what made chrysler 300 so hot??

Must have missed it here.

 

Keep in mind there is a very vast array of hemi engines,..I itemized every one a few years ago from every manufacturer and its mind-boggeling how many different configurations there is. I personally reccommend the 65' Dodge/Plymouth 426 hemi,
parts are redily available, and you can build them from mild to wild based on you wallet size (#P4529325 or #P4529326) or if you want a more 'serious' block; Keith Black #P3690444 Aluminum)

 

Huh? ... I think you're in the wrong thread (maybe even the wrong message board) ... I love the 426 HEMI too ... but what does a Dodge, Plymouth, KB or Donovan HEMI engine have to do with a thread about Chrysler 300 letter cars?

 

Earlier we were talking about the wheels used on the Chrysler 300 Kiekhaefer race cars and how he may have taken advantage of an opening in the rules that did not specify maximum wheel width so he maxed out in the '56 Chrysler wheel well at 9.5 inches.

I emailed friend Bill Allen who cloned the '56 Dodge Lee Petty race car to ask him what he had done on wheels and tires on that car. His response, received overnight, may interest you. Pics of his car follow.

"Thanks for your note, Wayne. I chose to reinforce (double center) the Imperial wheels to be more consistent with pictures of what Lee Petty ran at Daytona in February 1956 and based on the advice of Marvin Panch (basically duplicated what Marvin drew on a napkin). The Kiekhaefer 300B's and Dodges ran the wide wheels. Some "independents" ran the wide 9.5 wheels on the front and the Imperial15X6 in the rear (looked really strange. . .required major body work to get clearance in the rear of the Dodge to run the wide wheels. Jack Boxtrom's Kiekhaefer 300B has the15 X 9.5's in both the front and the rear).

I chose Firestone ( Coker) bias tire based on a copy of a cancelled check endorsed by Lee Petty to Firestone tire store. I chose 8.20 X 15 size - the standard Dodge size was 7.50 X 15 Richard Petty said that all they could afford were "Montgomery Wards" on a regular basis. I have no idea regarding tire size and brand regarding Kiekhaefer 300's and Dodges.

Bill"
​

I'll add that I did hear from one of that Kiekhaefer's crew that he was using all Goodyear tires into mid '56 when he decided Firestone had come out with a superior tire and made a switch to 'Stones.

 

Dodge offered optional parts for the D-500 in 1956 including 15" wheels up to 8" or 8.5 " wide (memory fades), dual four barrel manifold and carbs and at least two cam shafts that increased lift and duration over the base cam.

 

I stand corrected. Photos of Kiehaefer's cars show WIDE wheels.

 

StillOutThere,

Does Bill Allen have a web site or possibly a tech feature somewhere showing the build of this car? It's beautiful. I'd like to know more about it.

Paul G

 

As a bit of interest, our shop just finished restoring this 56 300, one of 16 built with standard shift.
John Stimac

 

Yep Kiekhaefer and his tactics. He was like a drill sargent with his teams with all of the rules and the bed checks etc !! Oh yeah and the one thing he did was to run the exhaust right out the back of the trunk as to blow right at the windshield of the following cars !! hmmm !!! >>>>.

 

I saw this gorgeous car at the Darlington Reunion last Labor Day and planning on going in a couple weeks for this year's Labor Day Reunion.

 

Benzine440 /PaulG Bill Allen's '56 Dodge was featured in a magazine within the last year. I'm thinking Mopar Action?? Can't put hands on my copy. Maybe someone will know. Bill is in process of relocating. I'll see if I can reach him and get you an answer. He does not have a web site or a page on the car to my knowledge.

 

From Bill: "It was the June (2009) issue of Mopar Collectors Guide. Almost 90% of the article is correct - a bit too much flare to make a "better" story. For example, the author just did not understand Marvin Panch's explanation of "double centering" the Imperial wheels for reinforcement / strenthening only. The author thought I changed the offset.
Except for Mopar Collectors Guide online, there is not a page on the Internet covering the car."
It appears the article was on page 70. I don't see a way to read back issues on-line.

 

StillOutThere.. Did you buy your 57 300 Road America from a Mr. Chuck Hill? I knew Chuck and he had one, and very knowledgeable about lettered cars. I had a 59 300. If I knew how to post images I'd do so...

 

dry_lakes, yes, if you look at the pic in post #99, you may recognize the car the way it sat for years in Chuck Hill's garage in Anaheim. This is the one and only remaining car. Kiekhaefer's companion car to this did not survive. Thanks for the note!

