Why the Early Hemis Were Buried

["A. Foster" <monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx>]

D^2's comment-
  Given the low operating speeds of these era engines, I am sure this was
good choice.  More modern engines benefit from oversquare dimensions
(meaning larger bore than stroke).  This is one of the reasons why the
Hemis were buried in 1958 (in addition to cost, weight, etc).  There was
need for larger displacement engines, and the 392 reached the limit of how
big it can get with descent stroke/bore ratio, as it was originally designed
as 331 (or may be smaller, you 50's guys know better).

D^2;
 You are dead on with your summation as to why the early hemis were put out
to pasture, but there were other reasons. Actually the 392 was designed as a
392, it has a different crankshaft, bore, and a slightly taller block then a
331/ 354 hemi, but you're right that was as far as they could take it. Prior
to 1959 each division, with the exception of  Imperial, had its own V8
engine. So you had the original hemi, starting in 1951 in Chryslers,
followed by a DeSoto hemi and a Dodge hemi of similar design both based on
the Chrysler. Other then the difference in displacement, which corresponded
with price, there were few parts that would interchange between the
different engines other then electrical parts.
 This means that Chrysler had to produce and carry three different
inventories of parts for three different engines whose only practical
difference was in displacement. This factor, combined with the extra
machining and parts necessary to produce a Hemi, made the polyspheres and
eventually the raised block wedge engines the next logical steps. Another
factor that they likely looked at was that with higher octane gas coming
out, in the late fifties, the Hemi design had little advantage in power over
the wedge heads of the day for the added cost.
 The raised block/ big block 361, 383, and 413 were of a more modern design
and shared almost every important part. The only differences, as everyone
knows, are in bore size, piston/ ring size, and in the cams used. The only
difference between divisions would be in what displacements came stadard on
what models. Of course I am leaving out the small block A series polyspheres
but they were limited to the Plymouths and the lower end Dodges which are
not really of interest to Imperial fans.
Best Regards
Arran Foster
Needing A left Side Taillight Bezel and other trim parts.