Up until 1952 the only engine available was the L6 cylinder and it again was the main power plant for the ’52 production year.
This engine for 1952 was an iron block with a bore and stroke of 3.438X4.50 with a compression ratio of 7.0:1. With 5 main bearing and topped with a Stromberg 380359 or 380349 or a Carter E9AI it produced 116 hp. This was pretty much the same for all the L6’s but bore and stroked changed through the life of the company as well the number of main bearings (most numbering four) and the displacement fluctuated between 236.7 and 250.6 CID. The engine disappeared from Desoto line-up in 1954.
L6 Engine
But the really big deal for the 1952 Desoto was the addition of what would become one of the most famous engines every produced. It was the spherical segment combustion chambered engine, the Desoto Hemi V-8.
It was an overhead value hemispherical combustion chambered iron block. It displayed 276.1 cid and it’s bore and stroke was 3.626×3.344 inches and a compression ratio of 7.0:1. It had hydraulic lifters and five main bearings. Topped with a Carter 2bb (models 884S, 884SA and 884SC it produced 160 hp. The Firedome V8s were the same but used the Carter models 908S,909S and the 910S.
A restored 52_DeSoto Firedome (museum photo)
1952 4 door Desoto
Thanks for reading.
Tim
