Polyspheric

The Polyspheric engines were V8 engines produced by Chrysler from 1955 to 1958 as lower-cost alternatives to its Hemi engines. These engines were based on the Hemi engines, using the same blocks and crankshaft parts, but completely different cylinder heads, pushrods, exhaust manifolds and pistons.

They were called Polyspheric or Poly engines, because they featured polyspherical-shaped (meaning "more than one sphere") combustion chambers. These were formed by two shallow concave domes where the intake and exhaust valve seats were.

Because these engines needed a less sophisticated rocker setup than a true hemi, with only a single rocker shaft in each head, they were also cheaper to produce and lighter. In the Chrysler literature, the Poly engines were also called single rocker shaft (SRS), while the Hemi engines were called dual rocker shaft (DRS).

These engines replaced Chrysler's flathead inline-six in the division's lower-priced cars, and were themselves gradually replaced by the Chrysler A engine beginning in mid-1956.

Dodge and Plymouth

Dodge and Plymouth both offered Poly versions of Dodge's Hemi engine. The Dodge versions were marketed as Red Ram or Super Red Ram (internal code A388).

241

The 241 displaced Template:Cvt and was Plymouth's Poly version of the Dodge's 241 Hemi for 1955. Bore and stroke were the same as for the Dodge engine, at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively (Template:Cvt). Maximum power claimed was Template:Cvt.

260

The 260, also known as the 259, displaced Template:Cvt and was introduced in the middle of 1955 by Plymouth. It was a bored-out 241, having a Template:Cvt bore and keeping the Template:Cvt stroke (Template:Cvt). This engine was also used on 1955 and 1956 Dodge trucks. Maximum power claimed was Template:Cvt with a two-barrel carburetor; a four-barrel version with Template:Cvt was added later.

270

The 270 displaced Template:Cvt and was offered in both Plymouths (1956) and Dodges (1955–1956). Like its predecessors, it was a Poly version of Dodge's 270 Hemi. Bore and stroke were the same as the Hemi's at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively (Template:Cvt). Outputs are Template:Cvt depending on fitment.

315

The 315 displaced Template:Cvt and was a Poly version of Dodge's high-deck 315 Hemi. Bore and stroke were the same at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively. Only used on 1956 Dodges.

325

The 325 displaced Template:Cvt and was a Poly version of Dodge's largest high-deck 325 Hemi. Bore and stroke were the same at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively. Used on 1957 and 1958 Dodge.

Chrysler

The Spitfire engines were Poly variants of Chrysler's FirePower (Hemi) engine. Chrysler built three Spitfire engines: the 331 Poly, 354 Poly, and the all-new 301 Poly, which did not have a Hemi version. They were introduced for 1955 in the low-priced Chrysler Saratoga and Windsor models and used through 1958.

All Chrysler Spitfire engines were low deck; no Poly version of the raised deck 392 Hemi engine was produced.

301

The 301 displaced Template:Cvt and was Chrysler's smallest Poly engine. The 301 has a Template:Cvt bore and a Template:Cvt stroke.

331

The 331 displaced Template:Cvt and was a Poly version of Chrysler's 331 Hemi. Bore and stroke were the same at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively (Template:Cvt).

354

The 354 displaced Template:Cvt and was a Poly version of Chrysler's 354 Hemi. Bore and stroke were the same at Template:Cvt by Template:Cvt, respectively (Template:Cvt). The 1958 Chrysler Saratoga with four-barrel carberutor (58S) was the most powerful at Template:Cvt.