TheHEMI.com

Rob, you are correct. Even on this very site, the number is listed as a 55-56 331. My reference materials are not very complete I guess. Just to make myself even look dumber, I didn't even realize thehemi.com even had a reference section with casting numbers. Doh!

I need to explore this place a little closer.....

http://www.thehemi.com/castings.php

Naw man. Don't say all that. lol Hell, if anybody's the dipshit here, it's me. LOL I'm the ignorant newbie. Yall have really helped me here and I do appreciate it. ....also had I known we had castin number info I wouldda looked. LOL

Hadn't noticed the 1619629 # before, it's not in Leo's book but is here & in my old "Power Play" catalog. Seems 1551629 must be the car block & 1619629 the truck block. 354 would be max overbore where this is an actual 331 block.

Thanks George. But like I said, unless it sonic tests to where I can go over 354 STD, it's not gonna get bored that far. I will just trade off these NOS pistons for some 331 pistons, or sell them outright. Thanks for all the info yall.

Rob wrote:Thanks George. But like I said, unless it sonic tests to where I can go over 354 STD, it's not gonna get bored that far. I will just trade off these NOS pistons for some 331 pistons, or sell them outright. Thanks for all the info yall.

If I had the choice of .030 & 8.5 vs maxed out & 9:1, I'd go .030!

George wrote:

Rob wrote:Thanks George. But like I said, unless it sonic tests to where I can go over 354 STD, it's not gonna get bored that far. I will just trade off these NOS pistons for some 331 pistons, or sell them outright. Thanks for all the info yall.

If I had the choice of .030 & 8.5 vs maxed out & 9:1, I'd go .030!

Me too...but the 354 pistons were cheap and available. I've not found anything in the way of 331 pistons as of yet.

Another option is to get Venolia custom 331 pistons in any bore size you want, any CR. They're good, way cheaper than Ross etc, they know the old stuff too. Why not try a 3.91" 318 bore with offset ground crank to accept BBC rods? You can get around 360 CID with that combo. An offset ground and prepped 392 crank will yield 384 CID. Welded 4.25" stroker takes it to 408 CID, all with a very safe overbore, available brgs and rings too.

johnny5 wrote:Another option is to get Venolia custom 331 pistons in any bore size you want, any CR. They're good, way cheaper than Ross etc, they know the old stuff too. Why not try a 3.91" 318 bore with offset ground crank to accept BBC rods? You can get around 360 CID with that combo. An offset ground and prepped 392 crank will yield 384 CID. Welded 4.25" stroker takes it to 408 CID, all with a very safe overbore, available brgs and rings too.

All that sounds good but Venolia has caught up with the times at 850 for a set.

really? my last set was $500. too bad, they used to be the reasonable alternative.