Chrysler FirePower engine
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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 RB engine in 1959, though the hemi heads would live again in the RB-based 426" Chrysler Hemi engine in 1964.
Chrysler, Dodge (Red Ram), and DeSoto (FireDome) all built their own versions of this engine (but not Plymouth which stayed with poly-head engines). The Chrysler, Dodge, and DeSoto versions were all independent with almost no parts in common. There was no Plymouth hemi engine until the 1964 426.
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[edit] Chrysler
The Chrysler Fire Power engines were the first Chrysler Corporation Hemis. They have the largest bore center distance of any Chrysler engine (except the B/RB) at 4.5625 in (115.9 mm).
[edit] 331
The FirePower was oversquare — the bore was 3.8125 in (97 mm) and the stroke was 3.625 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 1955.
The 331 engine was installed in the following vehicles:
- 1951 Chrysler New Yorker
- 1951-1954 Chrysler New Yorker, Chrysler Imperial and 1955 Imperial
- 1951 Chrysler Saratoga (optional)
- 1952 Chrysler Saratoga Club Coupe (optional)
- 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaeton
The 331 was also used in the Chrysler Air Raid Siren. At 138 decibles, it is the loudest siren ever made.
[edit] 354
The Chrysler 354 was a 354 in³ (5.8 L) version produced in 1956. Bore was 3.9375 in (100 mm) with a 3.625 in (92 mm) stroke. It was used in the 1956 Chrysler Imperial. Dodge used a modified version of this engine in the 1957 D-501. In 1956, the engine was rated at 355hp making it the first American V-8 to be rated at one horsepower per cubic inch.
[edit] 392
The 392 in³ (6.4 L) raised-deck version for 1957 and 1958 had a 4.00 in (102 mm) bore and 3.906 in (99 mm) stroke. The actual deck height was 1/2" taller than the previous blocks (though it is unknown what their deck heights were). Because its deck was taller, the heads were cast wider so that earlier manifolds could be used with the new heads on the new, taller, block. It was used in the 1957-1958 Chrysler Imperial.
[edit] DeSoto
DeSoto's Hemi engines were called Fire Dome. They have bore center distances smaller than the Chrysler but larger than the Dodge at 4.3125 in (109.5 mm).
[edit] 276
In 1952, DeSoto introduced its version of the FirePower. It displaced 276 in³ (4.5 liters) and 160 hp (119 kW). It was a hot seller, with 50,000 vehicles using the engine until it was replaced in 1955. Bore was 3.625 in (92 mm) and stroke 3.344 in (85 mm). This engine competed on equal grounds with the Oldsmobile 303 and Cadillac 331 of the same era.
[edit] 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).
[edit] 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 with a taller raised-deck block.
[edit] 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 in³ (46 kW/L), just like the Chevrolet Corvette's fuel-injected 283.
[edit] 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).
[edit] Dodge
Dodge's Hemi was called the Red Ram, introduced in 1953. They have the smallest bore center distance of any hemi engine at 4.1875 in (106.4 mm).
[edit] 241
Dodge also had a 241 in³ (3.9 L) version in 1952. Bore was 3.4375 in (92 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (83 mm). It produced just 140 hp (104 kW). Plymouth's 241 version for 1955 had polyspherical heads.
[edit] 270
The 270 displaced 271 in³ (4.4 L) and was used in the 1955 and 1956 Dodge vehicles. Bore was 3.625 in (92 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (83 mm). See also the Plymouth 270 poly-head.
[edit] 315
For 1956, Dodge upped the displacement to 315 in³ (5.2 L) with a longer 3.80 in (97 mm) stroke and a taller raised-deck block.
[edit] 325
Dodge and the low-line (non-premium) DeSoto shared a 325 in³ (5.3 L) engine for 1957, with Dodge retaining the engine until 1958. The engine used a 3.6875 in (94 mm) bore and 3.80 in (97 mm) stroke. Note that DeSoto's version did not use hemispherical heads.
