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Morpar Engine ID Help


keithb7

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Hi folks. My 1938 P6 came with the following engine SN in it. D54 21779C. 

25 1/4” long block. Flathead L-6.

Does The “C” indicate Canadian build?

 

I pulled the small plug at #6 and measured 4 1/4” stroke. 

 

I was hoping someone could help me nail down the year and displacement based on this info.  Before I get to ordering parts. 

Thx. 

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On another internet source I see D54 listed as 1955 Dodge 6 cylinder engine. My 1957 Motors manual reads that the 1955 Dodge 6 was in the Coronet.  However it has a 3 1/4" bore and 4 5/8 stroke. The 4 1/4" stroke I measured seems off. Will remeasure and report back.

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On 6/16/2019 at 8:47 AM, Plymouthy Adams said:

my two sources state the D56 is the 6 cylinder Dodge for 1955  I think in the past this come up one time before...

You're bang-on. I see it too now in my Motors manual. It skips right past the D54.

I remeasured the stroke carefully and still got 4 1/4" stroke. I don't see many Mopar engines with a 4 1/4" stroke in my 1957 Motors Manual.

Check this out below. Looks the D54-2 have maybe been in a Dodge Regent, made in Canada. The Regent appears to have been a Canada only car, I think.

 

1955 Crusader 6 D54-1 : 97 525 501 to 97 532 690
Regent 6 D54-2 : 98 081 001 to 98 099 585
Mayfair 6 D54-4 : 98 800 001 to 98 801 000

 

Engine 228 cu in (3.7 L) I6 (1952-54)

 

"The lower-priced series, Crusader and Regent, came only with the flathead six, either 228.1-cid if mated to the 3-speed manual or 250.6-cid with the Powerflite automatic."

 I don't see a 228.1 engine mentioned under Chrysler, Desoto, Dodge or Plymouth in my 1957 dated Motors manual. I assume the Motors Manual covers USA built Mopars. Further research in my Dykes Auto Encyclopedia states that a 6 cylinder engine with a 3 3/8" bore and 4 1/4" stroke nets 228 CI total displacement. I think that's another clue. Moving along....

 

 It appears that Mopar Canada offered a 228.1 ci,. 25 1/4" long engine for Canadian model cars. By chance I happen to have a couple of Mopar service manual here for Canadian models. The Dodge D30 is listed with a 228.1 engine in 1949. Several more Plymouth & Dodge models with 228.1 engines listed in my '53/'54 service manual. They all have 4 1/4" stroke, 3 3/8" bore. I think I have enough reference books that do not specifically say so, but spells it out. Pretty darn sure I have the 228.1 engine here only offered in Canadian built Mopar cars.

Likely a 1955 car equipped with a D54-2xxxx SN flat 6 engine. Whatever car that is. Maybe a Regent, Crusader or a Kingsway.

 

Yet further proof it sure helps lots to have numerous old manuals to figure this stuff out!

 

Edited by keithb7
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I had at one time looked at a 52 plymouth, actually a so called plodge (Candian plymouth), that had the long block motor in it. Apparently chrysler used the small displacement big block 6's in Canadian cars vs the small block engines of similar size. I'd guess that is what you are dealing with here.

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