engine # M23*27I77* 52 Plymouth

[oldmopar]

I was looking at the engine # in my new 52 suburban 1st letter is a little hard to read defiantly not P at first I thought 11 or ll but after hitting it with a wire wheel could faintly see it was a M

Down on near the botom of the engine is what I think is a casting date 59 2 12

Ok I found a reference on another site that matches up the M23 as a 230 engine from 1959 dodge pickup.

The guy I got the truck from said the engine had been rebuilt before he purchased it so this all kind of makes sense and so far seems like a good thing

Anyone know what if any differences hopefully improvements in a 59 engine

Next question would the 52 transmission match up to a 59 230 engine or would it be different trans. I did not think to look for a number on the trans

Thanks

[JerseyHarold]

Newer 230= a lot more horsepower than stock. Probably something like 130 vs.97. Not a bad thing.

Trans is probably original. I put a '57 230 in my '52 Cambridge and the bell housing bolted right up to it.

[oldmopar]

More hp is always good when I get a chance I will have to do a compression test I would guess it should be around 130 -140.

[greg g]

Doesn't M indicate a marine application???

car applications in 58 and 59 had 8 to 1 CR produced 132 HP in the Plymouth line. Dodge was rated at 135, in 59 but 138 in 56 and 57,specs were the same. Gotta be Marketing HP.

[JerseyHarold]

The trans in the wagon is actually shorter than the one in the Cambridge because of the smaller wheelbase. Different tail section.

[oldmopar]

Doesn't M indicate a marine application???

car applications in 58 and 59 had 8 to 1 CR produced 132 HP in the Plymouth line. Dodge was rated at 135, in 59 but 138 in 56 and 57,specs were the same. Gotta be Marketing HP.

I had no idea what the m is for but see the link below I found some information that seem to fit what I had

http://www.t137.com/registry/help/engine/engine.htm

[greg g]

From looking at that I might infer the M may have been for Military as Power wagons ando other Dodge chassis were very popular with the Armed services.

[B-Watson]

From looking at that I might infer the M may have been for Military as Power wagons ando other Dodge chassis were very popular with the Armed services.

In 1958 Chrysler (in the U.S.) began stamping the engine number with the Enginering Dept.'s model year followed by the engine size. Thus M230 is a 1959, 230-cid flathead six. Just as 1959 serial numbers start with "M".

Which also explains the 1959 casting date.

I believe a Dodge truck engine would be MT230 or TM230.

Bill

Vancouver, BC