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Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's?????

Posted By: oldsklharo

Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:10 PM

What are the main differences between the two? Are the blocks the same but with different bore and crank?

I have an opportunity to pick up a 392 for a good price and want to be educated on the two before I put all my eggs into on basket. Any info would be great

Thanks, Mike
Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:12 PM

TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:13 PM

Quote:

TOTALLY DIFFERENT.




In what ways?

Posted By: bonefish

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:15 PM

for one the dist is in the back on a 392.
Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:15 PM

they have nothing in common
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:17 PM

Ok, would picking up a complete 392 engine and tranny for under $3,000 be worth it?? I Have to think it would be but I am not completely sure......
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:18 PM

Completely different engines but a 392 is a great engine.Whats A "good deal"? Better be sure its a 392 a lot of lesser 50s hemis look alike.
Posted By: 05dakota

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:19 PM

in my opinion no, unless you own a street rod or lates 50s car that had 1 orginally
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:21 PM

Quote:

Completely differwnt engines but a 392 is a great engine.Whats A "good deal"? Better be sure its a 392 a lot of lesser 50s hemis look alike.




I guess a "good deal" would be $2500-$2800? I have never bought a 392 before and honestly can't afford a 426 so I figured a 392 would be the next best thing. It would be going in my '66 Coronet Vert. My car is far from stock, more like a resto mod
Posted By: bonefish

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:24 PM

i see them now and then in unknown condish and they usually go for between 1,000 to 1,500.you can get the trannies for free .
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:27 PM

Quote:

i see them now and then in unknown condish and they usually go for between 1,000 to 1,500.you can get the trannies for free .




Thanks what I needed to know...... thanks for the info. Guess I may not pursue this one but now have a better understanding up what price range to look for
Posted By: dogdays

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:43 PM

The 392 is a raised deck version of the original Chrysler Firepower Hemi and as such has bore spacing 4.5625". It is a lot closer in design to the A/LA engines than to the B engines. A 426 Hemi is an RB engine, that's a B engine with a raised deck. Bore spacing is 4.80".

The only thing the 426 and 392 have in common is that they were based on a raised deck version of a previous block series, and that's a words-only similarity.

The other major pitfall for you and this engine purchase is that from the outside it is very hard to tell a 392 from the much more common 354 or 331. There is a code I believe stamped onto the top valley rail that will tell you what the engine is and where it's from.
Do a Google search for Chrysler Hemi and you'll find the chart. Lots of information is on the Web.

Now on to this particular engine - once you determine that it's a 392. Here are my top five reasons to buy a 392:
1. It's one of the coolest looking engines ever made.
2. You own an early letter series Chrysler and want to give it a boost in power.
3. You have a nostalgia dragster and need a 392 to make it right.
4. You have a spare '34 couope body lying around and want to build a traditional hot rod.
5. You have a big wad of cash burning a hole in your pocket and you always wanted a Hemi.

If you want to see what it would cost to rebuild a Hemi go to PAW or www.hothemiheads.com. They ain't cheap!

For $3000 this engine would have to be guaranteed to be rebuildable, like pass Magnaflux and crank and bore sizes are within reason. Even a fresh rebuild would need to be gone through because there are good parts and crappy parts.....

Also I think that price is more of a speculative price, much like the $2500 barn fresh DeSoto or Dodge hemis I see on Craigslist every now and then.

Good Luck!
R.
Posted By: bonefish

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:47 PM

Quote:

Quote:

i see them now and then in unknown condish and they usually go for between 1,000 to 1,500.you can get the trannies for free .




Thanks what I needed to know...... thanks for the info. Guess I may not pursue this one but now have a better understanding up what price range to look for


have you tried talkin the guy down.if i was lookin and found one with all the accesaries attached and the matching trans and vert.2grand wouldnt be out of the question.
Posted By: Moparnut426

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 05:57 PM

Just breezing through this thread, but from what I know, and see, and understand, the 392s 354s, 331s, were more like the LA small blocks than that of any big block. I even think the timming chain sets of a small block POLY 318 are the same. Dont know for sure, but seem to remember a friend of mine who has a blown 392 for a rat rod project telling me that.

