A few weeks ago I was somewhere looking for something when low and behold I walk smack dag up on a Hemi. And it wasn't mine, yet. Complete from fan to front of the drive shaft, oil pan to carb. I was told it had come from a '63 Desoto. I knew that wasn't right, I thought '53 maybe. Just for the heck of it, I said "what do you want for it". $100 he says. The next Monday I show up with a truck and trailor and $100. I walk around where they're wrapping a chain around it to pick it up and I'm handed an old rusty 2x4 intake. A week later I bead blast the intake and find the castings: "cwc 1731560". I look those up and find the intake from a '56 Desoto Adventurer. I haven't torn down the engune yet to get the numbers off. If it is a '53, then it'l be a 276cid. The intake looks like it will fit. The intake that's on it is a 2bl. Anyway I thought I'd share my story, My uncle and I are going to clean it up and make a nice looking shop decoration.
Nice score. For $100, I'd grab one too. Make a nice garage table base until you find a project to put it in
The Adventurer intake won't fit the low deck DeSoto engine, it'll only fit the 330 and 341. Either way, sounds like a great score.
DeSoto hemis came in two basic varieties, low deck and high deck. The low deck motors were the 276 and 291. High decks were the 330, 341, and 345. The dual quad manifold you have will only fit the tall deck versions and originally came on the high performance S24A and S26A 341/345 engines. I don't think the 330 ever came from the factory with the dual 4 bbls. (but it will fit a 330) and I know none of the low decks had that option. Just look on the block just in front of the valley cover and you should see the ID numbers stamped into the lip of the block. If its a DeSoto it will be either an S-16, S-17, S-19, S-21, or S-22 if its a low deck or S-23, S-24, S-24A, S-25, S-26, or S-26A if its a high deck. Even if its a low deck and the dual quad manifold won't fit you can sell it on e-bay for between $400-$600 which will help defray part of the rebuild cost. I sold one about a year ago for $450. They are extremely rare and sought after by the DeSoto crowd. Good luck.... hope its a high deck.
it might be something other than a 276 since when I hold the 2x4 up to the 2bl the sides look identical.
They will "look" the same. The difference is in the width of the manifold. The tall deck manifolds are a bit wider and just won't fit the low decks.
Yes, you scored big time. Even if it doesn't fit all together some good trading material for stuff that fits. Congrats man. ~Sololobo~
I'll try to look again this weekend at the numbers. When I looked last time I think I could make out an S. Even if the intake wont fit this engine, I've got another complete engine from a '55 Desoto stationwagon that might work. As far as trading goes, I've got alot of stuff I'll be parting with. When it comes to Hemi stuff, It's like an addiction, I want all I have and those that I don't.
That'l suck if the 2x4 wont fit the other engine. Either way I'm gonna make it look pretty and paint it orange. I haven't tried yet to see if it will turn over, it should though. The block is cracked on one side above the oil pan where water froze in it one winter. Good thing is there no water in the oil. It could be fixed if I ever decide to run it. I imagine the most I'll ever do is look at it. If I ever get a Desoto, I'll put one of the 392s in it. My favorites are the 57/58 Chrysler and Desoto.
When I got home I called the place where I found it and told them to hold it for me 'til Monday. They said it had been there so long that it wouldn't be going anywhere. I'm glad the average modern person has no idea what they are, for my sake. Besides it's more fun when the other guy has a small block Chevy and I pull up with a real machine.
I'd kill to get a Hemi for $100 bucks. Even if it sat around the shop, it would be cool as hell. Nice find!
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