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Member
Posts: 11
| I recently purchased a 1955 Royal Lancer.
The owner represented it as being a 270 V8 "Hemi".
The valve covers have "Super Red Ram" in red paint outlined in black.
They are Not scalloped as I am told would indicate the Polyspherical Engine.
The Engine # is D55357661, and the serial # is 34872216.
I have been told that all engine #'s starting with D553 is the Super-Powered Super Red Ram.
However, it has what appears to be a 2 barrel carburetor on it, and Factory Single Exhaust. So that would rule out the Super -Powered Super Red Ram, Wouldn't it???
I am TOTALLY STUMPED! Can anyone help me??
The last cylinder nearest the passenger firewall has no compression.
All other cylinders have between 60-80.
My mechanic is guessing it is a burnt valve, or, YIKES, a hole in the piston.
It starts and runs with an obvious miss
He is an awesome mechanic, however he isn't familiar with 1950's Dodge motors.
I figured I'd start with the least expensive fix which would be a valve job.
However, I need to know what motor I have to buy the right valves.
HELP!!!!!!!!
Patrick |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 792
  
Location: Buena Park, CA | You have a 270 Dodge Hemi which would be the Super Red Ram in 1955, and those would be found in both 2 or 4 barrel variants, with single or duel exhaust. The serial numbers on these cars are irrelevant for information other than what assembly plant the car was born in and its # in the production line. Tell you mechanic to do a leak down test which may give you some additional answers. Or pull the head before you buy anything because you will know the answer to what is wrong immediately.
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Expert
Posts: 3033
 
Location: N.W. Fla. | Hemis have the spark plugs in the valve covers, easy to ID one vs anything else! For parts contact "wayfarer" here on the Board, he's Quality Engineered Components, also check Hot Heads, Egge, Rock Auto, |
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Veteran
Posts: 119
| No compression? Simplest answer is probably the most likely: valve stuck open. Watch the rockers working on that cylinder as you crank. |
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Member
Posts: 11
| Wow, Thanks for the help guys! I never expected information so quickly. Mopar1, thanks SO MUCH, I am amazed at your knowledge! I will ask Johnny to do a leak down test tomorrow!
Hoodinki, Thanks as well!. if the valve is stuck open, I am guessing that a Valve job is in order? a neighbor said that when he worked in a garage, they used to poor transmission fluid down the carb and sometimes that would free a sticky valve? |
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Expert
Posts: 3033
Location: N.W. Fla. | Probably should take valve cover off & take a look & see if anything is obvious on that cyl. valves/seats on a '55 should be hardened, but maybe not. 1.75 int, and 1.41 ex. If you want to upgrade to a 4 bl only low deck Dodge hemi intake fits (241-270), high deck 315-325 won't fit. 241 had no OEM 4 bls. Might not be a bad idea to replace all of the 60 year old valves.... |
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Veteran
Posts: 119
| Valves can hang open for lots of reasons, its shaft is gummed up, it's bent, the spring retainers popped off, the spring broke, a piece of debris is trapped under the lip. First step is to observe valve action, then go where that leads you. Guessing gets you nowhere. ATF down the carb can get a stuck piston loose, not a valve.
Edited by hoodinki 2014-12-19 12:50 AM
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Member
Posts: 11
| I just called Johnny, he is going to observe the valve action, Here's Hoping!!!
Thanks Again!
Patrick |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 8443
Location: Perth Australia | I would be skeptical that its a stuck valve, if 1 was stuck down, there would be a noticable clacking sound as the rocker hit the top of the valve stem
That being said, if the push rod has come out or its actually the lifter stuck in its bore, there most likely wouldnt be an excessive valve train noise
Is it a resurrected stuck engine?
If so, it could be anything from the above valve train problems to stuck rings and so on
Best of luck (I love fixing engines  )
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Member
Posts: 11
| It is a one owner, 38k original miles, in storage for the last 35 years. Engine runs, just has an obvious miss. No compression in one cylinder. |
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Expert
Posts: 1740
Location: Alaska | There is a trick i have used before to determine if it is just some crud on the face or seat not letting it seal properly. This could happen from long storage, and might also work with a sticky valve. You must remove the valve cover and slide the rocker arm to one side, best to do with that cylinder on TDC firing position. Take a piece of brass or preferably hard nylon, place on stem of valve and rap it several times with a hammer. Do this on intake and exhaust valve but it is most likely the exhaust. BE VERY CAREFUL to hit the valve stem and not the retainer as this could pop the valve keepers loose. This has worked before for me but only if something is not letting the valve seat tight. It may be tricky to move the rockers off the valves because they are not adjustable but it is the best way. |
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Expert
Posts: 3033
Location: N.W. Fla. | If its been sitting for 35 yrs your lucky the engine isn't stuck! May be sticking valve or rings that are stuck or lost their spring tension on the walls. Besides checking the valve movement, if that doesn't clear things up, I'd pull the plug & squirt a small amount of ATF or MMW in & see if you get compression. Probably wouldn't hurt to pot some in all the cyls, rings might like it. Just don't use enough to hydraulic a cyl. |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7806
Location: Williams California | Probably a burned exhaust valve, generally a hole in a piston or badly stuck rings will cause excessive blowby, sometimes ejecting oil from the dipstick tube. A leakdown test is in order to find the low compression cause.
---John |
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Veteran
Posts: 242
Location: 33844 | Hey Me Lancer ---- what was the verdict ???? |
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Engine Confusion!!!
