Went to check out a caddy motor and trans for my 40 coupe yesterday and there, out in the pasture, sat a 57 (?) Desoto, buried up to the bumpers. I asked about a 66 Galaxie behind the barn and then the Desoto and apparently, it's for sale. I left my card cause the owner was away for a day or so, but the son in law said I could get it reasonable. Body, and I imagine the underside, is ate up with rust. It's been sitting they said for at least 20 years in the pasture. But I went to look at it anyway. Lots of rust through as you'd expect. However, the stainless trim was immaculate as were most of the badges. Dash gauges looked good and I think I want them for the coupe. And, lo and behold, under the hood sat a very nice looking, not very rust hemi...fireball V8. Well, I didn't want to go ape **** and inflate whatever price they were going to quote me, but what are yous guys thoughts on the matter. At worst, the hemi would be a nice core, and at best, a rebuild. I'm gonna cut it up in the pasture, s**** it and keep what's usable. I'm thinking $500-750 as it sits. Comments welcomed and I hope the owners friend isn't on this forum.
$500 would be a good price to pay for a core motor and everything else would be free at that point. Check to see if it's a Firedome, Fireflite, or Adventurer. That'll tell you how big the motor is. If it's a Firesweep, then it's a 325 Dodge poly engine, not a Hemi, although 325's can be made into hemi's with the right heads. Stainless trim and stuff for DeSoto's will find a buyer if it's nice. If the car has a front and rear bumper that don't have holes in them, I might be interested, ***uming it's a '57. Also, DeSoto taillights from '56 to '59 are fairly hard to come by, so any good taillight lenses would be worth carefully salvaging. Make sure to PM Gotgas with your discovery, he's picking up a '57 Desoto and he might be able to use some of the pieces. Maybe he'd even split it with you, I think he's from Texas.
If it's a 341 Hemi there are still parts available- try the hot hemi heads site. I would doubt it's a 345- Adventurer engine. The 341 engines are good engines IMO.
If it's a 57-59, I could use the exterior door handles & rods from the front doors...if you feel like getting them out.
It's a firedome. I could read that in the little we could open the hood. Taillight housings are in ok shape, but no lenses. All gl*** had been shot out by kids with bb guns. Rear bumper is eaten up on the whole left side, rust through. Front bumper is buried mostly so I imagine it's gone too. Front clip? Probably bad due to being buried in mud. Rear should be ok. I'll check both as I get it out and in pieces. I had thought of keeping door innards if possible and will keep the whole things if they're not bad. Someone will use them sometime. Thanks to all.
The engine can be done, 4 bl intakes are rare. You can get the parts you need, just harder to find, usually a bit higher than for the Chr. Hemis. Price aint bad.
Hey Fellas, while were talking about it, I have a quick qestion. I have 2 '56 Desoto 330 motors. One is a fireflite, the other is a firedome. Is there any difference in these motors? The flite is a stock 4 barrel, the dome is a 2 barrel. Will all the speed equipment fit both? Any info would help. Thanks.
As long as the engines are both low deck or high deck, there is very little difference between fireflite and firedome (besides intake). There may be also other suttle differences like cam or compression. All these old hemis had fairly low compression 7.5-9:1. $500 is ok deal if you are willing to spend all the time, gas, and effort to get the car, drag it home, then pull and s**** the remains. Sometimes, it's best to just by a complete engine for $700 and someone else did all the dirty work and time expense to pull it. If the engine is stuck, I would tend to stay away from it-find one that is good right from the start. My .02 cents. Good luck!
Take some pictures of the beast and I can probably send a bunch of 57 owners your way that will strip it of all the other good parts. You may end up getting the engine for free or greatly discounted from the purchase price. PS I call dibs on the steering wheel clock or underdash record player if it has them? The record player in a 56
Which polys can be made into Hemis and how? I have heard of this before, but not the details. Just Desoto or the Dodges as well?
The 1957 Desoto Firesweep series had a 325CI poly motor and a 122 inch wheelbase (all other 57 Desotos 126 inch wheelbase and hemis) an was built on the Dodge ***embly line with a Dodge motor. You can put a set of Dodge super red ram Hemi heads (if you can find them?) off a 57 Dodge on the firesweep motor.
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