'50s MOPAR Hemi question

[Tedscj at aol.com]

In a message dated 4/3/99 4:58:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
clare.snyder.on.ca at ibm.net writes:

> Does your 325 have solid or hydraulic lifters? The hydraulic lifter
>  engine was standard on the Royal Custom - solids made it a D500 .Super
>  D500 had dual quads and solids.
>  The D501 was the 354 cid engine with hydraulics and dual 4BBls.
>  All were Hemis.
>  
>  If this is a DODGE engine, not Chrysler od Desoto, you can be sure this
>  is correct.

I think I have the same source of information as James (Standard Catalog of 
American Autos).
It basically says that Coronet, Royal and Custom Royals come with a "KDS" 
engine and the D500 comes with the "D501" engine.  This particular Hemi I 
found is a "KD500", which the "Catalog" does not even mention.
According to numerous Hemi serial # sources on the web, they all agree that 
the "KDS" engines are "polys"(not true hemis) while the "KD500" is a 325 
"hemi" and the "D501" is a 354 "hemi".  The KDS and KD500 are DODGE engines 
while the D501 (354) is a CHRYSLER.

As for the lifter situation, I don't know.  A friend who lives near the car 
looked at it and got the serial# for me.    The lifters may be the key to 
this whole thing, so I'll try to get him back out there to check it out 
again.  The real issue is that a true D500 comes with a stiffer suspension 
and other hidden goodies.   A regular Royal with a Hemi just wouldn't be the 
same. 

Thanks a lot for the info,
Ted