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56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler
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project72
Posted 2007-11-18 8:13 PM (#103781)
Subject: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Posts: 18

Location: York S.C.		I love driving my 56 Firedome, but my stock 330 is getting tired (oil preasure isn't constant which is causing some lifter rattle and its burrning more oil then I'd like). I started looking for parts to rebuild the engine as well as aftermarket parts to add a litle more go to the car, but have come up with very few options (i.e. no new cams, no aftermarket 4bbl intake option, original 4bbl intakes wont work with a modern 4bbl carb wihout an adapter plate, not to mention one year only oil pump, etc...). This has led me to consider swapping the 330 out for a 331 or 392 Chrysler Hemi. There seems to be much more readilly available for the engines and unless I'm mistaken either would bolt in easily in place of my 330 (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). I'd of course keep my original 330 around in case I ever wanted to make the car stock. I wondered if anyone else had already been through this and how it went for them or if there was another better option available.

Thanks!
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DeSotohead
Posted 2007-11-18 8:25 PM (#103784 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)		The 331/354/392 is certainly an option, but you will need to make sure you get a rear sump pan , and the appropriate oil pump/pickup and dipstick and tube setup.
You will have to slot the motor mount pads for the 331/354/392, as these engines are slightly wider than the 330. you should be able to reuse your motor mounts with the new engine.

Oh, and I would plan on getting new springs for the front end, as the old ones are probably already age-set, and the Chrysler engine adds about 75 to 100 pounds more weight. New Yorker springs from a 55 or 56 should fit nicely......

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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-18 8:33 PM (#103785 - in reply to #103784)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: N.W. Fla.		There were 2 part #s for high deck Hemi oil pumps, & both were used on Dodge, DeSoto & Chr. high blocks. At least on the Chr intakes the bore holes can be opened up to modern size, & the Edelbrock Performer carbs are drilled for the small bolt pattern.
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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-18 8:41 PM (#103786 - in reply to #103785)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: N.W. Fla.		See if this works, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218550&showall=...
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project72
Posted 2007-11-19 9:15 PM (#103930 - in reply to #103786)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Posts: 18

Location: York S.C.		WOW! Thanks for the link. That manifold looks great! You've really made me re think rebuilding my 330. Hot Heads rebuild Kit actually includes a modified 340 pump which sounds promising on the oil situation. Now to find a local machine shop that knows something about Hemi's. I'll keep everyone posted and please let me know if anyone knows of any other cool parts that I might not have run accross for the Desoto Hemi's.
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Powerflite
Posted 2007-11-19 11:42 PM (#103948 - in reply to #103784)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: So. Cal		Small correction to the weight issue.
A DeSoto 330 weighs in at 670 lbs - the same weight as a 440 Chrysler.
A 331-354 Chrysler is only 30 lbs heavier at 700 lbs and a 392 is 70 lbs heavier at 740 lbs.
I don't know what these weights include - generator, starter, power steering etc.
See: http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/hemi5.html

An aluminum intake on a 331-354 will shed 30 lbs and bring you right back to the original DeSoto weight.
Nevertheless, I would tend to keep it original if possible.
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Fanbladeus
Posted 2007-11-20 8:20 AM (#103966 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: Warren, Michigan		Go with a 354 Hemi with hilborn injection. Don't those stacks look awesome?

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project72
Posted 2007-11-22 8:34 AM (#104216 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Posts: 18

Location: York S.C.		Yeah those injecton kits are pretty impressive, But I think the paint and body will come before them I'm hopeing to have the car from "beaterish" to nice driver over the next year. I've talked myself out of the engine swap, but am going to upgrade my original motor a bit, after the rebuild. I'm going to change out the distributer for a modern MOPAR electronic unit. I'm also going to upgrade the intake and carb. I am not impressed with the original Carter at all (especially when I want to drive my desoto to work on a cold morning). Thanks again MOPAR1 for the link to that thread. I think that manifold is just what I've been looking for. Now the big question there is single or dual 4's. Opinions?
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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-22 11:06 AM (#104228 - in reply to #104216)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: N.W. Fla.		A single 600 CFM would be most efficient. If you "just have to have the dual quad look" then 2 390 Holleys would be it, but over carbed.
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DeSotohead
Posted 2007-11-22 10:19 PM (#104286 - in reply to #104216)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)
project72 - 2007-11-22 8:34 AM

Yeah those injecton kits are pretty impressive, But I think the paint and body will come before them I'm hopeing to have the car from "beaterish" to nice driver over the next year. I've talked myself out of the engine swap, but am going to upgrade my original motor a bit, after the rebuild. I'm going to change out the distributer for a modern MOPAR electronic unit. I'm also going to upgrade the intake and carb. I am not impressed with the original Carter at all (especially when I want to drive my desoto to work on a cold morning). Thanks again MOPAR1 for the link to that thread. I think that manifold is just what I've been looking for. Now the big question there is single or dual 4's. Opinions?


