Re: 1955 352 V8s

Posted by BH On 2008/2/26 9:26:29

chuck -

Distinctions in HP among the various engines used in 1956 models always made perfectly good sense to me (if only from a gut feeling), but I never stopped to consider the '55s.

You bring up an interesting point as the complete engines as used in the Clipper Custom (5660 chassis) and Patrician and Four Hundred (both 5580 chassis) are one in the same, according to the parts book. They used the same Rochester 4-bbl. carb and Delco distributor, as well.

The exhaust system might be the only difference, with single vs. dual. The Specifications section of the shop manual shows only minor differences between the optional dual system on the 5660 chassis and that used on the 5680.

Yet, was the exhaust factored into gross HP back then?