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730-LP 01-05-2005 20:25:20 209.142.161.112 12145 Report to Moderator	I have found a mopar spitfire engine does anyone know how much HP these would be and what size bore and stroke they have? thanks [Reply]  [No Email]
Redmud 01-07-2005 07:43:38 216.167.146.152 12172 Report to Moderator	Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-05-2005 20:25:20   I have a spitfire V8 in a 46 Ford, I was told that it was the first 318 that MoPar came out with. Valve covers are chrome, and look kinda like the old 348 chevy valve covers, maybe a little wider. has two rocker shafts under each valve cover.This is a hotrod that a friend started 35 years ago and never finished. I'm not sure about the 318, and would like to know for sure.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Hal/WA 01-08-2005 18:51:11 148.65.0.200 12194 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Redmud, 01-07-2005 07:43:38   If it actually has 2 rocker shafts under the valve covers, I believe it is a HEMI. Could the words be Chrysler Firepower? Have you taken a valve cover off? On the Hemis, the valve covers are more or less rectangular, with the spark plug tubes poking through the middle of the valve covers. On the polysphere engines, the lower edge of the valve cover is not straight, but has bumps, and the spark plugs do not go through the valve covers. The Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler polysphere engines look quite different than the early A engine--the 277-318, that were originally used in mostly Plymouths. The Plymouth A engine valve covers also are scalloped along the lower edge, but the bumps are not nearly as big as on the polysphere engines. Chrysler, then DeSoto and then Dodge got Hemi V8's in 1951,1952 and 1953. During this time the auto industry was really booming and Chrysler made the decision to build the 3 similar, but different engines. As I understand it there is very little that interchanges between the 3 engines, and this must have been very costly for Chrysler. To provide less costly engines a couple of years later when the automotive economy was not as good, they brought out polysphere versions of the 3 original engines and also started building the A engine in 1955. The last Dodge and DeSoto hemis were in 1957 and Chrysler had hemis in 1958. I have seen polysphere engines in 1959 models, but I think that by 1960, or so, they only used A engines and the B engine, which had come out in some models in 1958. The B engines were 350, 361, 383 and 400 cubic inches and the RB or raised deck B had 413, 426 and 440 cubic inches, all with wedge heads. There was supposed to also have been a RB 383, but I have never seen one. The never finished hotrod sounds interesting. Too bad it never got finished, but that is what happened and happens to lots of projects. What transmission and rear end did they use? Hope this helps.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Redmud 01-09-2005 13:51:50 216.167.146.170 12202 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Hal/WA, 01-08-2005 18:51:11   Hal, I should have looked before I opened my mouth. The engine has one rocker shaft in the center of the head, 4 intake valves above, and the 4 exhaust valves are below the shaft. It's been a few years sense the hood was opened and a valve cover removed, so I guess what I remember was the two rows of valves. It does have Spitfire on the covers,and they are chrome, so I did get most everything right. The hotrod not getting finished is kinda funny, and kinda sad, or it was to me. It had to do with, a place in the country, neighbors, fences, and a large crane. Oh! and trees... the car has a 3 speed stick from an older Ford, has the rear axle that came in it. It has an adapter for the Ford transmission to the Mopar.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Hal/WA 01-10-2005 00:33:12 148.65.0.200 12210 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Redmud, 01-09-2005 13:51:50   Neat! It sounds like a Chrysler Poly engine, probably out of a Windsor. I think they had 301, 331 and 354 cubic inches. From what I remember, the blocks accept hemi heads and manifolds from about the same years, but probably need different pistons to work right as a hemi. Depending on the condition, the car probably has a bunch of value. Have you considered finishing it? Or starting over with a more modern drivetrain? The old Ford transmission and rear end are not very strong and would probably not hold up very long to even the Poly engine. But there are folks that are always looking for the old Ford parts. My brother had a 47 coupe with a Merc flathead with almost 300 cubic inches, multiple carbs, aluminum heads and a 39 Ford floorshift trans with "25 tooth" Lincoln Zephyr gears in high school. It was a very quick car back in the early 60's, but the engine didn't hold together for very long due to cooling problems probably mostly from the huge overbore. He always regretted getting rid of the car and wished instead he had put in a 283 Chevy and kept it. Good luck--hope you can do something with it!   [Reply]  [No Email]
