Find A Classic Car
Thousands of listings here >>
sell your classic car
FREE to list - Online until sold

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Apply for Membership

Categories

In this Discussion

Baby Hemi for Pace Coupe?
  • jsrail
    Posts: 1,534Platinum Member
    I have a chance at a '55 Dodge 270 Hemi 4bbl. Yes, its not a 354 or 392, but I think would still have some Wow factor. Any thoughts, and no , I'm not going to put any flathead boat anchors in it! :-)

    Jay
  • rambos_riderambos_ride
    Posts: 3,123Platinum Member
    jsrail wrote:
    I have a chance at a '55 Dodge 270 Hemi 4bbl. Yes, its not a 354 or 392, but I think would still have some Wow factor. Any thoughts, and no , I'm not going to put any flathead boat anchors in it! :-)

    Jay

    D553-1001 1955 270 183 hp
    D553-1001 1955 270 193 hp (w/Power Pak)

    Anything period correct is going to be cool in a hot-rod - Is that going to be enough HP for you?

    Maybe a supercharger or turbo would get that up a bit?
  • Hudson308Hudson308
    Posts: 1,405Platinum Member
    There's just something about those plug wires sprouting from the valve covers that will always get a motorhead's heart thumping. Dropping an early elephant (even a baby Red Ram) in a Hudson would marry the two pinnacles of 50's American automobile know how, IMHO. Hudson handling with Hemi horsepower. People have long forgotten that it took Chrysler dropping in a motor with half-again the power of a Hornet to finally knock Hudson off the top of the stock car heap in '55.

    Hurst made some Hemi swap motor mounts that will drop them into a stepdown after relocating the stock Hudson frame pads. Reproductions are currently listed on eBay, if you're interested.

    There was a running 354 Desoto hemi for sale for $450.00 in last months' "Line Chaser", the monthly publication for the Minnesota Street Rod Association.
    Workin Stiff
  • mrsbojiggermrsbojigger
    Posts: 586Platinum Member
    Sounds cool Dude!
    Peace,
    Chaz
    www.themodernartist.com
  • BrowniepetersenBrowniepetersen
    Posts: 2,417Platinum Member
    Not that is is germain to this discussion, but I remember 1/4 mile racing with those early small block Hemi's in the late 50's and early 60's. We did ok in the 1/4 mile west of Salt Lake.....
    Brownie
  • 7XPacemaker
    Posts: 332Platinum Member
    Not to mention- the Desoto Hemi has a smaller footprint than a Dodge Hemi....
  • DaveFuryDaveFury
    Posts: 642Platinum Member
    Jay,



    Technically, a Hudson is kind of a Mopar by association: Hudson/Nash merger becomes AMC, Mopar buys AMC/Jeep. LOL! I say go for it. Those Hemis look soooo cool!
    Dave W.

    What's life without a Hudson?
  • Hudson308Hudson308
    Posts: 1,405Platinum Member
    DaveFury wrote:
    Jay,



    Technically, a Hudson is kind of a Mopar by association: Hudson/Nash merger becomes AMC, Mopar buys AMC/Jeep. LOL! I say go for it. Those Hemis look soooo cool!



    Yeah, what he said. :D



    That little 270 will drop right into a stepdown engine bay... even the short wheelbase models. It’s physically smaller than the Desoto or Chrysler hemis, yet the motor mounts, flywheels, transmissions, even the starters interchange. That’s good news, since alot more aftermarket mounts and adapters are listed for the Chrysler.

    I'm glad the engine you’re contemplating already has a 4-bbl intake manifold, as your choices for aftermarket examples are pretty slim. Vintage Speed Equipment (www.vintagespeed.com) lists a dual 2-bbl intake for the “short deck” Dodge 241 & 270, along with a four-deuce setup for the tall deck (315 &325) Dodge hemi.

