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Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 25 11:09 pm
by Stu
Fits like a glove!
…on a foot!
Glad to see it’s in the hole, great progress!

Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 25 9:59 am
by Pete
Yes, Neil; I check out all the Fora before I buy anything or pick up an angle grinder.
As with all sites, you have to be very selective about the posts and information and in the end reach your own conclusions.
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 25 8:55 pm
by sublimemike
You like a challenge Pete

Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 25 6:59 pm
by Blue
It’s a very tight fit but to be honest I think the end result is actually far more practical than a 440 with aftermarket heads in an A body. That really isn’t an easy set up to work on.
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 25 7:59 pm
by Pete
Blue wrote: Mon Jan 20, 25 6:59 pm
It’s a very tight fit but to be honest I think the end result is actually far more practical than a 440 with aftermarket heads in an A body. That really isn’t an easy set up to work on.
The Hemi Swap job is not for the faint hearted; and you go into this with you eyes fully open and in the knowledge that you are going to be brutal, and in this case a millimetre is actually quite a lot of clearance.
It took many hours just to get the engine in the "perfect" position in all 3 axis before it all comes together.
If the "donor" car is your pride and joy, it will cause you some pain and angst; and the conversion is probably not for you.
Having said that, I agree with Blue that IF you retain the inner Fenders, a stroked R/B engine with Raised Port Heads, big Valve Covers, and Large Tube Headers is probably more misery than the Hemi, if not to build then certainly to run and maintain.
With the Hemi, the exhausts are multi-section bolt together 2 1/4" Primaries; but you can build up the system progressively and you have to install them from underneath the car. However, they are probably easier to install than a single welded up system on an R/B Engine.
Similarly, you can get a starter motor in with relative ease, whereas on an R/B you will have the engine off the motor mounts or Motorplate and also dropping the exhaust system on the Drivers Side - nice!
Moving on, here is the next cut now that Motor is out again for the next phase of surgery...... you can see where we had to take a bite out of the Chassis rail too!! That will be boxed and plated and the forward bars of the cage will also ensure the structural strength of the car.
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 25 10:15 pm
by Pete
Big day, and time to grow a pair and buckle up.
No magic formula, but patient trial fit, measure, cut; repeat as necessary.
.. and quite a bit of lateral thinking...
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 6:08 am
by Stu
Very clever, neat solution.

Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 11:14 am
by Pete
I am sorely tempted to leave the opening in the Fender so there is access to the Header bolts!!!
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 12:32 pm
by Blue
Pete wrote: Sat Jan 25, 25 11:14 am
I am sorely tempted to leave the opening in the Fender so there is access to the Header bolts!!!
Your fabricator has other plans….
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 2:08 pm
by Stu
Pete wrote: Sat Jan 25, 25 11:14 am
I am sorely tempted to leave the opening in the Fender so there is access to the Header bolts!!!
I can sort of see the sense in that.

Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 2:36 pm
by Pete
Stu wrote: Sat Jan 25, 25 2:08 pm
Pete wrote: Sat Jan 25, 25 11:14 am
I am sorely tempted to leave the opening in the Fender so there is access to the Header bolts!!!
I can sort of see the sense in that.
My Style Guru does not.....
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 4:02 pm
by Stu

Looking forward to seeing the end result.
Good to see that it’s going to *ahem* “fit”.
Have you got a date for the cage yet?
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 6:06 pm
by Pete
No, no date, but then no Tow car either........
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 9:37 pm
by Stu

What’s happened to the Yukon?
Re: Hemi into an "A" Body - How hard can it be???
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 25 9:44 pm
by Pete
Stu wrote: Sat Jan 25, 25 9:37 pm

What’s happened to the Yukon?
No idea, its complicated, but it does not start....