I just got back from looking at this poly and I am having a hell of a time finding out what it is, I cant find the numbers on the net and search here. stamped number on the front is E551961 number on the head is 1555768-1 If someone can tell me where to look that would be great,Or if you know what year and size chime in and let me know The motor was given to me as long as I use it.plan to put it in a 37 Chevy pu. Any help is always appreciated.
thanks as soon as i can get a corner of the shop at work I will start tearing it down.Also what all bell housings will fit this engine I want to run a 4 speed and need a bell.
If it's actually WE55 is a '56 331. The bell is the same as the 392 Hemi so any Hemi/Poly or A Poly(277,318) up to 61 will bolt up. There are a huge number of adaptors for modern Mopar & GM ******s. Look @ Hemi tech index in search. all is aplicable to the block except pistons & push rods.
That last sentence is to say all the parts, bearings & tricks for the '55 331 hemi will work for building your block except for pistons. ***uming it is a 56 331.
its a cool motor,mostly because you can bolt a set of early hemi heads on it.they used the same block.
May want to read this to get an idea of your engine. http://www.allpar.com/mopar/poly.html Yours has the early large scallop valve covers which would make it a non-A series poly. I am not sure how many years these were made with those valve covers but I do know my 55 Plymouth 260 has them and i have seen a 55 Chrysler with a 301 engine with those valve covers. It may be that they are a 1955 only valve cover but I am not sure. You may want to ask over at forwardlook.net especially with the id numbers to get a for sure identification of the engine. Does the person you are getting the engine from have any idea what car it came from? If it is a Plymouth I know that the 1955 is the only one with those valve covers but could be a 239 or a 260.
Also may want to check out this thread. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360864 Be careful with thinking you can just bolt on hemi heads. It is not that easy but is way beyond my ability to explain all that is involved but i believe new pistons would be required too !
I can not help with poly identification. What I can do is to say, Happy Birthday to barlazyr ! ! ! On the main board it claims that it is his b-day today.
I believe those valve covers were from 55-58 Chrysler's Windsors only. I am thinking 301. I have a 57 354 Poly with the same valve covers (love'm). Specs here; http://www.carnut.com/specs/gen/chry50.html
1555758 is a '55 301 poly head. 301 has bore of 3.625 331 is 3.8125. There should be a block casting # between the head & valley cover, p***enger side rear. Can't read with intake on.
55-58 Windsor (4-bbl) and Saratoga (2-bbl). Use a 55-58 331-354 4-bbl intake. Exhaust is Spitfire only. The Spitfire has nothing in common with the Dodge or Plymouth poly engines. Do not confuse the 55-Chrysler 301 with a 56 Plymouth 301. Enjoy!
Abomination is on of the POLY gurus on here. You need to look him up. I have a '64 318 in my Model A.... He has done 30 years worth of research on these bad boys. I love mine!!! Yours looks killer!!!!! Good Luck with the rebuild! Jay
Thanks for all the replies. I like the valve cover to much to change the heads. The guy that gave it to me said it was 55 chrysler but thats all he knew thanks for the links I plan to do a lot of reading on this engine. I am tired of the SBC in everything I have to strong runners with ******s and they won't go in any hot rod. Thank you ProtoTypeDesigneFlauz for the happy B-Day. will keep everyone updated on the build Thanks again for all the replies
Those spitfire polys are bad *** i would love to replace my 318 with one in my 27 chrysler if i can find one. The valve covers are just too cool!
We continue to hear about folks finding Early Hemi engines in all kinds of places and many folks previously finding the Spitfire engines were quick to make a head swap...there are probably plenty of Spitfire heads sitting under work benches...if your serious about making a change let it be known! .
Yeah, yeah, I have a 331 Hemi. But I wouldn't mind having a poly based on the same block around. They're just interesting as hell, you know? I mean, most folks have chucked the Poly parts for the Hemi ones years ago, and you just don't see 'em that often. And no, I will NOT trade you my Hemi for a Poly. Nice try, ***holes. ~Jason
Hell with changing it to a hemi, the Spitfire is so cool! It's called the "single rocker arm motor" in the old Motor's Manual I have. Who needs double rockers? I understand there is some interchange with hemi intakes. There is a HAMB'er that goes by 73RR (I think) that is way knowledgeable on the adapter issues. The '55-'64 Chevy rear is surprisingly strong as long as you don't run sticky meats and actually hook up 400+ horses. I've run normal single tracks which I changed to posi (long as you don't disturb the pinnion and you set the lash back just like it was) for years behind several fairly healthy small blocks in my '55 and only broke one, and that was late one night when I should'nt have gone and got it out! Anyway, they came from the factory behind 409's, and yes, those were better cases but the axles were the same and that's what I broke. If you want the better case look for a large P cast into the center section.
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