Plymouth Motor in a Pilothouse?

[Bob Riding]

I am looking for a good engine candidate for my 40 Plymouth wagon, and wanted to stay with Plymouth and go with a 230, which means trying to find another motor, since the stock block was a 201, and according to George A., weak in the main bearing dept.

I bought a parts truck last year for my 49 Dodge, (found in a farmer's field in Sonoma County) and got to thinking about using the truck motor (since I assumed it was a 230).

When I checked the engine # this morning, I was surprised to find out it didn't have the Dodge engine # , but a P28!

The actual # stamped on the boss is P28I*I394II* Unless I'm wrong, that makes it a 1956 Plymouth engine with 125 hp, which I think will be plenty to move the woodie into traffic, have enough passing power, etc.

My question is how can I tell if the engine has already been rebuilt years ago(such as added markings, etc), would still be a good candidate, and what did dealers do to sell a used engine?

Thanks

Bob

[Young Ed]

Bob I've found especially with trucks which were pretty much used into the ground that when the engine died they pretty much replaced it with whatever was handy. Unless it was rebuilt by a big supplier like Jasper I don't think its going to be marked on the outside. More then likely it was just a decent running used engine they were able to install when the truck needed one. Only really way to know for sure is to pull it open and check.

[Bob Riding]

I thought you were going to say that! Thanks for the info on Jasper...I forgotten about them.

Bob

[Young Ed]

So far out of all the 39-47 trucks dad and I have bought only 1 has its proper engine. Otherwise we had a p20 p24 one with a long block farmerized into it couple with no engines and dads 40 ply with a replacement engine with the factory pt-105 number stamped on it.

[Bob Riding]

A great new word: "farmerized"

Thanks