I just acquired a a '53 276 Desoto hemi.Are there parts readily available for this engine.I'm not looking to make alot of power,but is 300 possible with this engine?
I have spent a fortune building a Desoto 291. Don't waste your time and money on a Desoto. I could have built a 392 for less than I've spent on this odd ball. Go with a dodge or chrysler that has lots of available parts. I wish I had!
My wife's 55 Fireflite 291 factory four barrel was rated at 200. I would guess it is closer to 100 but it has enough torque to move 2 tons of fun. Desoto Engines are for looking good. Don't forget you need an adapter to use a modern transmission if you want to use it like a hot rod anyway. Powerflites were not made to go fast.
Spoken by a True Check Book Builder !! They are Not any more than any other Vintage engine, Period ! I am a Broke *** White Boy & have built 2 in the past couple years and have another on the Grill right now. If you research a bit, Buy Cautously, Find the interchanges & STAY AWAY from the Hot Heads Catalogue you will be fine. If you go & Buy All the New Wave Bull **** Do Dads Hot Heads makes, And just Sign Checks it will cost some $$$. If i can Afford to build one ANYONE can afford one. Compression, Cam, Intake & ignition will Yeild 300 HP NO PROBLEM !!!
Desoto, Amen brother,,,,,very good engine,,will make more power than you think possible from such small cubic inches. But,,,you have to remember,,,,It's a Hemi !!! Tommy
1hp/inch is common without trying too hard. Like Desoto says, cam and comp make all the difference. Electronic ign is a given. .
good luck ,my brother and I had one back in the late 50's and it was hard to find stuff back then , but it could be done and I am sure it can be done now. It is a damn good motor and will make plenty of power [and tons of torque] , you just have to be patient and keep looking for the right parts . Carry on! Waldo
I have a 56 330 that should make it's way into a 27 T someday. I'm not worried about a lot of horsepower but one does have to do some serious hunting for parts and pieces. External goodies and intakes are a challenge though and expect to pay seriously for those. Mine is a two barrel engine and it might just stay that way with the carb I pulled of a two barrel 360 on top of the stock intake and a big aircleaner. You can pour a pot full of money into any engine if you set your mind to it.
My 13 year old son bought a 276 Desoto in December '08 only to find two small cracks between two cyls. We then found a 291 block to use. With some slight m***aging of the 276 heads, 10.5/1 comp. pistons with a pretty wild profile cam, and offset-ground crank, along with a Vintage Speed 4x2 intake with 97's, we're hoping for slightly more than 350hp. And before anyone goes off on me about cams for the low deck Desoto, there are cam blanks to be found still, trust me. We've even machined down a SBC Mallory Tach Drive Dual-Point distributor to fit just like the original. Don't forget this engine was only 7.0/1 comp. stock. Throwing some comp. and carbs to one of these really wakes them up. Check out Nitro Geezers website to see what some oldtimers have to say about these Desoto engines. Steven
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