Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: wayfarer]
#2724545
12/16/19 04:50 PM
12/16/19 04:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 255 British Columbia, Canada
Old Ray
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 255
British Columbia, Canada
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Minor clarifications.. The first Plymouth only engine, the 'A' series, was 1956 at 277 cubic inch. The Dodge based Poly engines, 241 and 270 overlaped the A engine into 1956 in the Plymouth car line. The Chrysler 'Poly' engine was the Spitfire and was first used in the 1955 Windsor as a 301 ci. This is a poly head on a Hemi block. This is NOT the same as the Plymouth 301 which is an A engine. In 1956 the Spitfie used the 331 block and in '57 and '58 was a 354. The Dodge based Poly can be converted to Hemi. The Spitfire can be converted to Hemi. The Plymouth A series cannot be converted. Is there a LOGICAL explanation for why the engineers at the time (and latter) had such a proliferation of different unrelated engines ... other than LSD in the water cooler? For the average klutz (me) it is impossible with out a cheat sheet to keep this all straight`, ... it gives me a headache!
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: poorboy]
#2725162
12/18/19 04:43 PM
12/18/19 04:43 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,954 northwest USA
NANKET
master
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master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,954
northwest USA
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It is unreasonable to apply the ideological thoughts of today to the events, and the way companies did business 70 + years ago. We do not live in the same world they lived in then. We don't live in the same world that existed when the Mopars we so loved were rolling off the production line in the 1960s and the 1970s either. The fact is, most of the stuff that was common even in the early 2000s no longer exist today. Any 20 year span in history has a different life style and has more things different then it does have things that remain the same as the previous 20 year span. Gene And thinking backwards does not work. You have to start 10-12 years earlier and look forward. Then what happened over time seems to make better sense.
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: Sniper]
#2725228
12/18/19 10:08 PM
12/18/19 10:08 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,892 South Bend
John Brown
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,892
South Bend
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Engineering? Probably not. More like a marketing decision when you wouldn't dare sell a top of the line Chrysler with the same engine as a lowly Plymouth.
Even GM and Ford had totally different engines for their various makes. Keeping up with the joneses I suspect. GM started going wobbly in 1975 when they put Chevy engines in some Oldsmobiles without informing buyers. Ford started putting Lincoln 430's in T-birds (optionally) in 1959. They're all about as pure as New York snow.
July 19th should be "Drive Like Rockford Day". R.I.P. Jimmie.
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: poorboy]
#2732310
01/11/20 11:55 PM
01/11/20 11:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,521 Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,521
Minnesota
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Hey, all that Hemi coupe needs is another set of wide slots and tires on the front like what are on the rear, then get rid of that design on the door and put a number there. You will have what most of the dirt track coupes looked like when I was a kid. Gene I agree, ditch the graphics.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: IcorkSOAK]
#2732593
01/12/20 10:29 PM
01/12/20 10:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,840 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,840
Freeport IL USA
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EZier said than done !! My concerns is the damn 4 link with steel bushings and a steep gear in it PLUS the lack of any type of interior ... and other things ... like nothing as far a gauges but oil pressure and of course no AC or cruise .... I don't see anything here that can't be changed or added. Certainly a Hemi in that light body can afford to a give up a little power to run an AC unit that can be bought through several aftermarket sources. The steel bushings in the 4 link can be changed to rubber bushings and the rear gear is just a gear swap, or a different rear end swap. Aftermarket gauges are easy, and the interior will depend on how fancy you think you need it. I use a lot of junk yard seats, they can be bought pretty cheap, and a wrecked late model mini van has some nice seats that are comfortable and will fit in that car easily. Seats, interior,(junk yard) insulation ($300-400), rear end with good gears (used), rubber bushings for the 4 link, a good set of American made gauges www.speedhut.com), a cruise control can be added (for around $350), and an aftermarket Ac unit (can probably easily get done for somewhere around $1500 complete)for around $3,500 total without cutting many corners, and being watchful can probably be done for $2000 or less. Of course if you need someone to do it all for you, it could cost over $10,000. All that would be figured into what your paying for the car. A driveable Hemi coupe should be worth $15,000-$20,000 as this one sits if it has a decent body and isn't cobbled up. I doubt it could be built for less then that. Hopefully your looking at this with reasonable expectations. Gene
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: IcorkSOAK]
#2732804
01/13/20 09:11 PM
01/13/20 09:11 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,840 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,840
Freeport IL USA
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Ain't no richy rich here, just someone trying to keep up with the times. It doesn't take long to add up a pile of money in Hot Rods these days. I have a 90s Dakota here, just replacing all the brake stuff with factory style replacement parts added up to nearly $1200 in parts alone last summer, I was shocked! The price tag on a rebuilt 50s Hemi is real near $10,000, and that doesn't even start on the car.
I haven't messed with 4 links for several years. There used to be rubber bushings available, but who knows these days. I suspect a google search would show if some were available, if a guy were interested. I'm not. The hard ride with the 4 link probably isn't because of the poly bushings, its probably because of the coil over springs with too much spring jacked into them. I wouldn't expect a soft ride, but a guy should be able to make it tolerable.
Sure wouldn't be hard to put a pair of leaf springs under the car. I'd probably look for a new matched pair with the appropriate spring rate for the car, which is probably pretty light. Then just add the brackets where you need them, lots more options then. That might be cheaper then finding rubber bushings for the 4 link. Gene
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Re: How to make a early Hemi a good cruiser ?
[Re: IcorkSOAK]
#2732846
01/13/20 11:25 PM
01/13/20 11:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,521 Minnesota
Hemi_Joel
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,521
Minnesota
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My thirtyone Plymouth coupe hot rod has a 4-link with solid spherical rod ends. No rubber, no poly. I think it rides fine. I did experiment with different rate springs in the coilovers to get it right.
[img]http://i.imgur.com/boeexFms.jpg[/img]31 Plymouth Coupe, 392 Hemi, T56 magnum RS23J71 RS27J77 RP23J71 RO23J71 WM21J8A I don't regret the things I've done. I only regret the things I didn't do. "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. ~ Plato"
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