Kasey
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:01 PM

dogdays, wow that is some great info! Thanks

bonefish, I have not talked to the guy but if I found it was worth my while I was going to call him. I guess I'll give him a call and see what I can work out. All he can say is no!
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:03 PM

Was '58 the last year for the 392?

Looks like they put out 390hp and 435 lb-ft. That would make my Coronet scream!
Posted By: beedees

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:26 PM

What year model are you talking about?
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:29 PM

Quote:

What year model are you talking about?




'58
Posted By: JohnRR

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:36 PM

Quote:

Was '58 the last year for the 392?

Looks like they put out 390hp and 435 lb-ft. That would make my Coronet scream!




You can get that out of a 440 for a lot less money .
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:44 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Was '58 the last year for the 392?

Looks like they put out 390hp and 435 lb-ft. That would make my Coronet scream!




You can get that out of a 440 for a lot less money .




Ya but it's a Hemi. I know it may sound superficial and I have a hard running 383 in it now that probably puts out close to those numbers but have always wanted a Hemi and can't afford a 426.

I just recently picked up a 2003 5.7 Hemi to do a conversion but am having second thoughts. I really like the old school carburated BB's though
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 06:52 PM

375 hp on single 4 392s. A 440 is generally cheaper, same power, direct bolt in, same or more hp stock, wieghs less, and you wont get the 'Yea but its not a 426 hemi" comments every time you pop the hood to show it off.
Posted By: gregsrt

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/05/12 07:02 PM

and 392's are heavy. Parts are very expensive, especially speed parts.
Posted By: Mike P

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 12:42 AM

“…..Ya but it's a Hemi……..and can't afford a 426…..”

That is exactly what I think when I see a first Gen HEMI in any MOPAR built after 1963....someone who took the cheap way out.

There is enough difference between the 1st and 2nd Gen HEMIs that anyone who knows MOPARS can tell at a glance it’s not a 2nd Gen. Don’t get me wrong I like the 1st Gen HEMIs, I just don’t think they look right in anything made after the introduction of the 2nd Gen. I also think you would find that in the long run it would actually detract from the cars resale value.

As far as the value of the engine, a lot of people ask a ton of money on the 392s, but the ones that actually change hands usually go for $1000-1500 in complete, builder condition. As far as having the transmission..... that would be the heavy cast iron torqueflight with the big emergency brake on the back. It’s really only desirable to restorers. To put a modern torqueflight behind an early HEMI you will need a Small Block 727/904/518 and an adaptor plate that runs in the $500 neighborhood.

If you do decide to look at the engine make sure you look at and print out the engine ID Codes from the Hot Hemi Heads site. There were something like 13 different displacement 1st Gen HEMIs produced between Chrysler, Dodge and DeSoto. Almost every early HEMI I’ve seen advertised claimed to be a 392....over half were not.
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 01:01 AM

I 100%



Not only that, youll likey spend more in total than just buying and installing a crate 426 with a 392 requiring custom headers, engine mounts, trans adapter, rebuild costs, etc. etc. etc.
Posted By: TrWaters

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 01:38 AM

OK..my turn. Anything over a stock rebuild is where the costs are. For a basic build, I would say prices are 15-20% over a 440. Cast pistons are available. King makes the bearings. New and reground cams are there. Melling recently reintroduced the oil pump. Fel-Pro still manufactures the gaskets, along with BEST Gasket. Getting it into the car is another subject.

There are 12 different early hemi engines sizes, and yes....they have all been 392's at one time or another.
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 02:31 AM

Now that was the education I was looking for!

I didn't know till today that the last year of it was '58......and I agree, it would seem goofy in my '66 Coronet

I'll always be hopefully I can stumble across a 426 for an affordable price but till then I'll stick with my 383 & 440's

Thanks again guys, Mike
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 02:38 AM

392's are only good for putting in 32-34 Ford coupe's and Front engine dragsters. Everything else is passe'.

