1953-1957 Dodge Hemi V-8 Engine Facts
While the Dodge Hemi head V-8 appears to be the same as the Chrysler unit, it was its own design, smaller in displacement and bore centers, with only the water pump interchangeable.
From 1958 onward, Dodge used the Corporate “B” series Wedge Head V-8.
The Dodge Hemi V-8 Specifications
1953 – 1957 Hemi Head Engines
Dodges Hemi engines was called “Fireflash”. But Marketing latched onto “Red Ram” and later “Super Red Ram” for these mills. Like DeSoto it was the Brand’s own design differing in both bore centers and deck height over the DeSoto and Chrysler units.
241 CID
In 1953, Dodge introduced its own version of the Hemi and called it the “Fire-Flash”, with a bore of 3.4375 inches and stroke of 3.325 inches. This resulted in a displacement of 241.3 CID. This block had a Deck height of 9.2865 inches with a bore spacing of 4.1875 inches, and a rod length of 5.936 inches. Power output was 140 HP. It was a hot seller, with over 50,000 vehicles receiving the engine in the first year.
The engine returned in 1954, with higher compression ratio of 7.5:1 resulting in an increase horsepower to 150 at 4400 RPM. It was otherwise unchanged.
270 CID
The engine was renamed “Super Red Ram” as a polyspherical version of the same engine debuted as the “Red Ram”. An increase in displacement to 269 CID (cited as 270 CID) was made for 1955 by increasing the bore to 3.7625 inches. All other block measurements remained the same. However, the compression was increased to 7.6:1 and it was now available in two HP versions – 183 HP with 2-barrel carburetion and 193 with a Carter WCFB 4-barrel.
315 CID
The Dodge engine was once again enlarged for 1956 to 315 CID. The bore was the same as the 270 at 3.7627 inches, but stroke was increased to 3.80 inches and a taller raised-deck block of 10.380 inches was used and the rod length was increased to 6.62 inches. At the same time, the intake valve head size increased from 1.75 inches to 1.87 inches and the exhaust from 1.41 inches 1.53 with a consummate increase in port size. Horsepower increased dramatically. The new engine was available in single 4-barrel carbureted form or dual 4-barrels in the D-500 with 260 for the single and 290-295 for the dual carburetor package. These engines were called “D-500″ and D-500-1”
325 CID
Displacement was increased again for 1957, its last year of production. Bore went up from from 3.625 to 3.690 inches with stroke remaining at 3.80 inches, and it now had a compression ratio of 9.25:1. The base engine was equipped with single Carter WCFB 4-barrel and made 285 horsepower, A dual 4-barrel version delivered 310 HP.
NOTE: Dodge offered a special D-501 package in 1957 for competition in NASCAR. This engine used Chrysler’s 1956 354 CID Hemi and was NOT ad Dodge Hemi engine. NASCAR said “no”.
The Hemi was discontinued in 1958 in favor of the Corporate “B” Series wedge head engine
1958 and Later Corporate Wedge Head Engines
For more info on these engines, please see 1958-1965 Chrysler Corporation “B” and “RB” Wedge V-8s HERE and 1966-1970 Chrysler Corporation “B” and “RB” V-8s HERE.
Specifications of 1953 – 1957 Dodge Hemi V-8 Engines
1953-54 Dodge 241 CID Engine Specifications
1953 241 CID V-8
The 241 V-8 was the first iteration of Dodge’s Hemi head. Compression ratio was 7.1:1, with 140 horsepower and 220 ft. lbs. torque. In 1954 the compression ratio was increased to 7.5:1 with an increase in horsepower to 150 at 4400 RPM and torque to 222 at 2400 RPM.
Fire-Flash Series Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 241.3 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.4375 x 3.25 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.1:1.
Horsepower: 140 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 220 ft. lbs. @ 2000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.361″ (Exhaust) 0.364″.
Carburetor: Stromberg two-barrel model WW3-108.
Red Ram Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 241.3 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.4375 x 3.25 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.5:1.
Horsepower: 150 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 222 ft. lbs. @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.361″ (Exhaust) 0.365″.
Carburetor: Stromberg two-barrel model WW3-108.
