THE FIRST 426 HEMI BLOCK ?
This is strictly conjecture, but it does warrant investigation. I saw this block again today, it has been cleaned up.
As the tale goes, there were a small number of 426 Hemi blocks cast for the 64 Daytona 500. The castings were generally very poor and they had numerous issues, not the least was cracking and water leaks. As a result, engineers and casting experts went to the foundry and hand massaged the cores to address those issues. The rest is history, as the Hemi dominated the Daytona 500 that year. It was thought that the original 10 or 12 blocks were scrapped or used for “no load” in-house testing
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1. Shows the part number and casting date 2468330-1 and 10-17-63

2. Shows lettering on the front of the block, that I think was used on MW blocks - it is my understanding that the Hemi was a re-do of the MW block.

3. Lettering and numbers on the front pad
A864 EXO
1356
My understanding is that A864 was the code for the NASCAR HEMI program.
On that same line is EXO - my guess is that EX means experimental and my understanding is that test motors were numbered starting at “0"
My other deduction is that the number below that (1356) refers to building 135 - dyno cell 6

Does this prove that this is the FIRST HEMI - that is not for me to say but does anyone have any input as to this hypothesis ?

Stewart

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If anyone is interested, I have the full size photos (about 15) and will be glad to send them to you.

StewartP

Are you the proud owner of this block, Stewart?

It is not my block, but I have visitation rights :-)

StewartP

By the looks of the plug in the side and the paint job, someone is planning on using it??

it had been used previously - it has 3 sleeves now and is 60 over - no use anymore - strictly a collectible - no way to really document its pedigree, but sure think it is the FIRST

StewartP

I want to see the first 2x4 that Petty used to stay in the seat at Daytona testing that year---I may have used it to get my mules attention and then I don't know what I did with it--

If it were actually the first 426 Hemi block, I would think it would be very much a prized possession.

IF those stampings can be authenticated by someone who was there, wouldn't THAT be some sort of Holy Item...
Cross-bolted mains and head fastener bosses (obvious questions) in the valley?

I guess it would be hard to prove it was the FIRST block unless someone at the foundry or records of the first casting date, and how many were cast on that date? I think I heard the very first ones were scrapped, but maybe one of the first ones that worked.

Are we going to set up a shrine for it in Bradenton? Can I visit the Holy of Holies the next time I'm in Tampa? Does it reside in a golden engine crate with cherubs on each corner?

I agree, it certainly appears to be the real thing and likely one of the first Hemi blocks ever cast and used, but I don't see any way you could ever officially call it THE first. There were probably multiples cast, machined, build, shipped, and installed in race cars the very same day, if that were the case (which it likely was) which one of these would be called "the first"?

Cool block either way, would love to see many more pics showing the entire sides, etc.

You would think with this crazy internet thing....that someone (even moparts) could get in contact with some of the guys from the Chrysler foundry from 63/64 to get some info...... any old Detroit guys on here that could ?






maybe it could get as mysterious as the max wedge head debate.....

I should restate my theory - this might not be the FIRST HEMI block that was cast, but it might be the FIRST block that was used in some in-house testing - (as per the numbers and letters on the front pad, if they are legit) - Now how do I prove that ??

I would hate to bet m life on trying to find a earlier example thats for sure....

Just think, if Larry Shepard thinks his ebay stock 66 426 Hemi block is worth $12,000...He would be asking a $100,000 for that chunk...
https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...e=0#Post5313014

Thought you all would like to read a bit of history from the Father, Bill Weertmen.



Hi Pete -

I found those photos you sent of the 426 Hemi block very interesting. My thoughts on the photos are as follows:

The casting date of 10-17-63 certainly puts the block in the time zone of when Indianapolis Foundry was casting the first blocks for the Hemi program. I recall that November 1963 was the month when Hemi engine building was underway in the Motor Room. I think Bob Patterson and Forest Petcock were our two race engine builders at the time but I could be mistaken.

The block would have been one of a small group of six or twelve similar blocks cast at the same time on the regular production line since that is how Indy Foundry prefered to handle these types of special blocks. The three letters on the front of the block "AQA" indentify Indianapolis Foundry as the casting source.

I know that the first Hemi engine to run on the dynamometer on December 6, 1963 was steel-stamped A864 EX1. It lasted for months and months of dyno testing of camshafts, cylinder heads, manifolds, etc. I remember Bob Lechner was reluctant to retire it because it ran so reliably with good, dependable test results.

The steel-stamped A864 EX0 on the block in the photos is a bit of a puzzle. Almost certainly it was not built into an operating engine because it would have received a number instead of the zero. A possibility is that it was used as the base of a valve gear test fixture. The pipe plug in the side of the water jacket indicates it was used for some kind of test.

The A864 portion of its designator is, as we all know, the Engineering Program Number. I have no idea what the numbers below it "1356" stand for.

So the cylinder block in the photos appears to be among the first Hemi blocks created but was not used in the first operating 426 Hemi engine.

Thanks for providing me some mental exercise and memory stimulation.

Bill

That is some seriously cool history right there, right from the mouth of a guy who was making mopar history back in the day, cant wait to see it in person.

that is a cool piece!

Nope the block is now in Florida