This is my first thread. I have so many questions that I will start big and get more detailed. Big pic is that I have a 31 model A coupe that I have owned since a junior in high school. 40 years later I want to turn this parade only car into a hot rod. I recently bought a 56 desoto at a local auction and guess what I was thinking? Right you are 330 hemi in Model A. I want to go hi boy fenderless probably with a tci ch***is ( since I do not have a salvage yard in my back yard). The desoto idles smooth and does not smoke at all, compression is between 110 and 120 in all cylinders. One question I have is should I freshen up the engine with new rings and bearings since I am pulling out the engine( would hone it and also detail it out then) or should I just detail out the engine since it idles smooth and has no ticking sounds at all. Not sure where to get a ring and bearing kit for this 330??? I would consider using the push ****on ****** that is with the engine just for the unique push ****on system. not sure how practical that would be and how good a fit it would be also? Anybody have experience with this combo? Looking for any tidbits of information you may have. Thanks
The desoto is smaller than its bigger cousin Chrysler so there is a bit more room to play with. Parts are avail from places like Hotheads, Kanter, Egge and PAW to name just a view. A fellow HAMBer casts a good 4 barrell maniflods for the raised block desotos 330, 341 and 345 ci. The trans are tough and once you work out a suitable approach to the push ****ons thay are a great ******. Consider looking at a 55 trans as it is rod activated and this may allow you a different approach to changing gear
I have similar project under construction, a 31 coupe with a 330. My engine had to be rebuilt. Its a stock rebuild and still has a 2 bl intake and carb until such time someone donates an upgrade. I'm sure it will go faster than I'll drive it, I'm not building a race car.
If you need someone to bounce ideas off of that has an early Chrysler in a Model A, I can PM you my old man's email address. He's been running it for years like that (used to have a BBC). He started off mostly stock and then just kept adding go-fast parts a little at a time until now it's an aluminum headed dual-quad terror. LOL Just getting it in there will be cool...
I would consider replacing the oil pump just as a precaution. I know 2 guys here in Tucson that were running on low pressure and did damage to the motors. Since it probably has been sometime since a build or rebuild, go with the high flow pump and adapter from Hot Heads. It's cheap insurance. Sounds like your compression is OK so run it. Those stock iron trannies are OK until you want to hot-rod it and go with a bigger cam and such. No stall speed available on those so a 727 might be the ticket later on. Bill
replacing the oil pump with a high flow pump sounds reasonable. It would not require breaking the motor down. Also I have heard the a weak point in this engine is getting oil up into the top end due to small oil channels. not sure where I heard this but the guy was seriously adamant about it.
His name is Bill Mewheney. He goes by the name of hemibill on youtube. Go to youtube and type in desoto hemi. Scroll down til you see a tellew T-bucket with a 276. That's him. He has more goodies up his sleeve for the Desotos. Bill
The 330 DeSoto came from factory with a 4V intake, check around, may be cheaper than aftermarket. Check HotHeads web site for new parts, also they have a cl***ified section for used parts. Make sure you have a strong front spring, this aint no baby hemi you have.
My son's 31 with a 330 DeSoto fireflite with factory 4 barrel and dual exhaust. he calls it a RAT ROD!!! because he doesn't have to worry about scratching the paint. It has an aftermarket A ch***is. dropped axle, front disc brakes nine inch rear 4 bars front and rear. He went with the Chev water pump so he didn't have to modify the firewall has adapted a small 727 and has coil overs on the rear. drives and handles great. has more than enough power with the stock motor. he had good compression so just left it alone. he is waiting for something to happen so he can raise the compression and cam it.... but it just seems like it will run for ever dammit
Don't. The 340 HV pump only puts out 3.5% more volume than the Melling M-50, plus you then get into possible problems with the pump or Int. shaft. Some of this is in the O/P section of the Hemi Tech Index. The top end doesn't show as much oil as modern V8s, but is adequate. DeSoto 4 V intakes has dropped drasticly vs pre Recession, from 800 down to the 2-300 range.
If it was me, the first thing I would do is put an oil pressure gauge on it and see what it reads. Remember, a new pump is not a replacement for worn bearings. Gear kits are available to rebuild the o.e.m. pumps. I still do the 2bbl to 4bbl tall deck Desoto intake conversions.
For prices on rings & Bearings www.hothemiheads.com or talk to Gary "73RR" here who is Quality Engeneered Components.
I was in the same position not that long ago. Bought a 330 out of a running desoto, the motor sounded great except for a slight valve tic. I was told to put it in and run it and I am glad I didn't follow that advice. Everything looked pretty good inside except the water jackets were so clogged it would of run hot. I would at the least hot tank and freshen it up with bearings and rings.
George, thanks for the nod. As to the 330, I'll add a few thoughts. Tom is correct regarding the concern of bearing wear, vs a new pump. As to the oil pump, read through the HemiTech for info. First, pull the pan and see just how thick the crud is. If the pan is full then everything else will be also, including the rocker arm shafts. Pull the rod and main caps and check the bearing condition. If they show excess wear then this is where you stop and plan a rebuild. So, next pull the valve covers, same crud? Rocker shafts that don't oil well will self destruct, same as the individual rockerarms. It is possible to clean the shafts without removing them, not so with the rockerarms. You can pull the end plugs and run a bore brush through with lots of solvent but, again, if you have lots-o-crud, you are only getting part of it. Also, run a bore brush through the drainback holes in the lower corners of the heads. Keep in mind that new oil will slowly dissolve the old crud. This can be an issue if big chunks get loose and plug the screen ***embly. If you run the engine as is and without valve covers you will not see a flood of oil at the rockerarms, but there has to be some. If the rockerarm is plugged then you will not see oil at the ends. .
Sounds lika a great project and similar to mine. Keep me posted to your progress sucha as what ****** exhaust frame etc. brad
I got one off EBay, with the Offy carb squeeze plate & a chromed thermostat housing, delivered, for $260.
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