has/ does anyone run a chrysler 318 polysphere engine?

While perusing my local Pick 'n Pull, I was checking out an old dodge truck with one of the 318 A polysphere engines in it. I took the valve covers off for a $0.25 inspection and things looked pretty clean inside.

If I'm not mistaken, Weren't these engines semi-hemi combustion chambers? What's the power, reliability, and parts availability like. It definitely is a different powerplant.
Thanks

 

yep good motor,

have to resize some photos will post them,

 

This bucket belongs to Flatoz's (HAMB member) dad. I'm sure he'll be all over this post when he sees it.

 

photoshop isnt working try this link for a pic of an engine

some one else might be able to post it

http://community.webshots.com/photo/257211058/257239481kSRnvQ

 

trust a GAMB boy to jump in

 

that engine looks sweet as

 

Yep!

 

Alot of the lowerend shares parts with the LA 318, including crank, bearings, waterpump, timing cover and others. There are a bunch of 62-65 Mopar guys that get good power from them. Intakes can be found, but aftermarket valve covers will be big $$$.

 

Tex smith's hemi book (I seem to have a habit of mentioning his books) has a chapter on building the 318 poly, including upgrades using the LA 318 parts.

 

I have one sitting on a stand in the garage- I pulled it out of my '66 a few years ago. 160K miles, and it would still chirp the tires on a cold morning- in a 4200 pound car! They're known for being dead-reliable, and they have really thick cylinder walls, so they can take a serious overbore. They're also pretty heavy, as compared to the LA 318 that debuted in '67.

One of the Mopar mags ran a two-part series on building a stroker poly three or four years ago, and if you can find that article, there's a good supplier list in there. If you do pick up the engine, I have a pretty good folder of articles and notes, including the Direct Connection brochure for '65 that has all the factory speed parts, the original SAE paper that Chrysler wrote when the came out with the engine etc etc- I could make copies for you. Some speed parts are around, but you have to hunt a little. I think Weiand still make a 4V dual-plane (and I bought an old one at a swap meet for $100 a few years ago- they redesigned it sometime between the '70's and the one they sell now). Once in a while, the Edelbrock 3x2 manifold (P600, I think) shows up on E-bay. I 've got one, but pulled the engine before I got the carbs rebuilt for it.

 

There are 2x4 intakes out there too.

 

They are or were called a Semi-Hemi. They are very reliable motors and can be made to breath easily. Speed parts are a little difficult to come by. But there are sources of new speed parts for them.

In '58 Plymouth had a 2x4 mill (got one) that I know of for sure. So out there somewhere there is at least a 2x4 intake, and the stock came (hydraulic) for this particular mill is pretty healthy.

Probably if you called Isky or Erson or any of the older cam grinders you could find a cam, lifters and pushrods. The rockers (at least on the older ones) have the dimples in them so you can drill 'em for adjusters.

Biggest downside that I can see with 'em is that they use the same ****** as a baby hemi. So adapters are a must unless you have a stock hydro. The upside is if you can land a '57 Chrysler ****** it is basically the same as a 727 with an overdrive. Cheap and easy to build.

There is some info on them here. I haven't read it all but it does source modern speed aprts. Some can be obtained from MOPAR Performance.
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/poly318.html

 

Later model Poly 318's, used the more common 60's and 70's trannies. I know 64-66 models do.

 

That poly is an early poly, around '57 or older. The later 58 and newer had smaller scallops in the rocker covers, and the covers don't interchange, they changed the rail configuration on the heads.

 

what about adapting a manual ******?

 

I know of a source for real nice finned alloy rocker covers if anyone needs some.....

 

Hellfish,
I think they actually made the change in the block in '62 I always forget about that. There were several changes in the mill before going to the later model heads. When I was young the old guys always said that the Poly breathed better than the other small blocks. I never saw a flow bench comparison, but I new an old guy that pulled a 340 out of a dart he was raceing and replaced it with a beefed poly. He imporved his ET and trap speed.

 

bloke here is making finned valve covers that are very nice. can get a photo if you want.

 

Thats cool. Get a pic and a price.

 

there $325 aussie plus postage, will get photo later at work

 

Yup- my '66 had a 727 behind it, and i didn't have to change a thing when i swapped it in the LA- it's the exact same bolt pattern, dowel sizes, everything. If anybody needs it, I can dig up all the factory part numbers for the 2x4 setup for the linkages etc- just incase you stumble across it unmarked at a swap meet.

I'd be interested in those finned valve covers too- I'm ac***ulating parts for that engine in the garage so I can put it back together looking '60's vintage...

 

Mel runs a 326(basically an overbored 318) in her '59 Dodge.

 

Well, as you've learned by now, it isn't a bad engine.

The early Poly engines could be converted to Hemi engines by changing the pistons and the heads. The 318 Poly CAN NOT be converted to Hemi--different animal.

I've seen the factory 2x4 intakes--sometimes cheap, sometimes the guy thinks they're cast in solid 14 Karat. Check out the big Mopar-only shows for intakes: Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Chrysler's At Carlisle, and the Cl***ic Events shows (One in Columbus, and now he's got a bunch in other parts of the Country, too). In Cali, there's the Spring Fling.

Later ones will bolt to a later model transmission. Don't know when that change came about, but if it'll bolt to the 727 (or 904--don't know which, but one guy here said he did a 727) then you should be able to bolt a manual to it as well.

A company called Tube Technologies, Ind. makes headers for them. tti's stuff is AWESOME, so the headers will be good and will fit if you're putting it in a Mopar body. ttiexhaust.com I think.

The Mopar mag that did the story on them was Mopar Muscle. Don't know the year, but I remember seeing it on the news stand.

Weiand does still make the intake for them.

Neat engine--and not a belly****on!
-Brad

 

hope the hell this works, havent had much luck doing this of late...

 

call this poly ****...

 

$325 = about $255 US. That's pricey, but I'm still interested. How ugly do you think shipping will be?

 

can find out for you darby, will get the old man to weigh his pair and work it out, but at a guess 40-60 USD for airmail non priority which is 7-14 days.

 

I'm running the original one year only 326 poly in my '59 dodge. Here's a pic of mine before it went back in the car. It's basically an overbored 318. They'll take quite a beating... seem to run forever and gas milage is pretty decent.

I've got a cast iron torqueflight ******... that thing is nearly indestructable. It's a screwy one year only ****** too... I think it's a 426. There's also a 727 and 904 that's a direct bolt up. I'm not certain on manual ******'s though.

There were A and LA 318's. The A was introduced from '55-66 for plymouth, and '58-66 for dodge. The LA was first introduced in 1964 as the 273, and was produced parallel to the 318 A poly through '66. In '67, all 318 and other small block motors became LA types.

If you do get it, pick up the "Chyrsler Poly Performance" book by Victory Library.... it'll tell you everything you need to know. Even lists the speed equipment available.

~Melissa

 

I've been helping a mate build one for he's 63 phoenix. He's got an Offy tri cab manifold, and a lot of other good stuff for the build, the old one went hard, this new one should scream.

I didn't now that bucket was youir old mans Corey, I dig that thing!

Cheers, Jimbob

 

yep that is the old farts, virtually un touched since the early 60's.
well he did put a new radiator hose on in last year

he was grumblin to, reckon 40+ years out of a hose aint too bad. tight *******