They must also have a large roots blower and zoomies.

Any other questions?
Posted By: savoy64

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/06/12 04:29 PM

one of my friends built a numbers matching 426 where he had to find the block and heads seperately for a 990 64 dodge aluminum race car---he later built a 392 stroker/blower motor for a 40 plymouth street rod---he said he spent way more on the 392 and probably would never build another----if you are building a performance engine you will get more HP/$ out of a 400 stroker with aluminum heads----bob
Posted By: TrWaters

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 12:30 AM

Quote:

Now that was the education I was looking for!

I didn't know till today that the last year of it was '58......and I agree, it would seem goofy in my '66 Coronet

I'll always be hopefully I can stumble across a 426 for an affordable price but till then I'll stick with my 383 & 440's

Thanks again guys, Mike




Actually, they (early model hemis) were still available in trucks through 1959.
Posted By: Robbins

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 03:41 AM

Reading all this and I'm still going to build mine and put it in something.

Attached picture 7106837-392cleanedandpainted.JPG
Posted By: Pale_Roader

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 10:46 AM

Quote:



Ya but it's a Hemi. I know it may sound superficial and I have a hard running 383 in it now that probably puts out close to those numbers but have always wanted a Hemi and can't afford a 426.




I hear ya. Thats what i'd like to see in my Challenger too. But it aint gonna happen.

What i'm going to tell you though is that if you cant afford a 426 hemi, then you absolutely CANNOT afford a 392/354 hemi. No way no how. Not even close. IF by the time you get that sucker built, even just a typical performance rebuild, AND bolted in/hooked up to your 66 B, if you are not already spending a full 426 hemi budget, then you will be very very close. There are a LOT ov little things that will snag you. EVERYTHING is available, and nothing is impossible with these engines... BUT YOU WILL PAY.

Trust me. Before you drop 2.5K on that whale, understand that you could buy the elephant instead. By the time its running and driving, you'll still be 10K in. Understand that at least with the 426, you can save a LOT ov money with swap meet headers, intakes, aftermarket parts . Plus a lot ov the 426 hemi stuff is also plain jane 440 stuff. EVERYTHING you need came from the factory... (read: there were no 392 hemi's in 66 Coronets)

It sounds like a deal... but unless its already rebuilt, running, and STOOOPID-cheap, AND someone else already spent the coin (lots ov coin...) to mate a modern transmission to it... pass and save for the 426. Unless you absolutely HAVE to have something weird and screwy, let the 3-window crowd have it. Maybe buy it and trade up for 426 parts?
Posted By: Oyvind Mopar

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 04:02 PM

And you still do not meet your real target which is the world famous slightly detuned Race engine which made Dodge and Plymouth the hottest cars in your period of model year. Better start planning/saving to "the real thing", My
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 04:18 PM

Pale Roader: Thanks for the info and advice. I am definitely not going to pursue this or any other 392.

I will safe my pennies and steadily accumulate 426 parts. I'll have to make it a point from now on to get to as many swap meets as possible and just start asking around. Sometimes the best way is the word of mouth

If anyone wants to donate a complete running 426 Hemi to my cause please send to:

Mike Dreamer
5602 Broke Lane
Moparville, IA 52577




Thanks again guys, Mike
Posted By: chrisnben

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 04:33 PM

Quote:

Quote:



Ya but it's a Hemi. I know it may sound superficial and I have a hard running 383 in it now that probably puts out close to those numbers but have always wanted a Hemi and can't afford a 426.




I hear ya. Thats what i'd like to see in my Challenger too. But it aint gonna happen.

