engine ID in a 57 - 60 D400

westmorgan · Post by **westmorgan** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:14 pm

I was picking parts at a local yard today and noticed a 57 - 60 D400 setting there. When I popped the hood I didn't recognize the engine setting in it. It is about the size and configuration of a LA318, with an air-gap intake like a 440. The valve covers are extremely short, mayby an 1 1/2" tall, unlike any of the 318, 360, and 440 engines I am used to. Anybody have a guess as to what this engine might be? From the looks of it I believe it is original. The guy that runs the yard thought it looked similar to some old hemi's. He's not a big mopar man but usually keeps a couple old trucks around.

duracell · Post by **duracell** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:55 pm

could be a poly 318

westmorgan · Post by **westmorgan** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:15 pm

It might be. After looking around on the internet I finally found a few good pictures. The valve covers are similar, but I haven't found one with the same air gap intake on it. I thought about pulling it for my crew cab, but after searching the posts here, I figure its easier to stick with my LA318 than search for parts. However, the way the engine, tranny, and truck looked, I'd be willing to bet the engine could be run as is with no problem.

I'd never seen a poly before, too bad performance parts aren't more readily available, because, it looks alot cooler than my old 318.

westmorgan · Post by **westmorgan** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:31 pm

On second thought, if that is a poly in that old d400, I need to go back and check the engine in a 66 d100 he had. I originally thought it was a wide block 318, but in hindsight it may be a 413. I guess if I'm going to mess with these old trucks I'm going to have to familiarize myself with the older engines more.

Jeffc · Post by **Jeffc** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:46 pm

How are the valve covers bolted down?
The 318 poly never used a valley under the
intake like the later big blocks did.

Could be a 315 poly or a number of other engines
including a 361.
Valve covers will tell part of the story....
and is the dist in front or back????

heviarti · Post by **heviarti** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:00 am

315 is a BMF. especially the car version supplied in the custom royal. made alot of horse and sipped gas like a mouse.

westmorgan · Post by **westmorgan** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:35 pm

I went back to the yard today. The distrubitor is in the back. The valve covers are held on by two studs, one between the first two cylinders and one between the last two cylinders. The valve covers are scalloped on the side the spark plugs are on. The intake is of the air gap style with a sheet metal valley pan. The intake feeds the heads towards the top and the exaust comes out towards the bottom. The engine is mounted in the truck by a mount in the front and rear, however, it has the mounting ears like LA engines do. I was unable to find any info on the engine itself.

Jeffc · Post by **Jeffc** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 12:32 am

I'm willing to bet it's a 315poly. This engine shared blocks with the early 315 Hemi Dodge engines (but not the heads).
The valve covers share the same look as the 318 poly Plymouth engines and often have 3 bolts holding them down,
but 2 are not uncommon.
Since Dodge did not start using the 318 till 60 it has to be a 59 or earlier truck, if stock.

westmorgan · Post by **westmorgan** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 1:44 am

Could someone tell me where the engine displacement is stamped or cast on the block? I looked around and found that master rebuilds for 315 polys are about $1100 compared to $700 for 440s. Are these engines any good or are they just interesting junk yard finds? If I thought I could get good results, I would put it in my crewcab just because you don't see one everyday.

Jeffc · Post by **Jeffc** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:34 pm

should be right front of block under the cyclinder head, stamped in...... solid engines, good tork, great bottem ends, every bit as good as the poly318, but will never
the preformace as well as a big block or its hemi 315 brother and even harder to find preformace parts for than the 318poly....
Is it worth spending a few hundred more for a rebuild?
that is up to you..... at least you will not have to spend the $5K to $10K for a early hemi rebuild.....