Can this be hot rodded?

I have a few questions for the Chrysler people on the HAMB. I'm looking at this engine and trans for my lakes modified project and I could use some help. Can you tell me if it's a 301 or a 331? Also, I would love to know if aftermarket stuff like intake manifolds exist. The engine is in a 1955 Windsor 2 door if that helps you at all. I'm not so worried about hopping up the engine performance wise because the car will be so light to begin with, rather I would like to just make it look a little bit more performance oriented. What do you think?

 

its the poly headed beast. do i search for poly vs hemi and youll find what your looking for i think


wasnt to long ago

 

How do you make an engine look performance oriented without helping performance? No sarcasm...I'm just curious.

 

If a little bit more performance happens thats great but I would love to stick a multi carb intake on this thing to give it some more attitude.

 

That's an old (1954?!) 240 ci dodge engine i think, poor of hp and not a lot of perf parts.
Funny style but not really powerfull

 

good opertunity to build yourself a log style multi carb set up

 

Here is another shot:

 

I think it's a poly engine. I would do some research because I think you can install hemi heads on it without much work.

 

I say do it!!! But that may be just me... I always give big props to people who use shit you don't see everyday...

Mike

 

Might be either a 270 or a 315. i havent been able to find any speed parts for mine yet. if you find a source let me know.

 

scrape the crap off of the rail in front of the valley pan and read me the numbers. they tell you the year and size. there are a few parts available , but not much. hemi heads might fit on that motor, depending on a few things. david

 

It is a 301 rated at 188 horsepower @ 4400 275 ft lbs @2400
that 301 will take the Hemi heads 56 are considered best 55's are good too! there are still bonneville records standing with the 301 with hemi heads, fell into the 5.0 litre fim record book.
see some rare poly parts and they run fine as is for a cruiser

 

like i said wasnt head swap and all that stuff just posted?

 

Build a log manifold for three or four two-barrels (you could even *gasp* use something other than Strombergs!). I have an article that I can email you if you need it. Fabricate some headers (that's fairly self-evident and has been hashed out here a time or two) and check into getting a warmed-up cam for it. You could mill the stock heads, too, for a bit more compression. Somewhere here I have a chart as to how much you can mill various heads up to '58. I'll dig around a bit. Those valve covers are bitchin' and I'd keep 'em. That's uniquer (izzat a word?) than a Hemi!

 

Here's some specs:

'55
Engine Bore & Stroke: 3-5/8" X 3-5/8"
Engine Displacement: 301.1 Cu. In.
Compression Ratio: 8.00:1
Taxable Horsepower: 47.02
Horsepower: 188 @ 4,400 RPM
Torque: 275 Ft. Lbs. @ 2,400 RPM

'56
Engine Bore & Stroke: 3-13/16" X 3-5/8"
Engine Displacement: 331.1 Cu. In.
Compression Ratio: 8.50:1
Taxable Horsepower: 46.51
Horsepower: 225 @ 4,400 RPM
Torque: 310 Ft. Lbs. @ 2,400 RPM

'56 with a 4bbl manifold option
Engine Bore & Stroke: 3-13/16" X 3-5/8"
Engine Displacement: 331.1 Cu. In.
Compression Ratio: 9.00:1
Taxable Horsepower: 46.51
Horsepower: 250 @ 4,600 RPM
Torque: 340 Ft. Lbs. @ 2,800 RPM


You could easily hot rod it I'm sure, the '58 354 Polys were total monsters, maybe you could find parts from one of those and stick 'em on the 301 block.

 

Here we go:

[ QUOTE ]
CHRYSLER

1955, all V8's with a stock ratio of 8 - remove .030 for a ratio of 8.5.

1955, all V8s with a stock ratio of 8.5 can be milled .030 for a ratio of 8.9.

[/ QUOTE ]

From "Guide to Milling Heads" Page 57. Rodding Guide No. 1: Engine Hop-UP April, 1958

 

Contact the boys at Hot Heads Research in Low Gap, NC:

www.hothemiheads.com

They can prolly help you with anything you're looking for. For some reason, I think that Edelbrock or some major brand may carry a 2x2 or 3x2 setup for these things. I had a 241 poly that I gave up on and then heard about the aftermarket intake moths later...

Stoner

 

Hey motor maniac,

you talking about something like this.

 

[ QUOTE ]
How do you make an engine look performance oriented without helping performance? No sarcasm...I'm just curious.

[/ QUOTE ]

Replace the single four-barrel with about seven Strombergs... only one of which is actually hooked up.

 

All the Chrysler Hemi intakes will fit. The 3X2 set-ups are rare as hell. 2X4 everywhere.

 

Thanks guys for all the info and great advise, thats what I was looking for. I plan on making some zoomie style headers for it and I am going to try and track down a good looking intake. Thanks again, you guys rule!

 

Sent you that article.

 

Andy,

The 3x2 intakes arent that rare are they? my old man has two, one on his bucket pictured about and another for his coupe project. And thats in Australia. They do come up often on egay The ones that he has are Edelbrock P600's

I think I have a photo of one bare, will attach it if I can.

Andy, about the hemi intakes fitting, I havent heard about this , do you know what years specifically?

I would love to know as a 6x2 intake would look wicked

 

I think I have only seen one Chrysler hemi intake. They were not popular because if you went to the trouble to put in a Chrysler hemi you wanted all the power you could get. I was told that maybe only a hundred or so were produced. Maybe less.The hemi intakes will fit on the corresponding polys. A Dodge 315 hemi intake will fit the 315 Dodge poly, etc. A Chrysler 6X2 will fit your engine. A Dodge or a DeSoto will not.Most all early Chrysler intakes interchange. You can not switch manifolds between brands.I.E. Dodge to Chrlsler,etc.Hope this helps

 

Okay guys I was told that i had a 270 in my 56 Dodge Sedan and in the parts car i was told it was a 315. how do you tell? I thought that the 331 dispalcement was just for the hemi and not the poly engines. Who is making cams for these motors? Mine has a knock in the rods so i was going to junk it and put a 440 in it but you are showing a ray of hope here.

 

BigCheese,

I got the email, thanks a bunch! I appreciate the trouble. I think I will do that for sure. Do you think it would matter if I fabricated one from aluminum. You would think it may work better as a heat sink to cool things a bit not to mention save weight. I'll let you know how the progress goes. Thanks again!

 

I can't think of any reason fabricating an aluminum log intake would be bad. Warpage, maybe, but I'm no metullargist (sorry for the spelling, too much PBR). I can't wait to see this puppy done.