51 Plymouth Update

[Young Ed]

Those are the ones I like too. The 270 had plain valve covers with just a super red ram decal. The 270 non hemi was a red ram too. I really should buy the best one of the 2-3 that are sitting in cars at the junkyard.

[Normspeed]

Call me crazy, but I think it would be fun to get a couple of the decal type hemi valve covers, cut and weld them up so you have one with 6 plug holes, then cobble it up to fit on top of a flathead six, for looks.

[Young Ed]

I bet you could do a similar conversion just using a pair of cheapie smb covers. Might need 4 of them. Maybe a big block chevy pair would work better. Your idea sounds like it would be cool looking.

[kevinanderson]

YOu should come to Nebraska, Evan. If you don't want one of the flats I have, I have a low mileage baby hemi setting in a '54 Dodge light truck. Come and enjoy some of this damp cold weather!

[fadingfastsd]

YOu should come to Nebraska, Evan. If you don't want one of the flats I have, I have a low mileage baby hemi setting in a '54 Dodge light truck. Come and enjoy some of this damp cold weather!

Thanks again for the offer Kevin. If I wasn't enjoying this 70degree sunshine here in San Diego, I'd head right over!

Any chance you're interested in shipping that baby hemi?

We could work out a price including me throwing in alot of flathead parts!

[hkestes41]

Ed, were you going stock or souped up? I think the add-ons (cam, trick pistons, headers, hi performance intake and carbs etc) would add a whole lot to the basic rebuild cost, and from what I've seen the SBC stuff in those areas is a lot more available and less pricey.

Yeah, but it is still just SBC "stuff", couldn't hold a candle to a Hemi baby or otherwise once the hood is popped.

[old woolie]

Yeah, but it is still just SBC "stuff", couldn't hold a candle to a Hemi baby or otherwise once the hood is popped.

And that is the truth right there.

[Normspeed]

I couldn't agree more. It's sort of ironic that Chevy invented the best all around hop it and swap it motor ever, and it's so popular that it creates yawns when the hood is opened:D

There are even camo SBC valve covers that look like Rocket 88 stuff.

The little hemis are more pricey to build up, way heavier, and probably have less affordable and available accessories but they are in a class of their own.

[Scott1953]

I just happened upon a 1955 241 poly motor. it's the one that will convert to a hemi. Very cool looking engine. those scalloped valve covers remind me a little of a 348 or 409 chevy. Only cooler. Open runner intake with valley pan looks cool too.

Anyway, I know it's a long way away but let me know if you would be interested. According to the guy selling it, it ran when pulled, but you know how that goes. It probably needs, at the very least, a thorough going over if not a complete rebuild. I'm going to send pics to another member tomorrow and he's going to link to them in a post over on the pilot house forum where I was asking what it was.

Scott

[dezeldoc]

Heck if ya want a polly motor let me know I think my buddy has about 4 or 5 of them.

[fadingfastsd]

Sorry if this is a stupid question...but what is a poly motor?

[hkestes41]

Sorry if this is a stupid question...but what is a poly motor?

Evan,

Check out this link for an article on the polys

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0805sr_vintage_engines/index1.html

[wayfarer]

The streetrodder article may have some good info, but, it starts off by reversing the photos of the Hemi & Poly pistons...gotta wonder what else they screwed up.

Quality Engineered Components is also a good source for parts and info as well as complete turnkey engines. We have been in the Hemi business since the early 80's. Call on my dime; 1-888-Hemi-Parts.

.

[hkestes41]

I just noticed that the link to the Street Rodder article that i posted started on page 2 instead of page one.

Here is the correct link.

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0805sr_vintage_engines/index.html

[Normspeed]

Good to know your shop is out there Wayfarer. Was I off target when I was going on about the cost of building early hemis vs SBC motors?

[fadingfastsd]

hkestes, thanks for the link.

That was a good informative article.

I'd love to find one of those, would be an awesome engine!

But my main concern is parts, price, and reliability. I intend to drive the hell out of the car once I get a new engine/trans in it, and I need something long term and reliable, with easily available parts.

That kind of makes a rare engine a poor choice for my situation doesnt it?

[dezeldoc]

By the discription of what you want to do with it, run a 318/904 (overdrive) and that will get you the best all around combo with parts avalible at most all parts houses, and the best fuel milage. If you go with a 360 they have plenty of HP but drink the fuel.

[tinlizzy]

Sorry to hear of the flatie demise. I am still looking for a replacement for my 1948 truck.

You guys talk about swapping in a poly engine. Will it fit? I noticed the oil pan has a mid sump. My flat head has front sump. Wouldn't the pan hit the tie rod or axle? If you have to move it forward or back toward the cab will you have to modify something to get pan clearence? Here on the east coast I think every old junkyard is gone. Not much in the way of parts that I have been able to locate.

Well good luck with your plans and if you do put in a V8 keep us informed.

Lee

[Don Coatney]

I noticed the oil pan has a mid sump. My flat head has front sump. Wouldn't the pan hit the tie rod or axle? If you have to move it forward or back toward the cab will you have to modify something to get pan clearence?

I had to modify the oil pan on my Desoto engine to make it work in my P-15.

[Frank Elder]

MT Carmel, Tennessee is on the east coast...LOL..

If you live east coast, shel bizzy, greg's posts should have yard info. Lets not forget joe & rodney they always seem to find some jewels.

[hkestes41]

Found a website for a guy who put a small block Mopar in his 50 Dodge and it has pages copied from an old Rod Action magazine with a lot of good info.

Here is a link.

http://shadowmtkustomz.blogspot.com/

[dezeldoc]

Whats the big deal about putting in a small block ? Yank out the old motor and trans, slide the sb in the hole and and start measuring, mounting and driving. heck if ya got any mech experiance you should be able to do it in a few weekends.

[Andydodge]

I have had a 318 Poly V8 in my 1940 Dodge since 1973, to be honest I wouldn't use a poly again unless I had a specific reason, as whilst they are an o/k engine parts are getting hard to find, hop up stuff more so, and a late 318/340/360 is a physically smaller and therefore easier fit, same goes for an early Hemi......I'd be a happy a a pig in sh-t to have an early hemi but again, parts etc can be/are expensive and unless you specifically want the early Hemi then I'd go with something more user friendly.......as an aside my 318 Poly installation required the sump be reversed & modified and complete stock steering replacement with a rack & pinion.......if I'd been a little bit smarter back in 73 by using a LA 318 then installation would have been much easier........then I was uncool to use a poly........now my poly is newly cool........go figure........lol........andyd

[fadingfastsd]

Andy thats exactly what I'm thinking with my car. I'm just a little hesitant to put a 'rare' engine in a car thats gonna see alot of miles!

[wayfarer]

Good to know your shop is out there Wayfarer. Was I off target when I was going on about the cost of building early hemis vs SBC motors?

Norm, sorry for the delay...unfortunately, the Hemi engine, regardless of which one, can get real expensive. The parts prices have gone up considerably since they got 'popular' about 10 years ago. I think that it has something to do with too many vendors all trying to make an increasingly larger margin. We recently finished a 241 for a customer and the final bill was right at $6k. Granted, this engine needed everything, but still, six big ones.

I think that, with selective parts sourcing and alot of good karma, it might be possible to do one in the $4k range, but it all comes down the parts replacement list.

I always tell prospective customers to have a long serious talk with their bank account.

With all of that being said, there still is nothing else with the 'cool' factor of a Hemi engine when you open the hood. If anyone has questions just send a note and I'll try to help out.

Gary