    The late Hot Rod magazine tech editor Ray Brock built a 331 Chrysler-powered ’50 Pacemaker Brougham in 1952, then detailed his efforts in the November ’56 issue of Car Craft. He adapted the stock 3-speed overdrive transmission to the rear of the extended-bellhousing block using a variety of parts and some clever machining. About the only major issues he noted in that Car Craft article were 1) he had to “clearance” the oil pan sump to clear the tie rods when the wheels were turned, 2) he had to use a remote oil filter, 3) he had to move the wiper motor 6” to the right for carb clearance, and 4) he had to form his own center floor section from fiberglass. I’ve scanned the article into .pdf files (doesn't look like I can post those here) and can email the images to you if you’re interested.
    Workin Stiff
  • Turbopackman
    Posts: 177Gold Member
    You might be able to get around the remote oil filter by using a 90 degree oil filter adapter, used on some Dodge vans. I think I have one some where.



    FWIW, back in the day I had a '53 Hornet coupe that I was putting a Desoto Hemi in. The longer wheelbase allowed the engine to go back far enough to clear the steering, and the mounts were easy to fabricate. I had it all worked out and started doing bodywork (making it into a convertible, since the roof was smashed) when my dad decided that it, my '53 Hornet 4dr parts car, and my '50 Pacemaker coupe made the yard look "crowded". I felt like Arnie from Christine when he hauled all of them to the crusher. I was only 18 at the time, and couldn't argue with him about it. I still miss those cars, but I kept the Hemi!
  • Turbopackman
    Posts: 177Gold Member
    One more thing, the only Hemi to have the extended bellhousing to my knowledge was the Chrysler, when the Dodge came out in '53 and Desoto came out in '52 they didn't have the extension on the rear like the Chrysler does. At least that's the way it's been for all the one's I've seen. The extension was only there for Chrysler's Fluid Drive. FWIW, I still have a flatback Fluid Drive Hemi V8 bellhousing that came off of a '52 Desoto.
  • Hudson308Hudson308
    Posts: 1,405Platinum Member
    Turbopackman wrote:
    One more thing, the only Hemi to have the extended bellhousing to my knowledge was the Chrysler, when the Dodge came out in '53 and Desoto came out in '52 they didn't have the extension on the rear like the Chrysler does. At least that's the way it's been for all the one's I've seen. The extension was only there for Chrysler's Fluid Drive. FWIW, I still have a flatback Fluid Drive Hemi V8 bellhousing that came off of a '52 Desoto.



    Yep, the '51-53 Chrysler hemis were the only ones to have that extended block at the rear. The Desoto hemis ('52-'57) and Dodge hemis ('53-'57) never used it.
    Workin Stiff
  • Turbopackman
    Posts: 177Gold Member
    Hudson308 wrote:
    Yep, the '51-53 Chrysler hemis were the only ones to have that extended block at the rear. The Desoto hemis ('52-'57) and Dodge hemis ('53-'57) never used it.



    Thought so.
  • RL ChiltonRL Chilton
    Posts: 3,458Platinum Member
    Go for it Jay! Those little Hemi's are pretty cool engines and if you're looking for power, you can pretty easily get more than the 193 or so stock figures.

    Somebody said in an earlier post, that anything vintage goes well in vintage, or along those lines. I couldn't agree more. Now if you said you were thinking about putting in a Chevy 350 . . . . well, we might have to have a serious talk, or attitude adjustment, or Something.:D
    Russell

    http://www.52hornetvert.blogspot.com
  • jsrail
    Posts: 1,534Platinum Member
    Well, I made an offer but haven't heard back yet. Remember, I have a Fatman stub and rack and pinion going in so I think some of the issues will be mute. But, I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch!lol
Add a Comment
ClassicCar

Thousands of Classic Cars for Sale - Free to List.

Since 1996 we're been the place to go to for all things Classic Car. Classifieds, news, events, community and so much more. No clutter. No hassles. Just Classic Cars.

We'd love to hear from you! info@classiccar.com

Copyright 2011-2013 Classic Car
All rights reserved.

We accept no responsibility for inaccuracies. All trademarks acknowledged.