Redmud 01-09-2005 10:41:03 216.167.146.119 12200 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Hal/WA, 01-08-2005 18:51:11   Hal, I was running a 40 Ford coupe with a 392 Hemi at the strip back in the 60's. The engine I have now has no resemblance to the 392. and I did remove one of the covers, it does have two rocker shafts under each valve cover. I haven't opened the hood in 2-3 years, so I wouldn't bet my life that it has Spitfire on the covers. I have maybe 20-25 Mopar flathead six heads, and one or more of them may be where I got the Spitfire. I will know for sure in about an hour, and my camera will be with me.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Hal/WA 01-06-2005 15:51:17 148.65.0.200 12160 Report to Moderator	Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-05-2005 20:25:20   If the engine is a flathead 6 with "spitfire" cast into the top of the head, they are similar to the Plymouth and Dodge car 6 cylinder engines, which had about 217 or 230 cubic inches and were advertised at about 100 horsepower. The Spitfire 6 cylinder engines had a bit more displacement. It seems like they were 250 and 264 cubic inches (and maybe a smaller displacement) and came in Chrysler Windsor cars and DeSotos. The Spitfire was a couple of inches longer than the 217/230 and had a bit more horsepower and torque than the smaller engine. Neither was extremely powerful, but held together fairly well. Dodge trucks used both the small 6 as well as the Spitfire, depending on the model. I have read that some Canadian Plymouth and Dodge cars also used the Spitfire. I have had both engines and found them to be very similar. It sure looked like it would have been possible to put a Spitfire 6 in a Plymouth in place of a 217/230 with a fairly small amount of adjustment of motor mounts and radiator, but I never got around to trying it. I had a good running 250 in my woods car, a 50 Windsor, but ended up blowing rods out of it. Chrysler may have continued to use the Spitfire name on the Polysphere V8's that began in 1955, but I can't remember seeing that on them. I fooled around with old Mopars alot in the 60's and 70's. I wish I had kept more of that stuff...I had a bunch of it, including some Hemis. Some of it is quite valuable today.   [Reply]  [No Email]
jerry 01-28-2006 14:36:01 209.206.216.65 18227 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Hal/WA, 01-06-2005 15:51:17   looking for engine blueprints do you know where i can find some.   [Reply]  [Send Email]
Hal/WA 01-06-2005 15:46:55 148.65.0.200 12159 Report to Moderator	Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-05-2005 20:25:20   If the engine is a flathead 6 with "spitfire" cast into the top of the head, they are similar to the Plymouth and Dodge car 6 cylinder engines, which had about 217 or 230 cubic inches and were advertised at about 100 horsepower. The Spitfire 6 cylinder engines had a bit more displacement. It seems like they were 250 and 264 cubic inches (and maybe a smaller displacement) and came in Chrysler Windsor cars and DeSotos. The Spitfire was a couple of inches longer than the 217/230 and had a bit more horsepower and torque than the smaller engine. Neither was extremely powerful, but held together fairly well. Dodge trucks used both the small 6 as well as the Spitfire, depending on the model. I have read that some Canadian Plymouth and Dodge cars also used the Spitfire. I have had both engines and found them to be very similar. It sure looked like it would have been possible to put a Spitfire 6 in a Plymouth in place of a 217/230 with a fairly small amount of adjustment of motor mounts and radiator, but I never got around to trying it. I had a good running 250 in my woods car, a 50 Windsor, but ended up blowing rods out of it. Chrysler may have continued to use the Spitfire name on the Polysphere V8's that began in 1955, but I can't remember seeing that on them. I fooled around with old Mopars alot in the 60's and 70's. I wish I had kept more of that stuff...I had a bunch of it, including some Hemis. Some of it is quite valuable today.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Kent of SW MO 01-06-2005 06:59:56 12.178.153.57 12149 Report to Moderator	Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-05-2005 20:25:20   If this is a V-8, I think it is a Poly-shere engine. It could 277 or 301 cid. If you can find the engine number we can narrow it down. If it is a V-8 the engine number will be behind the water pump in front of the valley cover. Kent   [Reply]  [Send Email]
730-LP 01-06-2005 15:50:40 209.142.171.184 12161 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Kent of SW MO, 01-06-2005 06:59:56   This engine is a 6 cylinder with a flat head,it is in a 1951 chrylser and on the fender it says 'WINDSOR DELUXE'and on the top of the head it says SPITFIRE.Also this motor is 3 to 4 inches longer than the ones in the old dodge pickups.would like to know the cubic inch,HP,bore and stroke if anyone has ths info thanks   [Reply]  [No Email]
p55 01-07-2005 15:45:40 66.37.197.105 12174 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-06-2005 15:50:40   My old Motor's book calls for a 250.5 cid- 25 -1/2" long block- 3-7/16" bore x 4-1/2" stroke @116 brake hp. (For a 1946-1951 Windsor Deluxe.) 1952 shows a 264.5 cid- 25-1/2" long block- 3-7/16" bore x 4-3/4" stroke @ 119 brake hp. It shows the same engine for 1953 & 1954. I can't find a Spitfire flat 6 listing after 1954.   [Reply]  [No Email]
Charlie 01-06-2005 16:33:36 12.77.223.130 12162 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-LP, 01-06-2005 15:50:40   Ths spitfire engines were 251 and 265 cu in. Not certain on bore and stroke, they were 25" long, 2" longer than the smaller 217 and 230s used in dodge/plymouth. You can find out much more about them on the p15-d24 site, and Inliners International has a Mopar bulletin board with tons of info.   [Reply]  [No Email]
730-lp 01-07-2005 20:07:09 209.142.161.118 12179 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to Charlie, 01-06-2005 16:33:36   Thanks to all of you for the replies I am new to this old Dodge stuff.I have always played with old two cylinders John Deeres and have recently bought a Lehr tractor which has a Dodge truck motor ,tranmisson and rearend and was looking for a replacement motor thanks again   [Reply]  [No Email]
p55 01-08-2005 13:40:52 66.37.197.105 12188 Report to Moderator	Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine in reply to 730-lp, 01-07-2005 20:07:09   I have an old Motor's manual from 1955 that lists all those engines if you want specifics. I also have some info on the Lehr's if it would be helpful. Feel free to e-mail. (Not hidden) Rick   [Reply]  [Send Email]