The ball stud Hemi engine • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **christer** » 12 Feb 2007 19:51

It wasn´t until recently, I realized that there really is such an engine. I saw one engine for sale about a year ago. I think it sold for about $16.000 and was nearly complete. The production number seems to be very limited, only about a dozen or so, all of them pilot engines made in the late sixties.

Is there anyone who knows anything more about this engine? Are there any cars around with this engine under the hood?

by **Eddie** » 12 Feb 2007 21:19

Yes! John Aruzza Hemis who builds a lot of Hemi engines out of his shop had the engine which was given to him by Dick Landy. Tom Hoover developed the engine in anticipation for a reduced emissions Hemi design and reduction in cost,(it eliminated the dual rocker shafts), Hoover also had a 1969 Ply. Barracuda. This car was found and restored and the Ball Stud was reunited with this car and presented to Tom Hoover who created the Ball Stud engine in the first place! I think it was at Carlisle in 05. Blue 1969 Barracuda with that monster in it. :thumbsup:

by **christer** » 13 Feb 2007 5:55

Thanks for the reply. Very intresting! :nod:

by **dave-r** » 13 Feb 2007 8:51

Thanks for posting that Christer. I found it very interesting and have shown it to some of my club members. :thumbsup:

by **christer** » 13 Feb 2007 11:05

dave-r wrote:Thanks for posting that Christer. I found it very interesting and have shown it to some of my club members.

Thanks! Yes, it is a very intresting article about a very intresting engine. Something similar to the BB chevy engine, right? (It was a long time since I was intrested in them...)

I wonder if it was a good design from the start? Those push-rod guides for instance looks a bit ...homebuilt... to me. Do they really work properly? Will they work for 50.000 or 100.000 miles?

by **dave-r** » 13 Feb 2007 11:32

christer wrote:I wonder if it was a good design from the start? Those push-rod guides for instance looks a bit ...homebuilt... to me. Do they really work properly? Will they work for 50.000 or 100.000 miles?

Well it would obviously be designed for hydraulic lifters so because of the pre-load the pushrods would be firmly gripped btween the lifter and the rocker. So the rod will not be touching the guide at all.

by **Eddie** » 13 Feb 2007 16:12

It was doomed before it even got off the ground. Reason cost and emissions. Even with the ball stud valvetrain the Hemi was a large port large bore forged bottom end engine designed to obliterate the competition which it still does today in the fastest classes of professional motorsports,(nitro,alcohol forced induction), thank God it wasnt turned into a large ford gm type smog engine! That's why Chrysler developed the 400C.I.D.!

by **dave-r** » 13 Feb 2007 17:37

airfuelEddie wrote:That's why Chrysler developed the 400C.I.D.!

And yet the 400 turned out to be the best block they ever produced.

One day I intend to sell the Challenger and build a Hot Rod based on that engine.

But now it will probably be one of these new B-block castings being talked about. Based on the 400.

It would be 4.5-inch bore, 4.15-inch stroke (528 cubic inches).
Ported edelbrock heads. Solid cam. M1 intake and big single 4bbl.

It would probably make around 600hp and with the light weight of a Rod it would probably run in the high 8s or low 9s.

That would be cool for a street driven car.

Well I can day dream can't I? :lol:

But then again. My Challenger was an impossible day dream once upon a time. :nod:

by **Eddie** » 13 Feb 2007 19:20

And a very good dream it is at that my friend! BTW, a friend "gave" me a 1976 400 2bl. out of a Cordoba with Rich Corinthian Leather!!Some day I would love to build 518 stroker 4-bolt main studded,girdled,and relieved.Then top it with eddies victors and a INDY single plane with two stage NOX and spray away!! :twisted:

by **dave-r** » 13 Feb 2007 20:13

It is just that I have always wanted a real mean and black '32 3-window Ford with red tuck 'n' roll interior, a similar '55 Chevy, and a Hemi Orange Challenger with black interior.

I can't have them all at once. :cry:

by **Eddie** » 14 Feb 2007 2:46

I used to cruise with all those cars back in the seventies, in my little burg. The shoebox chevy is a classic design and this summer I will be attending the GoodGuys and Dave you can buy the body,chassis,drivetrain ready to go into your NEW '32' three window that day! It's just unbelivable what you can get and whats available when you build those cars.

by JJ » 16 Feb 2007 1:58

Eddie, what companies build the chassis and body for the 32 Ford ?

by **Eddie** » 16 Feb 2007 15:34

JJ. I'll research this for you. I am not a "hotrodder" so you will have to bear with me. I was there for the SuperStockers, I'll be in touch! Try www.laneautomotive.com then call them and ask for catalog CAT 660 it's free,(they may charge for OS), this catalog is for the hotrodder and contains thousands of aftermarket parts including bodies and chassis. I know as I drool over their catalogs all the time!(see Dave I drool over other stuff too!)

by **dave-r** » 16 Feb 2007 16:02

airfuelEddie wrote:(see Dave I drool over other stuff too!)

Only if it wobbles I bet. :lol:

by **Eddie** » 16 Feb 2007 17:00

dave-r wrote:
airfuelEddie wrote:(see Dave I drool over other stuff too!)

Only if it wobbles I bet.

At 200+ lbs. the wife certainly does! :mrgreen:

by **christer** » 23 Feb 2007 22:14

A funny coincidence is that Mopar Action are having a 4 page article about this old mill in the latest issue.
I bet they use to search this message board to find scoops.... :evil:

I strongly doubt that there are only these two engines left. The reason for believing this is of course that I have seen one for sale. I wish I had kept that ad though... :evil:

by **Eddie** » 23 Feb 2007 23:03

Thanks again for the articles written by one of my favorite MoPar writers Al Kirshenbaum who worked as a Race Tech in New york City back in the day.