I just bought a 41 dodge biz. coupe and I was set on swapping out the orig. flathead six banger for a 331 or 354 hemi.Looking under the hood though I'm now wondering if I should just go through the old six and try to find hop-up parts for it. I dont want to move the fire-wall back or really modify the front sheetmetal too much.Its a pretty tight fit with the six in it already!Frame mods dont bother me(its getting a straight axle anyway)because the front of the frame is going to be replaced anyway(rusted-BAD!) Looking for input/suggestions?........THANKS........
An Early HEMI would be kool. but I think the suspension would have to be upgraded as well.. But the again a Flat 6 would be neat with a few change ups..
A buddy of mine has a 354 in his 41 Plym w/o messing with the firewall. It'll fit fine with trimming or removal of the inner fenders. His uses a Camaro front clip.
Check out the early Dodge Red Ram Hemi they are a couple of inches smaller than the Chry Hemi in all dimensions and wieght.
either one... but the flat six's with speed equipment RULE... couple singles... split the manifold... pefect...
The hemi swap is obviously cool, but costly in time and money. Steering box, radiator size,suspension, firewall would all need to be modified compared to just leaving a flat 6. I think the flat 6s are pretty cool, and wish more guys would run them.
I call bullshit on the 354 fitting into the '41 without modifying the firewall...I've got the hemi shaped hole in my firewall to prove they don't fit any other way...I was putting a 331 into my '40 until I was forced to sell the hemi and put a 400 poncho in...stick with the 6 and have something fun for half the price...
Use the 25" Chrysler 265" 6, it's an easy conversion, far more power, it's what they did when the car was new. Simple hot-rod: mill the head, bigger intake valves, 2 × Rochester B, split the exhaust, Pertronix in the original distributor.
There are great examples of both engine types on the HAMB. Like Tman mentioned, Blueskies flat 6 is something to see. =StreamlineDeco= is in the process of rebuilding a 6 and has a nice build thread. Moparsled has some great info if you choose to "hotrod" the 6. BloodyKnuckles black and copper 6 is a favorite of mine. All that being said, in my mind its more difficult to make a 6 stand out. If two similar vehicles were parked beside each other, one with a plain 6 - one with a plain Hemi, I'd be more drawn to the Hemi vehicle.
The real question is "what do you expect the car to perform like when finished"? Is this just a fun car to drive or is it a little more serious car to drive? A bone stock 241 makes 2x more power than a stock six so how much money will it take to satisy your need for speed with either engine, and will the six ever make what you need. I really doubt that even a hot-rod 256 will ever match the torque of a stock 354. If power and money are not factors in this equation then flip a coin on the 'cool' factor. Both have their appeal. my .02 .
Well if you are replacing the front frame and straight axle, the motor choice is a total toss up as to which is easier. A little bit a sheet metal work can't be that big of a deal after all that. But, the easiest/cheapest is obviously to work with what you already have vs. getting something else and trying to make that work.
Probably wouldn't fit with the OEM frame. The key is the Camaro clip. The guy said he was replacing the front clip on his. On my '48 Plym I have a '55 331 that fits in the Cutlass front clip w/o any interference with the firewall.
Thats why you have to dress the little 6 up with speed parts. And a flathead 6 with hop up parts looks cooler then a hemi. And I'm a Mopar guy saying this. I say hop up the flathead 6 you have.
If I could have had that 6 I would have went for a 6 also <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o> That thing is awesome
I think you answered your own question. If you do not want to modify sheet medal stick with the 6cyl. I put a 392 in a 40 ford similar to the engine compartment of your car and I had to relieve the inner fender panels and change the steering to make it fit and move the battery to the trunk. But it was worth the work if you want to do it.
Thanks to all that have posted so far!,and for the links to the flathead 6's already in some of your cars.......too cool! Trimming or even doing away with the inner fenders doesnt bother me a bit. I got a line on a 354 hemi for $850 today so for starters,its cheap enough.But Im still not sure what Im going to do yet.(Im gonna buy the 354 reguardless) I have 9 cars,6 of them are1973 and older......Kevin
REAL HOT RODS DONT HAVE VALVE COVERS This my belief when I have one with a good running Flathead of any kind. They are so unique it makes them stand out in a crowd. There are all kinds of good stuff for a dodge Flathead, more so than my 214 Flathead International motor. Be a in-liner be different you can always change later but I think a Flathead 6 with straight pipes on a split manifold sounds really good.
A chrysler hemi will easily fit into the '40/'41 w/o touching the firewall but NOT if you try and stick with the peanut frame and steering box location. The peanut frame squeezes the steering box right up to the side of the six so putting a V-8 in there isn't an option unless you relcate/replace the steering box. My brother and I did manage to shoehorn a 326 DeSoto poly into a '41 back in the mid sixties w/o cutting anything but the engine was set pretty high off the frame in orfder to clear the steering box. A 318 will fir w/o cutting as well but, again, it'll sit pretty high to clear the steering box. A rear-steer GM clip usually works well, if it's installed properly. A straight axle will work under the stock peanut frame but you'll ave to move the steering box.
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