55 Chevy with a Hemi

Has anybody ever put a Hemi in a 55 Chevy?

 

never been done.

never.

 

I saw one once in a 56, but never in a 55.

 

I say do one!

 

my uncle did it in the 60s for somebody

 

In a 55 Chevy? It won't fit....it is only set up for a small block Chevy...And don't let anyone tell you differently....and as Bort62 said it has never been done. NEVER...I think merc-o-madness is lying about his uncle doing it in the 60's.

Now what do you really think?

 

Yes it has,John Rea did it in 1975, but I don't think it was a bolt in

 

Gotta cop friend who always ate breakfast with "the gang" on Sunday mornings and gave us updates on his hemi-55 project but never brought it to the cafe. One Sunday morning we were all sitting around the tables telling lies when this low rumble sound comes through the walls from outside...sounds like a double A fueler.
We all go outside to see Frankie's white 55 210 tudor sedan. The hemi in question is a GMC blown 392 with a later torquflite behind it. Frankie got a little carried away when he narrowed the rear axle, a ford nine inch. He pro-streeted the car too and runs slicks with a full spool.
The engine is so damn wide, he fab'd up a chain and sprocket affair on the firewall side of the steering column to move it away from the giant engine...looks like a big bicycle chain and he takes mucho **** for it when he pops the hood.
I've never seen him hammer the loud pedal but I'll bet it's impressive...sure sounds mean. Needs a wider tire or a different offset on the rear wheels or a wider rear axle....but he drives it on the street..

 

No, its never been done...that picture is just an illusion.

 

A MONTH OR SO AGO, I WAS AT "BONES FAB" IN CAMARILLO. HE HAD A CUSTOMERS '57 CHEVY BEL AIR WITH A SUPERCHARGED HEMI IN IT.. THE SWAP LOOKED CLEAN AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM.

 

It's all a myth...........Impossible to put a Hemi in a 55 Chevy....I know for a fact that it has NEVER been done. Now, we once had one hanging over a 55 just to see if it would fit..........gave up............It just looked way too ****ty in there. Put the 283 back in.
But if you use an F-100 steering box, mounted on the outside of the frame, trim the crossmember all to hell, use some 65 Dodge super comps, I'll betcha that it may work...lol
M.

 

There's a guy who comes to the local Early Iron show on Labor Day that has a flip-front '57 with a blown 392 in it. I love it! I was afraid it would have a belly-****on small block in it, but that Hemi looks awesome in there.

 

check shakey puddin's straight axle tech thread. it sure has a pic of a 55 with a hemi in it

 

There used to be a white '57 with a blown 392 that ran around the Arlington / Grand Prairie, Texas area around '76 or '77. It looked like a nice fit but one thing I remember is there was no wiper motor because the blower cut into the cowl a couple of inches.

 

Hemis are not for Chevy owners. Chevy owners like to work on cars. If they put a Mopar in it they'd be able to drive it all the time instead of having to work on it. Then they'd find out just how bad they ride/drive. That might lead them to buy a Mopar, and find out how superior they are over GM brands; and it would rock their world forever.
Seriously, its been done, lots of times. You can easily spot them by the incredible sound they make, and they are very fast.

 

hell theres on in this or last monthes HOT ROD

 

Heres a nice one being built.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225566

jp

 

You can stick a Hemi in anything.......You just have to want too.....Littleman

 

Often the straight axles were mounted in part for maximum clearance under 55's (as well as 56s & 57s) Once you get the clearance issues resolved, you can drop just about ANY V8 in between those frame rails. My favorite 55-57 Hemi applications are the ones who used small block Chevy valve covers just to fool you! (which is MUCH harder to do than mounting Hemi valve covers on a small block Chevy!)

 

And YOU know this HOW...??? You've got an ominiscent view of the ENTIRE rodding/drag racing world...???

PS...currently there is a '57 Two door (which is virtually the same frame as a '55) running around Denver with a Hemi in it...it will fit...but it's certainly not a bolt-in...

R-

 

NEVER EVER, REPEAT, NEVER EVER SAY NEVER TO A HOT RODDER.
Can't be done is one of the funniest statements I've ever seen on the HAMB! you were trying to be funny, right?

55-57's have much larger engine bay than my 48 ford with a Hemi in it.
I've seen a Nash Metro with a Hemi in it. this is a funny post, I'll be laughing all day, thanks

 

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100&#37;" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">After viewing all of the awesome work that is accomplished by builders/fabricators here on the HAMB, it's hard for me to believe someone would say "It can't be done"! You can do anything, if you want to bad enough!!!
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im rollin with NONAME on this one .. haha

 

back in the 70s there was a magazine, phr? a guy put a 426 hemi in a 56 belair, looked like it grew there.

 

.....I'll second that thought.........good luck with the swap.

 

you know there are some of the chevy hemi's out there ..... but not for the faint at heart .....or wallet....... sonny's has them ..... brandon

 

Did the Lusitania have an anchor??

That is what the result would be.................

 

And you really take his answer seriously? Or perhaps my answers as well? Did you forget what board we were on? Why would you not think you can put a Hemi in a 55?

 

In the mid 70's (I don't remember the exact year) my brother's roommate had a blown, Hilborn injected, 392 on alky in his tri five, a 55 I think. Car was slightly customized and ran a full cage. Usually a garage queen, they actually drove it on street around their 3rd street neighborhood in San Mateo. Any of you bay area guys remember it?

 

Does anyone have more pictures of John Rea's Hardtop? That is a FANTASTIC '55 Chevy.