Hemi 270 cid... COOL or CRAP??

I found a 1955 Dodge Super Red Ram 270 Hemi 183 or 193 hp.

You might have seen my post a couple days ago I found the specs on several web sites thanks to some of my fellow HAMBers. One person mentioned that it was a piece of junk (with a few choice words) and he also stated that no all Hemis were good. My brother, who has way more experience on this subject than I do, also said a few negative words about it as well.
I was gonna go with a '60s era 327 sbc and eartly finned 'vette valve covers for a little bit of a nostalgic look. I'm not really gonna race or any thing I just want something I can drive to work daily and even take my son to a local show in. Now don't get me wrong I don't want a wussy car or any thing. I want to be able to respond if one of these rice rocket euro ****s pulls up next to me and revs his "engine next to me. I'm building a 1931 Model A Fordor with no fenders.
Can anyone shed some light on this motor? I am trying to decide 327 SBC or 270 Hemi. I'm thinking about dependability, parts availiability, and a long term commitment.
The 327 is bored 60 over with a mild cam...I don't know what the Hemi has just that the owner said it needs to be re-worked.
Depending on your advice I will trade a '85 vette front clip for it that I was saving for an old F-1 project I've got my eyes on.

Thaks in advance

 

Have you seen a HEMI head of the block? It`s a near perfect design.
But stock the 270 isn`t much. It`s got 7.5 CR, a small cam tiny two barrel carb, heavy restrictive exhaust manifolds.

Correct these problems and get the **** outta the way!!!

 

If that 327 is already 0.060 over, fergit it. It's not gonna go anymore if it needs a bore job.
The Hemi may be just as bad but it has a visual coolness factor the chevy can't match. Parts are expensive for the Hemi but you can get many years cruising from one. The Hemi will be prolly 150 LBS heavier that the chevy so ya need to make sure you have a beefy front suspension. Transmission adapters are available for the little hemi but they're expensive too.
Don't forget to add an extra margin of error into your brakes for the added weight of the Hemi. I'm running a 331 Chrysler hemi and just dropped some cash today for finned buick front brakes... The chevy is definetly the cheapest way out but not a 0,060 over engine.

 

Im a Hemi fan, so I wont even get on the sbc subject.But I will tell ya about a front engined dragster I saw at the Goodguys nostalgia drags this summer.The Guy was from Portland.His car was a real short FED that He has raced since 1969.He is in his 70s now and His Son was doin the driving. It was powered by a bored out 270 Dodge Red Ram.I think He said it was like 308 cu in.This car ran 7.54 on a 7.50 index and 196 MPH!!!I **** MYSELF!!! I couldnt believe what I saw.Then He came back and did it again. 7.55 @ 197. This motor was hilborn injected running 90 some percent nitro.I NEVER thought a Red Ram could possibly do that.So what im sayin is they must be pretty sturdy not to explode under those cir***stances.I saw him pull the valve covers and another shock.STOCK ROCKERS AND STANDS!!So Im sure a guy could make one spank a average hp sbc.And as posted above last a long time. Yes it will cost BUT COOL AINT CHEAP -------FEDER

 

So how can I incerase the "CR" on a HEMI head...Are 4bbl intakes and larger cams and what about headers readily avaliable? Rocky stated earlier that parts can be pricey. How expensive are we talking? I've never worked on one. But man I really think they really look cool.

 

Hey Brush I see you are preju*&^ whatever how good does your 270 run? any pics? what do you have it in?

 

I've got the same motor for my next project.I been seeing alot more of them now but there are still cooler then a sbc.If horsepower and money play a big part in what you doing build the chevy. Still noting looks better then the big HEMI valve covers.

 

Brush where did you find the headers for your A

 

Saaaweeet!!!So where do you get all these aftermarket parts?

So I guess the 270 is not really a piece of ****...I think i'm gonna trade I just hope this guy doesn,t wuus out of the deal....

 

Expect to pay at least 3 times what it'd cost to rebuild that SBC. But you'd have 100 times the coolness. Be advised that there isn't much interchange between the Dodge, Chry, and Desoto hemis. Even the years can make a difference. You'll have better luck finding parts for that Red Ram than I have for my '55 Desoto, but not as easy as a Chry. At least you can still buy new intakes for the Red Ram. I don't know what Corvette front clips are worth, but in my opinion, $750 might be a tad high for a Dodge. Good price for a Chry, but kinda high for a Dodge or Desoto. I paid $500 for the complete car mine came out of and it even had one of those pricy grilles in it that I used to recoup my costs.

 

The coolness does seem to cancel out the cost... at least according to these pics....Thanks guys

 

Terrible motor. If you pay the shipping I'll take it off your hands and add it to my boat anchor collection. Please?