Pulled the trigger

[charlie8575]

It's a long, misery and nightmare-inducing story to recite, but I had a small collection of 1:1 cars that ended up being lost due to mishap. A couple of weeks ago, and with a decent temporary job with the Census (assuming this stupid virus doesn't kill that, too), I decided to get back to it, and placed a deposit for a 1955 Dodge Coronet.

This one is a 2-bbl. baby Hemi with a stick-overdrive. It needs quite a bit, but it'll be worth it when done. The plus is it appears to be complete except for the air cleaner, and maybe one of the wheel-covers, and even has replacement panels for the rockers and part of the floor. The colors are Jewell Black on the roof, Parisian White for the pillars and appears to be a saddle around the front, and Heather Rose on the lower. Screams '50s pretty well. I've located a fellow in Connecticut that can help with the welding/rust removal/prevention.

One nice thing about this new house....enough garage space to work on stuff.

I'm seriously toying with slowly converting over to 1950s-70s cars for daily transportation, perhaps with something a bit newer for the winter (I'm also seriously toying with starting to head south for the winter). That plan became accelerated when I took my dad's van over to the Chrysler dealer and found out a replacement radio if needed, is $2240, and the power windows now use a computer instead of a switch directly connected to the electric motor. ?

I've had enough of new cars.

In the meantime, is anyone here really familiar with the early Hemis? The seller says it runs (I wasn't able to run it, however), and I want to be able to be ready to discuss anything I need to intelligently with a mechanic or machine shop, if needed.

Charlie Larkin

[landman]

Nice buy. First thing, join the club, there will be a forum. Same as here, there will be knowledgeable people there. When I did my '34 Chevrolet, the forum members' help was invaluable. There is an octogenarian with something like 40 years in a dealership who spends his days answering questions, a real fountain of knowledge. Keepus posted. Happy restoring.

[StevenGuthmiller]

The engine actually appears to be the "Red Ram" 270 V-8 "Poly" head engine.

The "Super Red Ram" was the actual Hemi I believe.

 

 

 

Steve

[Snake45]

5 hours ago, charlie8575 said:

I'm seriously toying with slowly converting over to 1950s-70s cars for daily transportation,

When we get hit with that EMP, you'll still be able to get around. The rest of us will be walking. 

You, and the Amish, and Hank Williams Jr. will survive! 

[von Zipper]

That is not a Hemi 

As Steve mentioned , that is a 'Poly' engine ( Polyspherical head)

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, von Zipper said:

That is not a Hemi 

As Steve mentioned , that is a 'Poly' engine ( Polyspherical head)

Correct. 

The "poly" heads were a cost and complexity cutting measure applied to lower line cars from '55-'58.

The rocker covers on the actual "hemi" hemi look like this, lacking the scalloped lower edge...

Great little car anyway, well worth rescuing, and looks to be remarkably complete.

Any aspect of your restoration work you need competent professional advice concerning, don't hesitate to ask.

PM me if you'd like, and I'll give you my direct email.

Edited March 19, 2020 by Ace-Garageguy

[charlie8575]

2 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

The engine actually appears to be the "Red Ram" 270 V-8 "Poly" head engine.

The "Super Red Ram" was the actual Hemi I believe.

 

 

 

Steve

 

10 minutes ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Correct. 

The "poly" heads were a cost and complexity cutting measure applied to lower line cars from '55-'58.

The rocker covers on the actual "hemi" hemi look like this, lacking the scalloped lower edge...

Great little car anyway, well worth rescuing, and looks to be remarkably complete.

Any aspect of your restoration work you need competent professional advice concerning, don't hesitate to ask.

PM me if you'd like, and I'll give you my direct email.

Ah. That explains much. I thought the valve covers looks a bit different from the Hemi, and now I know why. I thought the Poly-head was only in Plymouths and Canadian cars. Sort of makes sense a Coronet would've had them, too.

So, if I understand this correctly, this is in fact the same engine as the wide-block 318? Cool, now I have one I can measure and perhaps master a resin kit for so we can build grocery getters with something besides a Slant Six or Flathead.

Bill, thanks for the offer. I'll be sending along notes.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

4 hours ago, landman said:

Nice buy. First thing, join the club, there will be a forum. Same as here, there will be knowledgeable people there. When I did my '34 Chevrolet, the forum members' help was invaluable. There is an octogenarian with something like 40 years in a dealership who spends his days answering questions, a real fountain of knowledge. Keepus posted. Happy restoring.

I'll be joining the WPC Club as soon as it's in my garage.

