The Other Aussie Six

[Anonymous]

Going back to 1971, Mopar hit a good lick. It came packaged in a 1971 Valliant Charger R/T E37. About 130 of these cars were produced. It was the mild version of the E38 that was developed for the Bathurst 500. Both cars were performanced tuned seven bearing 265 cid inline sixes. The motor was originally developed by Chrysler intended for commercial vehicles. Dubbed the Hemi head six, produced 280 hp at 5000 RPM and 318 lb ft of torque at 3700 rpm in full race trim and in the E37 version a tamer 248 hp at 4800 rpm and 306 torque at 3400 rpm running 9.7:1 compression and pump gas. Both versions came with a three speed manual tranny due to a limited budget. 1972 saw a borg-Warner four speed and an even hotter 265 Hemi six in the E48 and E49. The cars never saw a win at the Bathurst against the wilder Ford Falcon GTHO 351 V-8's and the Holden Monaros with their 327's, but did manage a third after a long pit stop ended their chance of an outright victory. The shorter road racing tracks in New Zealand was another story. The E49 dominated for ten years running away from the heavier V-8 cars. The Falcon could only manage 0-60 in 6.4 seconds, but the E49 did it in 6.1. The Falcon's damnedest 0-100 in 15.2, while the Valiants could do a ton in 14.1 eating the V-8's alive. In it's day the E49 could do the quarter in 14.7, but with modern rubber a full second can be shaved off this time as proved by an American block who imported one of these cars to the states.

Anyway, Are there any of these motors floating around in Aussie land? I thought you might enjoy these figures borrowed from A collector's Guide To Muscle Cars.

Any tall tales about these? Here's a link for a picture of one.

http://members.optushome.com.au/ekholden/hemi/

Speedy

PS. I realize this isn't a Ford. My true love and most of yours but when I read about this car I just thought it was really cool and you might also enjoy it. Heck I don't even like mopars that much...

 

[addo]

It's a pretty legendary motor. Guess what? You can get an aftermarket alloy head for it, too! They will fit an early Ford with a little effort. The sound of triple Webers is something else.

Buickroadster, who posts here sometimes, runs one in his '23 Buick hot rod. The block is heavier than a 250, but not by much. They adapt readily to run a 909 or 727 if you want auto.

 

[xctasy]

The ARe/Tee in-line Hemis were a true classic. What people don't realise is that they were based on an ex D-series Dodge truck engine. In 1970, the base 245 got an optional E34 version with an extra 5 cid, and a 2-bbl or optional 4-bbl big AVS Carter. The basic engine was very sound. All 215/245/265's ran very small journal crank. In the R/T's, the fillet radius was changed, and the crank was more likely to split at very high rpm. The stock crank was better than the R/T crank. There were issues with the timing chain, the service bulleten said to use the Hillman Hunter/Arrow (nee Plymouth Cricket) chain tensioner, but it was placed on the wrong side. It worked better when reversed. The chain rattle is typical, but can be dealt with easily. There are two kinds of oil pump, a 15 or 16 tooth item. The rods are used in 350 Chev strokers, they are soo strong. Typical over engineered Chrylser, a truly amazing engine.

It uses a 4.4" bore spacing, a very short 9.38" tall deck, a thinwall casting which is very strong, and the non-cross-flow poysperical head flows better than the Ford cross-flow six. It can take big overbores (up to 120 thou with risk, but the stock 3.91 bores can go to 4" with ease).

Valves on the 265 were big, 1.96" on inlet. The valve stems were big, no mess ups. Rather like the 426 Hemi, Chrysler got everything right.

Intakes were very clean, with 2.2 sq in of intake port area. Exhasts varied from single (1-bbl and 2-bbl), dual branch (R/T 2-BBL) or tube headers on the 6-Pack E37/38/48/49's.

I've heard the ignition and lifters and pistons were very good. The stock BW 3-speed transmissions on the E37, E38 were not great, but the 4-speeds on E48 and E49 were very well geared, and similar to the SR4 in operation.

The real secret to the Charger R/T's world class 14.4 second quarters were the trim 105" wheelbase, the 3000 pound weight, and a sharp set of aggressive limited slip diffs of 3.5 or 3.23:1. There was some cross-over with the Dana 3.27:1 diff's crown wheel and pinion appearing as a factory service updgrade. The even with the 3.5:1 diff, there was a 131 mph top speed, and the beast could exceed the 5000 rpm by 1500 rpm with a Ferrari like wail unlike any other six. Even triple carb Jags or Holden sixes failed to exude the character of this wild engine.

The engines were rated as per the gross readings. The last E49 had a solid lifter cam, and claimed over 300 hp, but it was possibly not more than the latest 4.0 litre DOHC Falcons 244 hp six. The basic E37 was not recorded, but even an R/T 2-bbl Sedan with a 3100 pounds could do 15.9 secs for the quarter. The E37 Pacer 4-dr was likely to be a 15.2 second machine. I've seen an E48, and it was very much an E37 with a 4-speed. They were rapid machines, possibly faster than the E38 Chargers even thoug they gave away 32 ponies.

In New Zealand, the Kiwis were able to make even Chrysler Chargers with stock 265's eat V8 Falcons. The basic matter is that a light six cylinder car, with a well tuned suspension with a fairly good weight distribution, will always get out of corners faster, and ensures the tyres last better.

The Aussie 265 engine is a jewel. All Hemi I6's are noisy, but they are supperior dynamically than any small Ford I6's. Remember it was a Ford I6 fan that told you that.

 

[Anonymous]

I love my aussie mopars too
Pic with my charger in the background

 

[Fingers]

As you can see in my sig. I am quite a Mopar fan also.