Is there a demand for poly engines?

[RamNBee]

I have a 64 Polara 500 that I am going to part. It has a 318 with an auto trans. I am wondering if it is worth the effort to pull the drive train and try to sell it. Opinions and suggestions are welcomed as I know very little about polys.

 

[YY1]

You might get a couple hundred for it.

Video it running before you pull it.

 

[alsant]

Try yahoo poly group , lot of people don't like the engine but there is a growing number of people who think different.

 

[Darter6]

The folks over at Chrysler Power magazine are in the process of marketing lots of performance parts for these engines now. For one thing they are reliable and run forever like a slant six. I had one in a 64 Belvedere, Intake, 4 bbl carb and TTI headers and exhaust really woke that teen up.
Demand ? Not much, but as said above there is a growing following. I'm sorry I ever sold off that car.

 

[Cranky]

The poly teen is sorta like the /6. They do have a following.....

 

[rumblefish360]

How soon are you going to pull it?

 

[1966satellite]

I sold one from 65 last Spring for $300. I still have the push button 727 from it if you or anyone else is interested.

 

[big66440]

It is worth something to the right person, I think they're cool and have lots of potential but the only downside is the aftermarket really never caught on with that engine but they are slowly making a steady come back.

 

[YY1]

I don't think it's that people don't like them, it's just that performance parts are hard to find and expensive.

They have more torque than an LA 318 but lots of non Mopar folks don't believe a block that large is only 318 CID.

 

[Polara Pat]

I've had a bunch and have always liked them but like everyone else has said, there hasn't been much go-fast stuff readily available until recently and the sheer weight of them makes it an obvious choice to build a big block in my opinion. I still want to build a stroker Poly for an open wheel hot rod some day just 'cause no one does it.

 

[rumblefish360]

I don't think it's that people don't like them, it's just that performance parts are hard to find and expensive.

They have more torque than an LA 318 but lots of non Mopar folks don't believe a block that large is only 318 CID.

The funny thing is, the blocks are dimensionally the same with the biggest difference being the water passages in the valley for the intake. Other than that, frezze out plug. That's it as far as I can remember.

I had a poly 318 sit next to a LA 360. I noticed that they are, from the outside, the same block. Minus the frezze out plugs. Less on the poly.
So, I decide to see if the LA heads fit on the poly block. They did! And then the LA intake fit right on and bolted up no problem.
I did the same with the poly heads and intake. They went right on the LA block no problem.

If it were not for the internal water passages in the valley area of the poly, you could swap the heads and intake right on over to a LA. Or the other way around.

This is the fact jack. I did post pictures up of these swaps on FABO. A long time ago. I do not know where there are now.

 

[Photon440]

Speaking of swapping heads, the newest issue of Chrysler Power has an article where they are building a stroker 360 to a 408, and putting on poly heads. They show what needs to be modified. It's not done yet, the build will continue in subsequent editions.

 

[rumblefish360]

After a sonic check of a Poly block OlK's it for a big overbore, which maybe possible, 400 inches is possible.

 

[Mark B]

years ago my dad bored one .120 over and dropped in modified 340 pistons. Ran it for several years before blowing it up outrunning the law.

 

[monaco66coupe]

That engine started out as 277 cubic Inches, 180 HP. 1956,, I have one in my 56' Savoy. It is a superb engine, lots of low end torque. The 59' Dodge was the best, 325 cubic Inch and 255 HP 2 Barrel, and 295 with the four barrel. The Plymouth was a 318 57- up, and In 60' the Plymouth engine was adopted, 318, 230 HP. Chrysler decided to focus on the BB engine, and didn't want an engine smaller that would compete with the 361-383. A few two four 325's were made, and they were really quick. I hope to find a 59' 325 for my 56'. That would be fun!

 

[toolmanmike]

What's not to like! tmm

 

[RamNBee]

Any one interested this, engine with trans can be had fairly reasonable. Post will be in forsale section soon. Thanks for all the good information.

 

[Blackheart]

My stroked (4") and bored .060 over (396 ci) Poly mocked up in my 63 Fury prior to paint.

 

[Photon440]

Basic Poly history - the Plymouth 241, Dodge 270 and Chrysler 301 and up:
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/poly.html

 

[Cranky]

I still don't understand why so many people call the poly engines a wide block when it's the same size as the LA lol. I guess it's because the heads make it look so wide? Why not call the Hemi engines wide block too? I like to be different too with this stuff but I also like to be different in being able to spend less money doing it and going faster than the one who spent much more to go slower