The New England Region seems to be very quiet, however, with gatherings and events, but I'll take whatever assistance from wherever it comes from I can.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

2 hours ago, Snake45 said:

When we get hit with that EMP, you'll still be able to get around. The rest of us will be walking. 

You, and the Amish, and Hank Williams Jr. will survive! 

I'm not as dumb as I look or most people think....

Charlie Larkin

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 minute ago, charlie8575 said:

... Cool, now I have one I can measure and perhaps master a resin kit for so we can build grocery getters with something besides a Slant Six or Flathead.

There is a guy on the board who's done 3D renderings of a poly engine.

I don't recall whether he's printed any yet, but his other work looks very good. I'll try to remember his user name. He's posted a lot of good info regarding 3D printing.

[afx]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

There is a guy on the board who's done 3D renderings of a poly engine.

I don't recall whether he's printed any yet, but his other work looks very good. I'll try to remember his user name. He's posted a lot of good info regarding 3D printing.

Maybe this?

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by afx

[1930fordpickup]

2 hours ago, charlie8575 said:

I'll be joining the WPC Club as soon as it's in my garage.

The New England Region seems to be very quiet, however, with gatherings and events, but I'll take whatever assistance from wherever it comes from I can.

Charlie Larkin

Find any you can online, asap Charlie. 

[espo]

Looks like a good find. As mentioned the condition is actually very good for its age and lack of covered storage. That engine with a rebuild should give you very good service. I think the best feature is the three speed and you mentioned the Overdrive. That transmission will prove to be the best part of your drive train with minimum maintains it should last for ever, in fact this one may need nothing more than a good cleaning and Seal changes and new oil. 

[StevenGuthmiller]

I believe the "poly" head engine is in correctness called a "polyspherical" design, or a "semi-hemi".

So you were not entirely incorrect in your assessment Charlie. 

 

 

 

Steve

[SfanGoch]

Would a Dodge Flathead Six be called Demi-Semi-Hemi?

[my66s55]

It's my poly A block 318. It is available in it's latest form for anyone wanting one. The A block was create for the 1956 Plymouth as a cost cutting measure and continued in production through, I believe, 1966. The 55 poly head engines were made in an attempt to serve the same purpose. Your engine is a hemi with poly designed heads. Dodge and and Plymouth used the hemi poly in 55-56. I am under the opinion that it was to provide Plymouth with a v8. The Dodge and Plymouth engines were the same, basically. And if memory serves me, Dodge and Desoto used it in 57 & 58. My avatar is my 3d 270 Dodge hemi.

[OldTrucker]

Here is the place to go for information on those cars!

 

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/category-view.asp

[OldTrucker]

If memory serves me correctly that engine (the semi-hemi) can be easily converted into a hemi. (used the same block)

That isn't the same as a 318 poly though. There are differences.

 

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

Would a Dodge Flathead Six be called Demi-Semi-Hemi?

Oooo......that's a mouthful!

 

 

 

 

Steve

[stavanzer]

Good Luck, Charlie. Nice Find.

[ChrisBcritter]

Worth saving for the color combo alone! Dodge had some flashy tri-tone paint schemes back then. Good on you for rescuing it, Charlie!

[charlie8575]

7 hours ago, my66s55 said:

It's my poly A block 318. It is available in it's latest form for anyone wanting one. The A block was create for the 1956 Plymouth as a cost cutting measure and continued in production through, I believe, 1966. The 55 poly head engines were made in an attempt to serve the same purpose. Your engine is a hemi with poly designed heads. Dodge and and Plymouth used the hemi poly in 55-56. I am under the opinion that it was to provide Plymouth with a v8. The Dodge and Plymouth engines were the same, basically. And if memory serves me, Dodge and Desoto used it in 57 & 58. My avatar is my 3d 270 Dodge hemi.

I will probably be placing an order for one.

Charlie Larkin

[NYLIBUD]

Here’s an idea.Restore it,and turn it into a cool taxi.And transport people around who love vintage autos.Just a thought.

[charlie8575]

On 3/21/2020 at 6:01 PM, NYLIBUD said:

Here’s an idea.Restore it,and turn it into a cool taxi.And transport people around who love vintage autos.Just a thought.

It's actually going to be a stock restoration, including paint.

With that said, you've given me an idea...pitch it to Uber or Lyft as a specialized service. Insurance coverage, however, might be a challenge.

Charlie Larkin

[Erik Smith]

That’s a great looking old car. The chrome looks  like it’s amazingly preserved. I like what looks like the original upholstery pattern on the seats and door panel. 
Looks like an interesting place to visit as well. Looks like a 62 Chrysler 300 two doors down? And I see way back there my wife’s old four door Chevette!?