1955 Plymouth and 472 Hemi??

Sounds like a cool idea to me. If I was the one to be spending rearend money on this thing, I think I'd lean toward a nodular aftermarket 9" with 35 spline axles with some kind of clutch type limited slip differential or a custom Dana 60. That hemi should put out quite a bit of torque! I'm suggesting those axles because I have a hard time sourcing 8 3/4 Mopar parts through the gear parts sources I think are quality and reliable, and opinionated about the rest.
Good luck! Have fun!

 

In my demented eyes, that engine and body combo needs the '65 AFX treatment. Kind of like what Groucho did on his '49 ford. Just start with an 8 3/4 rear end moved up 15 inches, A-100 axel front moved up 10 inches, and hilborn injection on the hemi. From there all you nead is a red, white, and blue paint job ala Sox & Matin, and you'll be the envy of Detroit. But that could be just me.

 

I think it'll be awesome.

Check out www.forwardlook.net if you haven't already.

They have a forum over there, too with a bunch of knowledge. They tend to lean toward "restoration", but there are plenty of hot rodders and customizers.

 

Its been done before, so thats good news. I saw this a couple years ago.
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gotgas has it real close. Use a rack and pinun kit mounted forward of the frame and you should have everything clear, the plymouth firewall is another matter you will have some major work there, I think I would look in to a 67 Body K member and use mounts for the upers. Thats almost moporn stuff there

 

Love the P-15 forum. I have some experience with them. My Dad has a '47 coupe with a 340 six-pack stuffed in it and a stock '48 vert. I restored the engine bay on his vert this summer.



Before





After

 

390merc,

Do you have anymore info on this car? I would love to talk to the owner.

 

Kick ASS! Sounds like a lot of work with tons of fun as a byproduct!!!!!

 

If I remember right, the Hemi car was a former Reggie Jackson owned car from his collection.

 

The A-518 is definately an option, the only thing I don't like is the larger size compared to the 727.



This might require some extra trans tunnel massaging. On the other hand it would probalby cost less.

 

The A518 has a smallblock bellhousing boltpattern. You'll need to do a conversion to a bigblock bellhousing for the 472 by means of a JW bellhousing and quite some work on the transmission. Unfortunatly there are no factory 727-overdrive transmissions. There's been a topic on Moparts.com about this not too long ago.

I like putting serious horsepower in sleeperlike cars. Being a Mopar nut in heart and soul, I would try to keep the drivetrain entirely Mopar, so also use a Dana60. Have Moser or Strange build a Dana60 to your widthspecs, drop it in and forget about it.
A Mopar 8-3/4" axle will also do pretty well behind the Hemi as long as you have wheelspin. But if you ever put the car on the strip with some hooky tires it might have a hard time staying together.

On a personal note, with projects such as these I usually find it a 'waste of car' if one replaces just about everything except the body's sheetmetal on the car. Especially the interior.
IMO it would show respect to the Plymouth-brand if one would the leave the interior pretty much like it was or stock appearing.
But with the project you have at hand, I wouldn't be surprised if you had to clean out pretty much everything from under the car anyway and just keep the body-shell to make everything fit properly.

Here's a link to the '55 Chrysler 300 with a 572 Hemi...
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1955-Chrysler-C300-with_190088.htm

 

a-fuckinmen mate thats what i was thinkin to

 

I think this car is still owned by a friend of mine. It was for sale, not sure the price, somewhere in the 30's, I think.

I seem to remember the same story. Owned by Reggie Jackson. Not sure if he had it built, or bought it that way. 426 / 727 / 9" rear.

68fastwilliams, I see you're located in Detroit. The car above is in Jackson.

 

Here is my intended victim. Notice her newly aquired V8 badges.

 

Nice belvedere! My '56 was a sedan, not a hardtop, but very similar. You're going to have a really bitchin' car when you get done. That thing's in awesome shape!

 

Thanks!

We were looking for a '56 when we found this '55. It is in really nice shape, I almost feel bad about cutting it up, almost .

 

Probably like comparing apples to oranges, but the 392 fit into my 48 DeSoto without a major hassle, or major surgery. I have a Nova front clip, 727 Tranny and 8 3/4 rear. I drive it and enjoy it on a regular basics.
Keep us informed, and pictures are a good thing.
Jack

 

Moroso makes a rear sump 7 quart pan and half inch pickup for big block Mopar.

 

I meant Milodon

 

I'm doing a simular build, I recently brought home a 55 Savoy two door post, it came with a 55 Dodge Super Red Ram 270 to build and drop in. The engine is the only change planned for this project.

 

Your 6-cylinder 55 Plymouth doesn't have the drivetrain and suspension needed to support this engine safely. You'll need to put in a whole front subframe that fits your engine and gives you modern disk brakes and rack-pinion steering. You'll also need a transmission and heavy duty rear end. In other words, your project is absurd, and what is the point in chopping up a perfecrtly good 55 Plymouth?

 

Because he wants to and his name is on the title!

 

Absurd? Why, because it's not easy?

Try to remember that this is a hot rod forum.

 

Hes right.. the 6 cyl suspension will not hold the weight.. the drag link is also in the way..these have a tendancy to bottom out on the front.. there maybe a few issues unless your ready to do some serious mods.. 10 inch brakes dont help.. I went from a 6 to a 56 Fury 303.. there are others here that have gone with bigger blocks.. but I also think with heavier mods to make it work..

 

you didn't get that car outta NJ by chance did you?

Nothing to do with the hemi swap but that car look scarily similar to one my old man used to own.

 

Guys, I understand that there will be major surgery needed to make this combo work well. As I said earlier in the thread, the car will get subframed and have an upgraded suspension all around. It will also have 4-wheel disk brakes.

The theme has changed a bit. I had first wanted to moderize the entire car, which included completly changing the interior. Well I have decided to keep it stock looking outside and in. It will look like a sedate restoration but it will eat your freaking lunch.

The car will be painted like the one in the pic below and it will sport the stock hub caps on widdened steel wheels.

 

...now about that photo journal...what, huh, whadda ya mean you're not done yet???


.

 

This is gonna be sweet! Like that very cute little chick in high school who goes like a mink in the back seat!

 

68fast, I'm on your side. I built a 51 Plymouth 3W coupe with a Camaro stub, 383/335 hp, A833, and 8 3/4" rear. Thank God none of us had these experts to save us from ourselves all these years, huh?!

 

I think it will look very cool when its done.... Its also really nice the way it is too..