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The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-08 5:00 PM (#609647)
Subject: The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60



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I keep having to explain that the name of the double-rocker engine in my 1956 Dodge Custom Royal is not "Red Ram" or any of its variations, not only with the public but sometimes with forum members here. As a result, I am going to start two Dodge engine name threads, one for the "Red Ram" name (this thread) and another separate one on "D500" because, in both cases, what the name designates changes drastically over the 1953-1961 period. I know 1953 (or 54) were "Forward Look" years but 1953 was the year of the first Dodge V8.

After the introduction of the Chrysler "FirePower" V8 in 1951 and the Desoto "FireDome" engine in 1952, by 1953, Dodge was next up and was finally able to produce a V8, that they named "Red Ram". It was a 7.1:1 compression ratio, 2 bbl double-rocker 140 hp engine (what we would later (1964) call a "Hemi") with a displacement of 241 cu in. Its valve covers were embossed with the image of a leaping/speeding Red Ram and the names "Red Ram" and "DODGE".

I don't know for sure when Dodge adopted the "Ram" image for its mascot but it might have been in the early 1930s as part of the external rad cap:











For 1954, the compression ratio of the Red Ram double-rocker V8 was bumped to 7.5:1 with a increase in hp to 150. There were also a few (701?) lucky folks who were able to buy a clone of the Dodge Royal Indy 500 pace car which had an Offenhauser aluminum manifold and 4 bbl Carter WCFB carburetor that bumped the horsepower up significantly (200?).



For 1955, things started to get a bit murky (already) in the "Red Ram" name game. The double-rocker engine was bumped up to 269 (or 270) cu in and with 7.6:1 compression, 2 bbl carb and 183 hp, it became the "Super Red Ram" engine. The simpler, new, single rocker, polyspherical 270 cu in 2 bbl engine became the "Red Ram". The early 1955 "Super Red Ram" engines had embossed valve covers and the later ones, non-embossed but with a very convincing two-tone red/balck decal. The polyspherical engine either got a "Red Ram" decal on its scalloped valve covers or nothing. (?)









Okay, along comes 1956 and things really get crazy Red Ram-wise: now there are three different Red Ram engines to keep track of and *NONE* of them are double rocker engines. They are all Polyspherical head engines. The lowest/smallest was the "Red Ram" 270 cu in 7.6:1 compression 2 bbl 189 hp engine carried over from 1955. Next up was the "Super Red Ram" 315 cu in 2 bbl 218 hp poly. Topping the list of Red Ram engines was the 4 bbl dual exhaust 315 cu in 4 bbl 230 hp "Super-Powered Super Red Ram" poly. NOTE: There was also a double-rocker engine but it was *NOT* a "Red Ram" (it was the D500 - separate post to follow another day). Both of the 315 poly engines got "Super Red Ram" valve cover decals. The 270 poly engine got "Red Ram" valve cover decals (no "Super")





bbdakota's 56 Dodge Royal's 315 poly showing the Super Red Ram decals on his scalloped poly valve covers:



For 1957, things got a touch simpler, only two "Red Ram" engines, both with polyspherical heads: The 325 cu in 2 bbl 8.5:1 compression 245 hp polyspherical head engine was called the "Red Ram". The 4 bbl version with 9.0:1 compression and 265 hp was the Super Red Ram. Valve cover decals as per 1956. There was a 325 cu in double rocker engine but it was not a "Red Ram" of any flavour (it was the D500 engine).



For 1958, there were new "wedge-type" combustion chambers on three entirely new engines but they were *NOT* Red Rams. There were still two "Red Ram" engines, both with polyspherical heads and basically were carried over from 1957, i.e. the 325 cu in 2 bbl now with 9.0:1 compression polyspherical head engine was called the "Red Ram". The 4 bbl version was the Super Red Ram. Apparently no valve cover decals like the 1956s or 57s. For the first time since 1953, there was no double rocker engine in the Dodge line up. It was over.



1959 marked the next to last year for the "Red Ram". By this time, there was only one "Red Ram" engine, and it wasn't even built by Dodge. By 1959, Dodge was no longer building its own V8s, it became part of the Corporate engine programs. That said, Dodge division couldn't stomach using the Plymouth 318 "A" saw-toothed valve cover poly engine, requesting something at least as big as the previously smallest Dodge engine, the 325. So the Mound Road engine plant bored out a 318 "A" by 0.04 in more to produce a 326 cu in engine and with 9.2:1 compression and 2 bbl carb, it yielded 255 gross hp.


1960 was the last year for the "Red Ram" engines. There were two, the 9.0:1 compression, corporate 318 "A" engine (Dodge gave up on the special request 326) available in both 2 bbl and 4 bbl versions, both called "Red Ram". There was a "Super Red Ram" but it was a 361 cu in, 10:1 compression, 2 bbl "B" engine (distributor at the front). No idea about decals on either engine.



By 1961, the name "Red Ram" was totally gone from the list of available Dodge engines. Sad but true.



Next up (another day) - all the D500 engines)

REFERENCES:

1. The pages from the corporate brochures that were posted in this thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=75511&...

2. Dodge Hemi Valve cover thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=74860&...

3. Pre-FL hemis including the 1953 Dodge Red Ram brochure: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=73594&...

4. Willem Weertman's book, "Chrysler Engines 1922-1998" (for some of the nitty gritty details)










Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-08 6:58 PM
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Powerflite
Posted 2021-03-08 5:34 PM (#609648 - in reply to #609647)
Subject: RE: The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60



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56D500boy - 2021-03-08 2:00 PM

...Okay, along comes 1956 and things really get crazy Red Ram-wise:...


You ain't kidding!

One correction for you. In 1958, Dodge didn't use any decals on their motors. They were all a plain silver color - boring. But I put some on my 325 poly motor anyway to liven it up a little.
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-08 6:00 PM (#609649 - in reply to #609648)
Subject: RE: The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60



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Powerflite - 2021-03-08 2:34 PM
One correction for you. In 1958, Dodge didn't use any decals on their motors. They were all a plain silver color - boring. But I put some on my 325 poly motor anyway to liven it up a little.


Correction made. Thanks Nathan. Anybody else? I am more than willing to add/delete while the editing window is still open to me. Appropriately stock engine bay cover photos especially welcomed.



Edited by 56D500boy 2021-03-08 6:07 PM
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58coronet
Posted 2021-03-10 9:15 AM (#609709 - in reply to #609649)
Subject: RE: The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60


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As a side note, in 1958 Dodge named their new 350 cu. in V8 "Ram Fire". I'm not sure if this unique name lasted beyond 1958...….
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56D500boy
Posted 2021-03-10 10:54 AM (#609711 - in reply to #609709)
Subject: RE: The short history of the Dodge Red Ram engine name 1953-60



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58coronet - 2021-03-10 6:15 AM
As a side note, in 1958 Dodge named their new 350 cu. in V8 "Ram Fire". I'm not sure if this unique name lasted beyond 1958...….


The "Ram Fire" name for the new B block was used in 1958, 59 and 60. Seems to have disappeared by 1961.

REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=75511&...
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