 

StillOutThere ...That was Chuck's garage all right. He had stuff all over the place and new where everything was. I lost contact with the Hill's after they moved and I sure hope they are doing well. I can't wait for you to post some pics when you get this project finished. Its going to be awesome......Thanks

 

What a GREAT ride this "300" thread has been since Topolino Kid posted the Q a while back. I just re-read the whole thing. Classic.

 

Hey dig this,

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397684

In the family since 1963.

 

I don't think that this link has been posted before. It's a pretty good rundown on the early hemis and 300 cars.
http://chrysler300country.com/hemi_engine_development.htm

I'd say that most of us who are 55 or older and were into cars when we were kids knew the lore of the Chrysler 300 cars back then. Up through about the F series and then after that they were more flash than dash but still interesting. Most of us wanted one of those cars but few of us could afford one.

Stillouthere, Thanks for the history lessons and sharing the photos.
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Mr48Chev wrote: "I'd say that most of us who are 55 or older and were into cars when we were kids knew the lore of the Chrysler 300 cars back then. Up through about the F series and then after that they were more flash than dash . . . "

Jimi: Yup, there seemed to be SERIOUS commitment at Chrysler in that early era. I always viewed the 300 as the hotrod cousin of the Imperial -- and during that time Chrysler was very committed to keep up the appearance & perf. of THAT make, as well.

 

kirban 2 cents worth

Another guy who knows alot about the Hemi and has 50 plus years of success is Don Garlits..... I was fortunate enough to take a walk through his personal garage the other week. His knowledge is remarkable....

Been mentioned before, but worth repeating a Hemi under the hood is an impressive sight.
I got over hemi 100 rods and pistons from Dons top fuel dragsters....after 2 runs they get pulled.....them rods are like huge compared to say a Buick V6 rod from a Grand National.
He pumps out 6,000 to 8,000 hp in this Swamp Rat dragsters....

Made his best run at age 71.....over 300 mph...

That 4 letter word has made millions for Chrsyler....

denniskirban@yahoo.com

 

Actually there was a special version of the 1956 Chrysler 300B, 354ci that produced 355HP, thus it was before the DeSoto and Corvette. This version is very rare in the 1102 300B examples built that year. Standard engine was 354ci with 340HP. So with this stated it was an option and not standard, but none the less it proceeded the others.

 

Johnl, I think i met you the other day. Your jimmys boss right? If thats you, thank you were very excited to get working on that 300.

 

I'll try this again as it looks like the first reply didn't go. I don't work with a Jimmy. I'm in SoCal, where are you located?

 

Im in san diego, as so cal as it gets. Sorry i mistook you for another John thats into chryslers.

 

It pisses off the Gm guys when you tell them that.

 

Technically speaking the GM guys were correct they did have the first 1HP per CI engine in a production car. They just conveniently left out the detail that Chrysler had exceeded the mark the year prior. The 57 Desoto Adventurer was the first to get there in stock format because when you purchased an Adventurer you got the motor.

Of course two thing where working against Desoto and that milestone.
They did not have the advertising budget to really brag about it and the marquee was not focused on the performance market nor was the average Desoto buyer. I am pretty sure the brass at Chrysler would not like Desoto taking the focus away from the 300 series also?

I wish I could have afforded to restore my 57 Adventurer Convertible but they are a rich mans car. I sold both my 57 Adventurer coupe and convertible.

 

Bobby Allison and the Flock Brothers.

 

I remember an article from a 1980s Road & Track magazine about some good old boys who had a 1957 300E who ran shine with it. They had the transmission modified so it would hold second gear until you lifted off the throttle momentarily, an oil tank and spray bar under the rear bumper, and overload springs to level the car when loaded. I remember the article saying the TV show dukes of hazzard was loosely based around this guy and his 300.

 

Exclusivity, there weren't many around, pretty pricey.

 

Like all car guys, I love to hear ALL details. BUT, 345 DeSoto is right, He said, "standard production engine." The others were special-order optional packages. The Corvette gang hates this fact.

<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5; COLOR: #e5e5e5" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Quote:
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2>Originally Posted by 345 DeSoto
The 1957 DeSoto Adventurer was the FIRST standard production engine to make 1hp per cubic inch. The Chevy people claim it was the 57 corvette 283/283 fuelie, but even though it WAS 1hp per cubic inch, it wasn't a standard production engine...it had to be ordered as an option. With the DeSoto it was the standard Adventurer engine. If a Fire dome was ordered, it came only with a 2bl Firedome 341 Hemi. If you ordered a Fireflite, it only came with a 4bl 341 Hemi...thus, the first standard production 1hp/1CI engine...
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