1955 Dodge 270 CID Engine Specifications
1955 270 CID V-8
In its third year of production, the displacement increased to 269 CID (cited as 270 CID) . Bore was increased to 3.625 inches while the stroke of 3.25 inches remained the same. Compression ratio increased from 7.5:1 to 7.6:1. Horsepower jumped to 183 at 4400 RPM and torque to 245 at 2400 RPM with a 2-barrel carburetor. A 4-barrel carburetor option raised the power to 193 at 4400 and torque to 245 at 2800 RPM.
Super Red Ram Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 270 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.625 x 3.250 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.6:1.
Horsepower: 183 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 245 ft. lbs. @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.360″ (Exhaust) 0.360″.
Carburetor: Stromberg two-barrel model WW3-120.
Super Red Ram Power Pack Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 270 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.625 x 3.250 inches.
Compression ratio: 7.6:1.
Horsepower: 193 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 245 ft. lbs. @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 244 Exhaust 244°, Overlap 26°, Lift (Intake) 0.360″ (Exhaust) 0.360″.
Carburetor: Carter WCFB 4-barrel model 2253S.
1956 Dodge 315 CID Engine Specifications
1956 315 CID V-8
Horsepower increased due to an increase in engine size to 315 CID via a stroke increase to 3.80 inches, an increase compression to 9.25:1. The Super Red Ram Hemi was only available in D-500 and D-500-1 models. It now produced 260 Hp and 330 ft. lbs. of torque in D-500 setup and 290-295 HP in the D-500-1.
Super Red Ram D-500 Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 315 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.625 inches x 3.80 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.25:1.
Horsepower: 260 @ 4800 RPM.
Torque: 330 @ 3000 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 252° Exhaust 252°, Overlap 30°, Lift (Intake) 0.400″ (Exhaust) 0.409″.
Carburetor: Carter WCFB 4-barrel Model 2443-SA.
Super Red Ram D-500-1 Hemi V-8: V-8 overhead valve, Hemispherical Combustion Chambers. Cast Iron Block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 315 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.625 inches x 3.80 inches.
Compression ratio: 9.25:1.
Horsepower: 290-295 @ 5000 RPM.
Torque: 330 @ 3200 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft timing: Intake 280° Exhaust 270°, Overlap 60°, Lift (Intake) 0.444″ (Exhaust) 0.435″.
Carburetors: Two Carter WCFB 4-barrel (front) 2476S; (rear) 2445S.
NOTE; An additional camshaft was later listed with the following specifications: Intake 284° Exhaust 284°, Overlap 69°, Lift (Intake) 0.394″ (Exhaust) 0.400″. (Curiously, these specification mirror the Chrysler 354 CID V-8 used in the 1957 D-501, which may be a coincidence or a mistake in records keeping).
1957 Dodge 325 CID Engine Specifications
1957 Dodge 325 CID V-8
This would be the last year of the Dodge Hemi v-8. Bore was increased to 3.690 inches, delivering 325 CID but the engine was otherwise unchanged, though the naming went to “D-500” for the single 4-barrel engine and “Super D-500” for the dual 4-barrel unit. Horsepower on the D-500 rose to 285, with torque up to 345, and on the Super d-500, the figures went to 310 and 350 respectively. The mechanical camshafts were dropped and the former D-500 camshaft of 1956 was fitted.
Dodge 285 HP D-500 Hemi V-8. Overhead valves, Hemispherical combustion chambers. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 325 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.69″ x 3.80″.
Compression ratio: 9.25:1.
Horsepower: 285 @ 4800 RPM.
Torque: 345 @ 2800 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 256°, Exhaust 256°, Overlap: 38°. Valve Lift: (Intake) 0.388″, (Exhaust) 0.388″.
Carburetor: Carter 4-barrel WCFB-2633S.
Dodge 310 HP Super D-500 Hemi V-8. Overhead valves, Hemispherical combustion chambers. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 325 CID.
Bore and stroke: 3.69″ x 3.80″.
Compression ratio: 9.25:1.
Horsepower: 310 @ 4800 RPM.
Torque: 350 @ 3200 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake 256°, Exhaust 256°, Overlap: 38°. Valve Lift: (Intake) 0.388″, (Exhaust) 0.388″.
Carburetors: Two Carter 4-barrel (Front) WCFB-2633S; (Rear) WCFB-2634S.