Polyspheric Hemi???

Anyone ever built a polyspheric hemi? I heard that they use the same block and crank as the regular hemis. They were only made from 55'-58' so are they pretty rare? Can you get parts for them? I found one laying in the back of a 41' Ford pickup. I like how unique it is and wonder if it is worth the dough to rebuild it.

 

HRCC in addison built a car with one. and they are just "polys" not poly hemis. they arent that rare, and i also heard that the heads ect are innerchangeable(but only 277 with 277 ect) there really make and year specific which is kindof a pain, lots of changes between only a few years. ive had one and i know where there is one for sale right now. the dodge ones were called "red rams" and the hemis were called "super red rams".

 

How much are they asking for it? What kind of power can you get out of them?

 

$200 with trans, last i checked

and horse was like 287 to 310 i believe, depends on what you got.



heres the one at the junk yard.

 

That is a Plymouth Poly A. You can not make an "A" into a Hemi. And unless you have an early Hemi with a bad block and a good matching poly block why would you even bother. There are too many differences to make it finanically logical.

 

no clue about the power. i traded a chainsaw for a 59 PU with one and the valve cover sticker claims 205HP... it's goin in a T roadster... cool motors and a little different. from what i've learned, the motor is basically the same as a 318 LA motor except for the heads.
heres a link with some info and a shot of mine awaiting installation.
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/poly318_1.html
i do know they're not givin away speed parts for these things! had 1 guy hit me up with a dual quad intake wanted over 4 bills for it...

 

FWIW, we have a big mud truck someone built on a military-looking ch***is. The motor looks like a Dodge Hemi, but the block number/code comes up as '55 Plymouth.

Some convert over to Hemi easier than others, apparently.

How rare is a Poly? I'd say I've seen 20 of them for every one Hemi I've seen. Maybe more. Every Plymouth had one, as did the cheaper Dodges and Chryslers.

 

Why don't you come see us at the Polyspherical Engine ***ociation:

http://www.geocities.com/polyman64

There's links at the top of the page to the 318 Poly Yahoo Group (the 318 isn't the only poly we're into, LOL!) http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/318poly/

And there's also a link to the Poly Forum:
http://www.diamondbackengines.com/forums/index.php/board,6.0.html

We mostly lurk at the forum, and hang out in the Yahoo Group.

The Polyspherical Engine ***ociation has a business directory to find parts, and you can find them here as well: http://www.hothemiheads.com/

Hit up panic, here on the HAMB. He has tone os info, and even sells a booklet via eBay about 'em.

Join the Yahoo group. We'll set ya straight.

~Jason

 

For you Mopar Poly newbies...the top engine is a hemi based Poly. How you tell is it has a valley cover & seperate intake. The bottom engine is an A Poly, has a modern intake like the LA 318. The hemi based Polys can be converted to hemi by changing complete head ***emblies & pistons. The A Poly can't be converted. There should be a code @ the front of the vally cover on the top engine. Post it & we can tell you what it is.

 

Where did it come from if it says "SpitFire" on the valve covers?

 

i got rid of the top one. it was a 56 dodge 277.

 

chrysler

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/poly-graphics.htm

 

they are pretty sweet lookin' engines (the hemi based)...had one in my 56 Lancer. ran like a top, sounded great. i loved it. i was about to get a complete tri carbed setup for it from guy...but i ended up selling the car to pay for school. wish i still had that one.

not real cheap to reubuild, but if a guy has the money to do...i'd say go for it. at least its not another sbc. just my thoughts.

-ncg

 

polys have been over looked for years,,never seen one with a head off,,but they seem to make more power then a normal wedge of the same size,,had a 318 poly that ran like mad,,

 

panic, the HAMBer I mentioned earlier, IS Victory Library.

That's his site.

~Jason

 

Preachin' to the choir, brother!

Embarr***ingly, I have a poly collection. LOL!

~Jason

 

They have hemi-like torque due to their huge hemi rotating m***. Interesting valve covers to look at, very few recognize them.

It'd be powerful for sure, but think the polys are heavy like the early hemis. The weight alone might make me keep shopping if it's for a T roadster. Good luck either way

 

The 318 isn't really that much heavier - the block is damn near the same as an LA motor... but those heads, awesome though they are, are about the only weight difference.

The rotating ***embly inside the late Poly (318) is identical to an LA motor.

~Jason

 

The 318 is an A motor, which the LA 273 and later 318, 340 and 360 were based on. It is quite a bit heavier than the LA's (thicker block, heavy large heads - the intake on one of these babies is about 80 lbs!)

They do torque like a much larger motor though and those valve covers look cool chromed!

If nothing else they have a nice steel crank that will fit a 273-318-340

 

and who could forget this car.... *drool* my favorite kustom ever!

 

there is also a group of guys in sweden or finland building performance parts for theses engines,,so many went to the crusher,,over looked for years,,

 

damn man what junk yards are yall going to? i need to find some places with stuff like that

 

yeah i found some cool stuff, i posted it on here, and im pretty sure the cheaters cc cleared the place out like the next week lol! but they didnt find my hidden 37 front end heh heh heh

 

I've been working on one like this - I have the valve covers & intake, and have been working on using Stromberg WWs for the carbs...

But the proximity of my front carb's float bowl to that upper radiator hose really freaks me out! That's been one of my obstacles. Looks like it doesn't even matter to this guy with that coiled metal shield over it...

Dude, you just made my day! I may have just worked out something in my head!

~Jason

 

haha, uhmm ok!!!=) go... do... what yer gonna do?!?!!! lol

 

WHERE?

Hook a brother UP!!!!!!!!

Do you have any info on them at all?

~Jason

 

oh, wait you want one?? its in franklin WI come get it. ill help you pull it. its still in the 56? plymouth belvedere

 

Me? Trust me, I have plenty!

I'm just trying to keep tabs on some poly performance parts so I can add to the list here: http://www.geocities.com/polyman64/directory.html

Or maybe score some. ;D

~Jason

 

oh lol, no speed parts, i already got all the good stuff.... sold it all though... =/

 

LOL!

I use it!

~Jason