Get the Hot Heads long intermediate shaft for the distributor/oil pump drive. this allows usage of a STOCK LA distributor, including the Mopar Performance aftermarket kits.

You will have difficulty on a 330 DeSoto upgrading from a stock intake (Fireflite or Adventurer) to an aftermarket. Only VERY few of these in alloy were made. I do know they exist, as I saw one aluminum 4bbl for a high deck Desot once (do not remember the vendor), and also there was a blower manifold made (I think Wieand).

So I think you need to get an iron Fireflite 4bbl, and as mentioned, upgrade to a 500 to 600 CFM 4bbl, on an adaptor plate if you do not wish to butcher the intake.
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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-23 12:04 PM (#104304 - in reply to #104286)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: N.W. Fla.
DeSotohead - 2007-11-22 9:19 PM

project72 - 2007-11-22 8:34 AM

Yeah those injecton kits are pretty impressive, But I think the paint and body will come before them I'm hopeing to have the car from "beaterish" to nice driver over the next year. I've talked myself out of the engine swap, but am going to upgrade my original motor a bit, after the rebuild. I'm going to change out the distributer for a modern MOPAR electronic unit. I'm also going to upgrade the intake and carb. I am not impressed with the original Carter at all (especially when I want to drive my desoto to work on a cold morning). Thanks again MOPAR1 for the link to that thread. I think that manifold is just what I've been looking for. Now the big question there is single or dual 4's. Opinions?


Get the Hot Heads long intermediate shaft for the distributor/oil pump drive. this allows usage of a STOCK LA distributor, including the Mopar Performance aftermarket kits.

You will have difficulty on a 330 DeSoto upgrading from a stock intake (Fireflite or Adventurer) to an aftermarket. Only VERY few of these in alloy were made. I do know they exist, as I saw one aluminum 4bbl for a high deck Desot once (do not remember the vendor), and also there was a blower manifold made (I think Wieand).

So I think you need to get an iron Fireflite 4bbl, and as mentioned, upgrade to a 500 to 600 CFM 4bbl, on an adaptor plate if you do not wish to butcher the intake.
Actually you have to cut/extend the shaft on the dist.
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DeSotohead
Posted 2007-11-25 6:13 PM (#104553 - in reply to #104304)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)		You do NOT have to cut the distributor if you use the longer intermediate shaft.
Trust me on this one. I have done it SEVERAL times, and it is a better solution than the extender collar that Bob Walker also sells........
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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-25 7:48 PM (#104561 - in reply to #104553)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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DeSotohead - 2007-11-25 5:13 PM

You do NOT have to cut the distributor if you use the longer intermediate shaft.
Trust me on this one. I have done it SEVERAL times, and it is a better solution than the extender collar that Bob Walker also sells........
Where the intermediat shaft goes down from the cam gear to the oil pump shaft....how would it reach the dist. shaft?
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DeSotohead
Posted 2007-11-26 10:36 AM (#104626 - in reply to #104561)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Posts: 3186
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Location: The not-so-great, dirty-white North ( Michigan)
Mopar1 - 2007-11-25 7:48 PM

DeSotohead - 2007-11-25 5:13 PM

You do NOT have to cut the distributor if you use the longer intermediate shaft.
Trust me on this one. I have done it SEVERAL times, and it is a better solution than the extender collar that Bob Walker also sells........
Where the intermediat shaft goes down from the cam gear to the oil pump shaft....how would it reach the dist. shaft?

The shaft is physically longer than a stock shaft.
You remove the old intermediate shaft/gear, take the gear off the old shaft, and install it on the new longer shaft.
The difference in length is ABOVE the pin position for the gear, so the lower end is the same length, but the new shaft raises the slot position so that a modern LA style distributor will now engage its tang into the intermediate drive system.

This allows you to now swap quickly any LA distributors into the engine.

It is a MUCH BETTER solution, as distributors are more likely to have issues than a gear and shaft.......
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Mopar1
Posted 2007-11-26 11:40 AM (#104636 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: RE: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: N.W. Fla.		Cool! Don't know if that was available when I built my last Hemi, or wasn't aware of it! Just ordered one for the engine I'm close to dropping in, thanks!
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345 DeSoto
Posted 2007-11-26 8:55 PM (#104746 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: Skaneateles,NY(summer)/Port St.Lucie,FL(winter)		Actually, there's a Pertronix unit available for the 330 distributor...which in itself is a LARGE improvement over the single point system in the Stock unit. I have one in my Stock 345 distributor, and it works wonderfully...
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Fanbladeus
Posted 2007-11-27 10:19 AM (#104777 - in reply to #103781)
Subject: Re: 56 desoto 330 to 331 or 392 Chrysler



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Location: Warren, Michigan		I didn't think pertronix had one for the single point dizzy. I'm swaping over to a dual point housing and using the pertronix kit in the spring.
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