Thread: Early Hemi auto's

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Does anyone know if 50's era Hemi automatics can be built to take the power of a beafed up Hemi like the later 727s can? I stopped by a local shop and the guy told me they could. My dad says no, but he's been out of the scene for a few years.
I've got two autos behind Desoto 330s. If I can build one of them to take the power, it would save the cost of an adapter or a 727 core.

I don't know the answer, but if Art Carr could beef up a powerglide to handle 500+ horsepower I don't see why it couldn't be done. Might be a little pricey though.

Just how much power do you think you are going to get out of one of those 330 inch Desoto's?

Problem with the orginal trannys was not that they were weak, its they weiged almost as much as the motor. They also were or I should say dated and have been left behind by technology. They always were slush box's even back in the day. Look at the bellhousing on one of your Desoto tranny's. Yes it's aluminum but notice that big old screen covered windows? Those were there because the Tourque Converters ran very hot and it is air cooled, also notice those huge fins on the converter itself. Desoto made really good Early Hemi's but there tranny's left a lot to be desired.

I am a fan of Desoto Hemi's and have done three engine swaps using 330 and 345 inch Desoto's. Today we have the advantage of being able to run almost any transmission we want behind one. Hot Heads makes adapters for just about any of the popular trannys and they are not too expensive either. My last swap I installed a Borg Warner 4 speed behind a 330 inch Desoto but I also have used turbos and a 727. these are very good transmission's for that engine and will do a lot to wake it up.

As to the power potential of those engines. there was a day when speed equipment was out there for these motors. today and especially for the Desoto's its is almost impossible to find. The 330 inch motor was a tall deck motor as was the 345 inch engine. There were some intakes made for these and even a 2X4 manifold from the factory, but plan on spending a ton of money for one "IF" you can find anyone who would be willing to part with one. You also can adapt the 4 brl manifold from the 276 or the 291 inch motors they were not tall deck motors but spacer plates can be fabricated that will work. One of those manifolds easily sell for $500 and up and thats for a stock cast iron 4 brl manifold from back in the day. Not really suited for building big HP numbers. Even cams are next to impossible to find. In building my last motor there was not a BLANK left anywhere, I had to have my stock cam reground. Forget complettly dailing up Summit or Jegs and ordering parts.

I love these old motors, but building one into a beefed up Hemi is probably not something to really worry about. There is Beefed Up and then there is Beefed Up. Look into a adapter plate and a more modern tranny you should be able to get both the adapter and the tranny for what it would cost to beef up an old antiquated slush box that is never going to perform up to any reasonable standared.

Good Luck Roland

X2 Hombre

I'm not planning on running either Desoto engine. I'll be using one of my 392s. I've got two complete Desotos, carb to oilpan, fan to tailshaft. I'm pretty sure they are 330, I have to decode the numbers to be sure. I picked up one locally a couple of weeks ago. It's got a 2 barrel on it, but came with a free cast iron 2x4 intake
#1731650.
I'll plan to sell the transmissions, generators etc. to help pay for some of the other parts.
Thanks for your reply, that's almost word for word what dad told me.

Another option is a Dana 4 speed from a GTX, but I won't have much room for all the pedals and a shifter.
Is it true that a small block 727 will bolt right up to a 392?