Desoto Suburban could it be had with a hemi? (I know it's preforward look but figured I'd ask)

RCB

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I know it's not a forward look, but without registering on yet another forum, I figured I'd ask here.

Could the 52-54 Desoto suburbans be had with a hemi (fire dome once they used that name)? I've only recently "discovered" these and have been looking at a few. It seems like these huge things could have used it, but I've not seen many 52-54's to know beyond what Wiki would tell me. So I'm turning to the knowledgeable folk here.

Thanks!
 
I know it's not a forward look, but without registering on yet another forum, I figured I'd ask here.

Could the 52-54 Desoto suburbans be had with a hemi (fire dome once they used that name)? I've only recently "discovered" these and have been looking at a few. It seems like these huge things could have used it, but I've not seen many 52-54's to know beyond what Wiki would tell me. So I'm turning to the knowledgeable folk here.

Thanks!


They usually had flat head six motors. There were a few dodge pickups produced with the hemi so I assume it probably was an option for the DeSoto Suburbans, but I have never seen one.
 
Very nice! Thank you! I didn't think to look at a general DeSoto brochure.
 
Desoto's first Hemi was in 1952. It was a 276 cubic inch engine developing 160hp@4400 rpm, and 250 lb.ft. of torque@2000 rpm. It had a two barrel carburetor and as previously mentioned, was called the Desoto Firedome. The '53 Desoto Firedome engine was unchanged. In '54 the engine was still 276 cu. in. but the horsepower was increased to 170@4400 and the torque was now 255@2400 rpm. Still a 2 barrel carb.
 
Definitely a step up from the 6. I like the 6's but IF one could be found with an 8, it might be worth poking around for. I've actually been surprised for once that a car I've had an interest in seems to still have a lot of examples around.
 
The DeSoto Suburban was available only in the Custom series, and thus only with a flathead six. It was also built on the LWB chassis - 139½" wheelbase.

Production -
1946-1948 - 7,500
1949 - 129
1950 - 623
1951-1952 - 600

And that was it. Not a very common model, although their uniqueness undoubtedly resulted in a higher than normal survival rate. The 1949 production is low as the LWB models went into production about six months later than the regular models.
 
yes 276 hemi was used , but a low line model could have had a poly head with a dodge lower end and heads . i collected a few 291's using them in a saltflats racer , the 276 is just an under bored version of the 291 , all low deck hemis . 56 up 330 345 raised deck desotos .
 
Good info! It's a whole different world for me, kind of like the c bodies have been.

I've heard the low decks have to be disassembled to replace lifters. I'm guessing they mean that the rotating assembly has to be removed? Is that the case?
 
never tried with the engine together . let me see got a 276 still together in the corner on a stand . got to get to it although , lol .
 
You can't go wrong with a flat head six! Especially if it's a Desoto; it is probably the 251 cu in version with a full flow oil filter.
 
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yes 276 hemi was used , but a low line model could have had a poly head with a dodge lower end and heads . i collected a few 291's using them in a saltflats racer , the 276 is just an under bored version of the 291 , all low deck hemis . 56 up 330 345 raised deck desotos .

The 276 hermi was used 1952-54, bored out to 291 for 1955. For 1956 the 291 was stroked to 330 for all but the Adventurer which used a slightly larger 341.4 engine. Unlike Chrysler and Dodge, DeSoto never built a poly version of its hemi V8.

In 1957 the new Firesweep used the 325-cid, 245 bhp Dodge poly used in the Dodge Royal with the Custom Royal 260 bhp engine as optional. The Firedome and Fireflite used the DeSoto 341 and the Adventurer a 345. 1957 was the last year for the DeSoto hemi.

From 1958 to the end in 1961 DeSoto used the corporate B block V8, 350 V8 in 1958, 361 for 1958-61 and 383 in 1959-60. No RB engines, though.

One exception to the above - the Canadian-built 1958 Firedome, which used the Chrysler 354 poly.

Bill
Vancouver, BC
 
well the 330 version was not just a stroked version of a 291 . 276 291 were different blocks , both lower decks . the 56 330 was a raised deck as well as the 341.4 . there were not just over bored or just stroked . and just as i said poly's were dodge engines . from 55 to 56 desoto and dodge went to raised deck blocks , chrysler went to a raised deck in 57 . and chrysler corp used some engines in different models and among there own makes . and truck and p/us got some different versions of dodge and chrysler engines . and then the marine and ind engines .
 
You cant' go wrong with a flat head six! Especially if it's a Desoto, it is probably the 251 cu in version and full flow oil filter.

I don't disagree! They are durable motors with a sound all their own. And I have to say I love seeing a tricked out 6.
 
yes got me a chrysler flathead 6 , was in one of my old trucks . got the whole package with a 3spd top stck trans . thought it would make a different ratrod power plant .
 
I've just been reading that they even had OD units in some trucks along with others than had granny and great granny. I have to say from C bodies to earlier mopars, this is the most fun with cars I've been having in years.
 
I have a running 251 flathead from a 53 Desoto sitting in my garage!
 
Nice! What's it going into?
I have a 53 Windsor. I had a chance to buy that Desoto engine and trans for next to nothing, so I couldn't pass it up. I keep thinking it would be cool in some sort of t-bucket, but then I wake up and realize I'll probably keep tripping over it for the next ten years and then give it to someone else so it can sit in their garage.

The car it came out of was being turned into a 50's type custom. He put a 409 Chevy engine in it's place.
 
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