I have an adapter shown here in the photos Plus the letter that was included when I bought it It shows all the motors the seller said it would fit I was under the impression that most of the hemis of the day all had the same bolt pattern AM I ALL WET ???? Do you think this adapter would fit a DeSoto Hemi....or if not, is there a way to make it fit ??? Sure could use some help here...I know there are HAMBERS that know a whole bunch more then I do.... Speak Up...Help an Old Guy Out THANKS
It should fit the Desoto V8, ***uming the supplied mid-plate is correct. '51 thru '53 Chrysler V8s had the extended bellhousing that were problematic in adapting other transmissions. However, with the introduction of the Desoto V8s for '52 models, and the introduction of the Dodge V8s for '53 models, the blocks did not have the extended bellhousing used on the Chryslers. Generally, '54 Chrysler V8s got the 'short' block design already being used by Desoto and Dodge, so all had a common block bolt pattern thereafter thru '62, I believe. Ray
Sure looks like it would fit a DeSoto. Some adapters need that stock mid plate. Some don't. You will find out which you have shortly.
Rich, I am pretty sure the OP's adapter needs the mid-plate because the adapter does not have provision for the block locating dowel pins and adjacent bolts. Ray
The midplate also locates the starter. I'm not sure what my stock stick setup for my 56 Desoto Hemi has.
Not sure, but I think we are on the same page here. The "mid-plate" (a stock Mopar piece used with automatic trans models) that flat piece with the upside down "U" cutout, DOES indeed have the dowel and bolt holes and I was remarking that it is needed with the bellhousing to be utilized on a Mopar block. Stock Mopar manual trans models through at least '56 used a cast iron bellhousing that kind of "wrapped around" the back of the flywheel and had the dowel and bolt holes in it. Also, the starter bolted directly to the front face of the bellhousing. As mentioned directly above, only the automatic models used that aluminum intermediate plate. However, several adapter companies incorporated the mid-plate to simplify the bellhousing casting required for different transmission applications. With the stock cast iron bellhousing, and a locked up engine, it gets real interesting trying to dis***emble those puppies. You can't get all the flywheel bolts (nuts, actually) undone unless you remove the bellhousing...and you can't (easily) remove the bellhousing because of those two bolts behind the flywheel... I HAVE managed it, but it is .....uuhhh.....'labor intensive' Ray
You use the term "mid-plate" for which I call an adapter and the "adapter" you call is to me either a clutch cover or bellhousing
Okay...I think I 'fixed' it....I deleted the word 'adapter' where I used it in conjunction with 'bellhousing'. But just because I am in a waiting room at the moment and have spare time, I will explain my use of terms for the parts in this particular thread. I use the term 'mid plate' because in its original Mopar application, it is used mid way between the block and transmission converter housing. It does not 'adapt' the stock Mopar housing to the block in that both use most of the same bolt holes in the block for attachment. The same is true when using the OP's aftermarket bellhousing, they both use the original Mopar perimeter bolt holes, but in this case the bellhousing itself IS an adapter, in my opinion, because it 'adapts' a transmission not original to the engine. Now, some of the 'adapters' I have for these early Mopar engines use a plate similar to the factory 'mid plate', but in their case are more correctly called 'adapters' because the are drilled to bolt to the Mopar block, but have separate bolt holes to accommodate (adapt) a stock GM bellhousing, either stick or automatic. Phew! Ray
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