Whats up guys - my 2 wheel addiction has had grips on me lately so I aint been doin much with my truck(s) but just had a dude tell me about a complete 53 hemi and ****** here in town that I cant help but go check out - anybody got a ballpark on what a compelte unmolested 53 drivetrain is worth or what to look out for? My best guess is its a 241 but i have no numbers or anything yet - so just lookin for ballpark - ill post pics, and more info once i get a look at her - says the valve covers dont have any script on them!? I woulda thought from the date this would be a dodge red ram, but wouldnt those have stamped on vavle covers? thanks!
so i got a couple pics - no numbers on it yet but going to look at it this weekend. Looks to me like its actually a 54 truck - but not sure if its the 241 or 270 motor. Let me know what ya guys think
yep - these pics were taken from a buddy who told me about it - he didnt know what to shoot - im headed over on Saturday - story has it the guy has a few things - but theres been enough wives tales on here lately, Ill hold my story until i see it myself. Thanks for your help George! Im thinking the lil hemi might be a neat piece to do for my 48 instead of the la360 shortblock I have between the rails now - by what im reading this really could only be 241 or 270, right? Ar ethey worth/able to poke out to a worthwhile mill? Im sortin through that hemi teh you linked me too-but figure ill throw it out for comment also thanks!
The # on the intake manifold in the picture is 1409375, which I have identified as a '55 270 intake. That said, I'm not sure if they used that casting # earlier than that, my list of intake manifold casting #'s is pretty short. Still, that would make it either a 241 or 270. The truck is at least a '54, and no later than '56, but that doesn't help much. If its a '54 it could be a 241 or a 270, if its a '55 is likely a 270, same for '56. You'll need the #'s stamped on the front of the block to know for sure, they're on the block between the front of the valley cover and the back of the water pump housing. As far as worth it, I'd say it is. But it depends on what you're looking for. Regardless of it being a 241 or 270, it will cost more to rebuild and maintain than the LA360. And unless you spend a ton of money on it, you'll make more power with the 360. But the 360 will never look or sound like a hemi, regardless of how much more power it makes or how much less it costs to build or maintain. 300 hp should be fairly straightforward to get out of either engine. I know the 241/270 heads exchange but I'm not sure if the 241 can be made into a 270 with machine work, I don't think so. Obviously the 270 would be a better start. But 10:1 on the compression, a strong cam, 4 barrel intake (or a multi carb set up) and maybe a little headwork will make it a very solid engine. More than solid enough in my mind to make it worth having the hemi over the 360. I mean, its a hemi! Oh, and nice looking '48! I've got a '53 B4B that I'll get around to eventually, I've got a few pics in my album.
thanks Monkey for the thoughts! im thinkin along the same lines - a small hemi would just look RIGHT on sitting in the rails fo the 48 - Its gonna be a really light truck, so I dont need a gob of HP to make her fun, but obviously the more the merrier. Ill have confirmed numbers by Saturday and maybe some more heavyiron sitting on my garage floor!
ok, well finally got out to check this thing out. block numbers are Vt334-3670 and according to cl***ichemi that would make it a 54 - 241. I do see where youre finding the intake numbers to match a 55 270 though, so either it got an intake swap at some point early on or I suppose it could be a 55 (I couldnt locate any body vin - tag missing from door jamb) and they used a leftover 54 motor??? Im guessing here. The first option seems more likely. Anyway - the truck is in rougher condition than I was told - Missing rear axle, bed, no ******, psgr door is toast, and steering wheel/column are missing. I couldnt get into the motor, but the crank turned, it has the bellhousing, its got a 270 intake and the straight axle is still there along with a bench seat frame. Im going to offer the guy $150 to get it out of his yard and see what happens. If I can do this I think IM in good shape - could probably sell the cab for that amount and put the frame up against the side of the garage for possiblefuture project what do you guys think? seems like it will be costly to do much with the 241 but I agree with what Monkey says - the cool factor of a baby hemi in the 48 is undeniable!
It's worth $150 to have for display! But it turns over, yes all early Hemi's are expensive to build, the COOL factor is worth a LOT! I sold a 241 Red Ram to a guy that was going to remove a 360/360 in a 30's Dodge truck just for the COOL factor of the Hemi! Good Luck!
WAIT - forget that I own hemi's myself....IT'S A DAMN FIVE WINDOW DODGE PICK-UP....HOW RARE IS THAT!!!!....if it's a half ton....really rare!!!
thanks guys for the response. Yea I know going this route wont be cheap, but as i understand it a little easier/cheaper to hop-up the 270 and up units. Im headed back tomorrow night after the paycheck is cashed and we'll see where it goes. I didnt realize a 5 window C body cab was considered rare!! Maybe I need to look into this a lil more. The cab will be for sale if I grab this deal by the way. Appreciate the feedback for sure.
You would be surprised at just how strong a properly built 241 can run. Yes, it is always nice to have more inches, but the 241 is no slouch considering its relative size. .
73RR - thanks for the info - When/If I pick this up Ill probably bend your ear considering it looks like you have some experience and parts! Thanks again - Im trying to get over there tonight, but not sure Ill make it.
I've got a 5 window 1/2 ton. '53 B4B. I know they aren't as common as the 3w's, but its not insanely rare, especially the earlier ones. Haven't seen as many with the '54-'56 body style, but I've seen quite a few of the 51-53 type. Blackmopar- that truck and hemi would be a steal at $150, best of luck getting it. I agree with 73RR, the 241 will still be a great engine, and plenty strong for its size. You should be able to get 300 hp out of it without doing anything seriously crazy.
Hey George, What other signs would tell me this is a poly? I guess since the manifold indicates its a 270 and that doesnt 'fit' numbers wise from oem, then it could be this was a convert, huh? Did they run the 259 poly in a 54 v8 truck? Cl***ic Hemi says a 55/56 dodge truck could have had a 259, btu they say the numbers are vt-434. The old guy wasnt around this weekend so I havent been able to score it but I am chopmin at the bit now!
hemis spark plugs come through the valve covers, polys in the normal location. hemi based Polys like the 259 can be converted. There are a boat load of user codes,10 for the 259 & 7 for the 241 hemi, 334 is duplicated. Pick ups got Polys & bigger trucks got Chr truck hemis. 241 has a 3.4375 bore & 259 3.5625. Off hand I don't have the casting # for the truck blocks. Someone swaped intakes for what ever reason.
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