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Rare Field Finds - Its got a HEMI - rising from the ashes
Yea, it’s got a HEMI. But this is my first. 1960 Dodge Dart ragtop Phoenix’s didn’t come from the factory with Hemi's, but this one did. I've heard of Hemi’s being a bad yard mechanic, but never really knew what they were all about. Boy was I in for a history lesson.
Michael Barnett of Alexandria found it in Homer, Ohio. It was on the top of a small hill, next to a corn field and hidden by 7-foot tall weeds. Hiding inside was a 1957 S26 DeSoto FireFlite 341ci, 4bbl. The engine and transmission swap was only partially completed into the Phoenix when he discovered it and its been resting quietly since around 1970. The tranny lines were mended together and the engine properly mounted but the driveshaft was too long, apparently halting the swap.
Helping with the wrenches was Mike’s good friend Edward Compton Jr. They had to dig 18" jack trenches to get under the frame. When the front clip was lifted, the frame bent in half leaving the back of the car stuck to the ground. The deal made was for the engine only, so all the work had to be completed on location- in and under the car. At one point, Ed chased Mike out from under the car by calmly warning-> snake. First, we used a custom rigged tripod to support the weight of the engine and then we wrapped the hemi carefully with a heavy log chain. After triple checking that all the tranny bolts were removed we connected the chain to a pickup truck owned by Mikes father, Chester Barnett Sr. with Chester handling the truck- rocking back and forth, Ed and Mike using spud bars we had to literally "POP" the engine and tranny apart. (I thought my dad’s truck was going to bend its frame or snap the log chain first before the engine and tranny separated company). My pulse slowly calmed down when I saw that it came apart perfectly with no damage.
Plans for the $262 Hemi mill are for a Street Rod topped with a 6-71 Supercharger.
Mike Barnett
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