Chrysler FirePower engine
|
|
The FirePower was Chrysler's first V8 engine. Introduced in the Fall of 1950 for the 1951, the FirePower had hemispherical combustion chambers, leading some to refer to this engine as the early Hemi. It was replaced by the Chrysler B engine in 1959, though the hemi heads would live again in the Chrysler Hemi engine.
Chrysler, Dodge (Red Ram), and DeSoto (FireDome) all built their own versions of this engine (but not Plymouth which stayed with poly-head engines). Early versions were largely custom with little commonality. Later versions were similar to the Chrysler A engine and Chrysler B engine. In general, though, the Chrysler, Dodge, and DeSoto versions were all independent.
| Contents |
Chrysler
The Chrysler Fire Power engines were the first Chrysler Corporation Hemis.
331
The FirePower was oversquare - the bore was 3.81 in (97 mm) and the stroke was 3.63 in (92 mm), for a total of 331 in³ (5.4 liters). It used a two-barrel carburetor and produced gross power of 180 hp (134 kW). It was used from 1951 through 1956.
The 331 engine was installed in the following vehicles:
- 1951 Chrysler New Yorker
- 1951-1954 Chrysler Imperial and 1955 Imperial
- 1951 Chrysler Saratoga (optional)
- 1952 Chrysler Saratoga Club Coupe (optional)
- 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton
301
A smaller 301 in³ (4.9 L) version was produced for 1955. Bore was 3.63 in (92 mm) and stroke was 3.63 in (92 mm). The Chrysler 301 was used in the 1955 Chrysler Windsor.
354
The Chrysler 354 was a 354 in³ (5.8 L) version produced from 1955 to 1958. Bore was 3.94 in (100 mm) with a 3.63 in (92 mm) stroke. It was used in the 1956 Chrysler Imperial.
392
The 392 in³ (6.4 L) version for 1957 and 1958 had a 4.00 in (102 mm) bore and 3.90 in (99 mm) stroke. It was used in the 1957-1958 Chrysler Imperial.
DeSoto
DeSoto's Hemi engines were called Fire Dome.
276
In 1952, DeSoto introduced its version of the FirePower. It displaced 276 cubic inches (4.5 liters) and 160 horsepower (119 kW). It was a hot seller, with 50,000 vehicles using the engine until it was replaced in 1955. Bore was 3.63 in (92 mm) and stroke 3.34 in (85 mm). This engine competed on equal grounds with the Oldsmobile 303 and Caddillac 331 of the same era.
291
A bump in displacement to 291 in³ (4.8 L) was made for 1955 by increasing the bore to 3.72 in (94 mm).
330
The 276 DeSoto engine was enlarged for 1956 to 330 in³ (5.4 L). Bore was the same as the 291, but stroke was up to 3.80 in (97 mm) this time.
341
Displacement was up again for 1956 and 1957 to 341 in³ (5.6 L). Bore was now 3.78 in (96 mm) with stroke remaining at 3.80 in (97 mm). This engine produced 343 hp (256 kW) for 1957, which was greater than one hp per cubic inch (46 kW/L), just like the Chevrolet Corvette's fuel-injected 283.
345
The largest DeSoto engine for 1957 was the 345 in³ (5.7 L). Bore and stroke were square at 3.80 in (97 mm).
Dodge
Dodge's Hemi was called the Red Ram.
241
Dodge also had a 241 in³ (3.9 liter) version in 1952. It produced just 140 horsepower (104 kW). Plymouth's 241 version for 1955 had polyspherical heads.
270
The 270 displaced 271 in³ (4.4 L) and was used in the 1955 and 1956 Dodge vehicles. Bore was 3.63 in (92 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (83 mm). See also the Plymouth 270 poly-head.
315
For 1956, Dodge upped the displacement to 315 in³ (5.2 L) with a longer 3.80 in (97 mm) stroke.
325
Dodge and DeSoto shared a 325 in³ (5.3 L) engine for 1957, with Dodge retaining the engine until 1959. The engine used a 3.69 in (94 mm) bore and 3.80 in (97 mm) stroke. Note that DeSoto's version did not use hemispherical heads.
326
The 1959 326 was similar to the 326 poly of the same year. Displacement was 326 in³ (5.3 L) with 3.95 in (100 mm) bore and 3.31 in (84 mm) stroke. It was also used in the 1959 Dodge Coronet.