GIII land.

R.

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