What i'm going to tell you though is that if you cant afford a 426 hemi, then you absolutely CANNOT afford a 392/354 hemi. No way no how. Not even close. IF by the time you get that sucker built, even just a typical performance rebuild, AND bolted in/hooked up to your 66 B, if you are not already spending a full 426 hemi budget, then you will be very very close. There are a LOT ov little things that will snag you. EVERYTHING is available, and nothing is impossible with these engines... BUT YOU WILL PAY.

Trust me. Before you drop 2.5K on that whale, understand that you could buy the elephant instead. By the time its running and driving, you'll still be 10K in. Understand that at least with the 426, you can save a LOT ov money with swap meet headers, intakes, aftermarket parts . Plus a lot ov the 426 hemi stuff is also plain jane 440 stuff. EVERYTHING you need came from the factory... (read: there were no 392 hemi's in 66 Coronets)

It sounds like a deal... but unless its already rebuilt, running, and STOOOPID-cheap, AND someone else already spent the coin (lots ov coin...) to mate a modern transmission to it... pass and save for the 426. Unless you absolutely HAVE to have something weird and screwy, let the 3-window crowd have it. Maybe buy it and trade up for 426 parts?




Really?? What's the difference if you buy new ceramic headers, aluminum intake, pistons, etc. for a 426 or 392? They both are ALOT. I think the savings comes from the purchase price of the engine. When is the last time you saw a 426 for $2K? You can have a nostalgic 392 putting 425HP for $8K, not a 426.

The difference is what you install it into. I agree totally that the early Hemis BELONG in a pre-64 car/truck, which is exactly what I am building now- a 392 Hemi for a 1947 Plymouth coupe. I am SOOOO tired of looking at 350/350 powered street rods I could puke and the WOW factor when you pop the hood is there ... my
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 04:42 PM

Ok now that we have discussed the differences between the 392 & 426 Hemi's.......... whats the difference between the 426 Hemi and the 426 Street Wedge? Just the heads???

I have also found a 426 St Wedge
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 07:26 PM

They share the same (basic) block layout, bore, stroke, water pump, distributor,and bell housing pattern. Not much else. Basically a 440 with a smaller bore.
Posted By: Fury Fan

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 09:46 PM

Yep, 426 wedge is a 383 bore with RB's 3.75 stroke. Custom pistons required, cheaper to just build a 440.
Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 10:41 PM

Quote:


Really?? What's the difference if you buy new ceramic headers, aluminum intake, pistons, etc. for a 426 or 392? They both are ALOT. I think the savings comes from the purchase price of the engine. When is the last time you saw a 426 for $2K? You can have a nostalgic 392 putting 425HP for $8K, not a 426.




At least with a 426 hemi, you can find used speed parts for sale here and at the swap meet, ebay, etc. Used aftermarket intakes, sets of new or used pistons for much cheaper than new, etc. Used 392 speed parts just aren't out there.
Posted By: 440beep

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 10:53 PM

put a 350in it with 2 x4bbl
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 11:03 PM

Quote:

put a 350in it with 2 x4bbl




Posted By: 440beep

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 11:22 PM

Quote:

Quote:

put a 350in it with 2 x4bbl









Ah no, I was referring to a 350 B motor In 1958 you could get a 350 . Now that's an attention getter and an argument at a car show
Posted By: oldsklharo

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/07/12 11:27 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

put a 350in it with 2 x4bbl









Ah no, I was referring to a 350 B motor In 1958 you could get a 350 . Now that's an attention getter and an argument at a car show




Aaaah, I thought you were talking about a Chevy SB and was stirring the pot!
Posted By: Pale_Roader

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/10/12 02:24 PM

Quote:

put a 350in it with 2 x4bbl




Hah! Are you kidding...??? Whens the last time you ever saw a late-50's Mopar 350 big block for sale...??? Probably find a cheap hemi before a 350 turns up for sale...

Points for being different though.

Double points for confusing the hell out ov the Chevy guys too.

Triple points for confusing a Mopar guy...
Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Difference between the 392 and 426 Hemi's????? - 03/10/12 03:14 PM

You'll confuse just as many with a 1959/60 383...RB
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