Hello everyone, Just wondering if there is a place that can fab a set of motor mounts that could be fitted to my 1955 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer. It once had a 270, Super Red Ram Hemi, that I still have, but since pulling the 270, I have a fresh 1954 Chrysler Industrial 331 Hemi to put in it's place. I'm in IRAQ right now but taking notes so when I return home I can dive head first into my Car with all this new info from my fellow H.A.M.B'ers. Does the two spd tranny fit to the 331? Or do I need an adapter plate. Also any help with the mtr mount set up? I have pictures of my car also that shows the ORIGINAL INTERIOR, ORIGINAL WHITE WALL TIRES FROM 1960, THE ORIGINAL PAINT and the rear set still has the thick clear set cover still intack and excellent condition. This car as you see it is what it looked like unmolested from the factory. By the way I bought this car from a fellow H.A.M.B Member that lives not to far from me in Dallas shortly before I left for IRAQ. As you can see I also installed 1956 Dodge Wagon Fins in place of the small fins that came with my '55. Looks good and brings the boring rear end to life. Anyhow thanks for looking and I'll await a response. Have a good day.
Well, the pictures you need are of the engine bay. Anyway, the 331, as you know, is a larger (physically) motor than the 241/270. Also the 270 had a water-pump motor mount. What you are going to have to do, is lower-in the 331 and see what all it hits. The Dodge usually had a front-sump oil pan, while many chryslers had a rear-sump. Don't know what yours is, but you will need to see how the engine interfaces with the tie-rods, etc. You might have all sorts of inner-fender panel clearance problems, and steering problems. You have to figure all that out before you mock-up some motor mounts to be welded to the frame. See if you have room for exhaust manifolds, etc. Engine swaps are fun, but chrysler hemi's ain't no dodge hemi, so get your big shoehorn ready. Personally, I'd run a modern transmission. Something that 90% of the transmission places can troubleshoot, find parts, or work on when the beast rolls over dead in the middle of Ft Worth or some strange town...
Roger that...I guess I should go ahead and stay with the 270 Super Red Ram hemi Power Pak I have that came with the car and end the head ache before it starts then. Just got a killer deal on the Hemi before I headed to IRAQ. the smaller Hemi will do for the car I have just thought it might be faster and look cool. Maybe when I get back I'll start on a Rod Bucket I see on here all the time...They look like a hell of a good time to ride in. Never even been in one but looks likea bunch of fun.
Up grading to a S/B 727 would improve performance, drivability, mileage, & reliability. When I dropped my Hemi in, I used Chassis Engeneering upper mounts & made my own lowers.
Well, I did put a 440 based big block in a '55 Plymouth. Make sure to have your torch and sawzall ready.
Well, I just got the short-block done on my 270 (ross 10.5:1 pistons, racer brown cam). Best Gaskets makes a gasket kit for it, and hot heads wants $150 with shipping. My pistons cost $300 on eBay (.050 over), the timing cover, chevy water pump adapter was several hundred more. I lost count of all the money, because I really don't want to know anymore. It's way past stupid. All that, and it's still smaller and less horsepower than a 283 chevy Anyway, the thought comes to me, that your car would probably respond well to a cruiser treatment, rather than a hot rod. To that end, I'd save the hemi's for future open-wheel projects, and put a nice fuel-injected 360 with a modern automatic in there. Get a donor car, and use the rear-end and front torsion-bar based clip. Presto, instant running-gear upgrade, with a nice chrysler ride.
Yea upon thinking things through, I'm going to stick with the cruiser adittude as this car looks good as is. Besides this car moved quite well with the 270 in it as I remember as I kid. I just bought a 1937 Nash, with suicide doors, just missing the interior as you would expect to have seeing it sat in a field in Ok for the last 31 yrs. Also picked up a sad 1956-58 ford custom and a pontiac Chief also sad but was heading to the scrap yard and my brother saved it yesterday as I was told. I'll post pics of it today sometime.
The 331 shares the same trans pattern as the 270. Other than that, they are not similar. The 331 would actually be not too bad to mount in the car because of the engine mounts on it are much better than the old 241/270 mounts. You would have to fabricate them, but thats not hard. Oil pan would be the biggest problem, but not too bad. I have seen a 392 in a 55 dodge and it was a tight fit, but there was no cutting involved the guy told me. I would put the 270 back in on a car that original. If you don't however, I am looking for a 55 270 4 brl intake manifold
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