Found the Engine for my Hudson Coupe!

[Deleted User]

Well, spent a little coin this morning, and for that I'm going to have to kiss up to Mama real good for the next few weeks!

But, I have purchased the motor that will go into my '50 Pace Coupe. It's a.................................................................................................
...........1955 Chrysler 331, 300HP, Dual Quad intake. Well, what do nyou guys think? Looks like someone started on it, looks line bored and cylinder bored with that preserving stuff (cosmoline?) all over it. There is not a bit of rust on the block, heads, rockers, intake. The pistons look like they are aluminum, but it's almost all eaten up. Don't have much history on it, I will have to have it miced and such to make sure there are no cracks or other flaws. I will need a crank, but the heads are complete with valves and springs, will need pushrods though. It has the harmonic balancer with it.

I verified the block casting numbers, but haven't checked the heads yet top see if they are stock to the block.

They will just be stored for right now as I need to get our Dodge finished before I get started on the Coupe. I will probably mate a later model o/d/ auto tranny. But I will probably keep the dual quad carbs (need to get new carbs for it w/ adapters) and run off the rear one, with the front as a dumper.

I'm very excited about this find and especially all for $1,200. It is nice to see something nice happen to this family for once these past couple years! lol

Jay

Any thoughts guys?

Unknown

It is nice to see the pendulum swing the other way for you! That setup sounds really cool. I know my Chrys. small block in my Hudson is getting tired, so I have been thinking about something different to power it with.



Anyway, it's good to see you thinking about the Hudson still!



Tell the family I said Hi.



Terry

rambos_ride

Sounds like you got a nice deal, especially if the block and heads are in good shape.

Here's some links you might find interesting on a build up of a 331

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0704sr_hemi_engine_build/index.html

http://www.streetrodderweb.com/tech/0705sr_chrysler_331_hemi_motor/index.html

It would be cool if you could find an original air cleaner!

http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/222925,6680/1955-Chrysler-C300_photo.aspx

boothguy

Block # should start 3NE55 if it is from a 55 C300, the heads should have adjustable rockers if they are original. I'd love to see some pix as you progress.

[Deleted User]

I made sure that it wasn't a '51-'53 with the long tail piece. Mine is easier to work with. It looks like the guy began a nice rebuild of the block and heads and then got stuck by no money, time, who knows what, and he never got it together. Everything is just so clean and rust free, I just can't get over it.

I think it will be a nice little hot rod motor that should look and perform great in the Coupe. Don't know if I will go with the dual quads or go with a 3 duece setup running on the center 2bbl most of the time. I believe that with a dual quad progressive linkage, you run off the rear carb and use the front carb as the dumper when the rear carb goes to 70-80% throttle. I'll figure out something. Just figured it was a good deal that I couldn't pass up.

Jay

[Deleted User]

boothguy wrote:

Block # should start 3NE55 if it is from a 55 C300, the heads should have adjustable rockers if they are original. I'd love to see some pix as you progress.

All the heads and block and intake casting numbers have been verified as '55 Chrysler 331 (300hp). It's an original as far as I can see. It will take sometime to get built, but got others things to do first. I'll try to get some pics posted, was hard enough to find some space in my garage!

Ol racer

FYI

I hope this will inspire you on your find that a guy here found a 271(i think) Dodge truck V8 laying in a field for yrs with a 4 spd trans that suprisingly turned over. He put it in a '34 Dodge pickup without ever rebuilding it and he is on his second season driving it almost every day to work.....

Ps: I would go with the 2 - 4 set-up. If want an OD a late model Mopar may bolt up. If not go with a Wilcap Adapter.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys. Hot Hemi Heads ($340.00) has an adapter for the hemi-727 which I'm told will work for the A518, I'm going to try it on our '56 Dodge 315V8 Poly. I want to be able to drive it back to one of the Hudson Nationals, so o/d is a must. Yeah, I'll probably run progressive linkage with the front carb as a "dumper." I'll have to use an adapter to fit new Edelbrocks on the intake. Finding good original carbs is difficult and expensive.

I believe that other guy is running a Dodge 270, I was actually waiting for some cash to buy a running 270 Hemi ('56 Car), but came across this one cheaper and decided to go with the Chrysler. My neighbor can get it miced and magna fluxed on the heads and block for $75, so I'll see if it's good or a boat anchor! But it sure looks clean, once you get the cosmoline stuff off. I'm going to need a crank, rods and pistons, but Hot Hemi Heads has them. Also need some valve covers, but I can get those easy enough. I'm really excited about this motor and think it will look awesome under the Hudson lid sitting on the Fatmans MII stub. One day my Hudson will be done.

I have a brand new gasket set for a Dodge D500 315 Hemi that I wish I could trade for a 331 set.

dustymaxhudson

Glad to see you found an engine! Post some pictures when you get a chance. I'd like to see what you've done so far. Walt

[Deleted User]

Well, Walt, I haven't done hardly anything to the Hudson in so long. Been working on getting my son's '56 Dodge together as it kind of just fell into our laps all complete just needing a refurbishing. The engine is waiting for a weld on one head and I decided to have the cam reground to a 3/4 race. A little bodywork and painting and then putting all the parts back together and stitching some basic upholstery and then it's hot down the street.

Then its, time to take a slow trip of getting the Hudson built. I had to get another unibody and it needs to be blasted or a lot of DA'ing to get the AZ surface rust off of it. Then I'll have to install the Fatman's stub that has been in my garage for 4 years with the MII kit with it. I still need to decide what rear suspension I'm going with, but probably will use a 4-link triangulated set-up with a Ford 9". Though I know someone with a 3:55 Posi 8 3/4 Mopar center, but I may get it for the Dodge. Then it's a matter of moving all the body and interior parts from the original Hudson to the new unibody. With the rapid progression of my neuropathy, it has slowed things down a bit, so many little things I took for granted now become painful to do. But, I finally got my social security benefits approved and coming, so it has been a bit easier for our family. My neighbor helps out with the stuff I cannot do anymore, as well as a wealth of knowledge in car building experience. So, one day the Hudson will get done.

Rambo cautioned me once about how these builds tend to take much longer than we think, and it sure has proved right with mine. But, that's part of the fun of hot rodding to me, it's just as fun the build, as the fun of cruising. Not really! It's much funner cruising a cool rod than building it! LOL

Jay

dustymaxhudson

I know what you mean Jay! It does seem to take forever. I am sorry to hear about your condition. I wish you the best! I hope to have the coupe done by Christmas. That will be my little present to me and the wife. She's been a real trooper allowing me to spend what I need to get this project completed. Her favorite Xmas movie is A Christmas Story, so I've decided to name the coupe "The Red Rider" after the the present the little boy wanted so badly in the movie. She will be surprised when she notices the name on the rear of the car. This is something I've wanted for quite a while and it's finally almost ready! Walt

[Deleted User]

Thanks Hudson308. I've already been all over the Hot Hemi Heads, and the PAW sites, been making a shopping list! Actually, I'm going with Hot Hemi's crossover for our 315 Dodge, the Poly heads have the front water ports just like the 315 Hemi heads. And I can use a SBC waterpump, cheaper, lighter, and great availability. I'll have to check out the O'brien's site, didn't know about that one. Yeah, learning about these early hemis will be fun. I couldn't believe my luck in finding this motor and the most important parts for such a reasonable price. I took pics this afternoon, but with Halloween and our little man, I hadn't time to upload them. I'll do it Monday night as the State Fair has asked the GCC of the HET Club to host a few cars at the Fair tomorrow and it's going to be a long day. Thanks for the tip on the Hemi Book, have to pick that one up. There does seem to be a lot of stuff for those 331, and the Chrysler 300 one to boot. I'm going to take time building this one and try to get everything exactly how I want to build. I'm going to have a shop do my machine work, but I'm going to try and build this one myself. If I'm stuck or don't have a special tool, I'll have a shop or someone else help me out. I want to make this one a personal job. :-) I'm going to have fun with this one!

[Deleted User]

Hemi Hudson....yummmmmmm!