Stamped Engine Number

[TJM70's_48]

I just picked up my first antique car a few weeks ago and I've been getting to know it better.

Although the car is a '48 P-15 (super deluxe), I think it has a newer engine in it...looking at the stamped code on the left side of the block I can make out:

P20*28208 (or something close to that....)

Does this mean a 1950 218 engine?

I want to make sure I know what's in there.

The guy I bought it from had no background on what major mechanical work had been done and it's showing 104K on the odometer...

Thanks,

Tom

PS Also..any suggestions on a nice, sort of original looking car seat cover source?

[BobT-47P15]

Hi Tom. Nice looking car.

Can't tell for sure in the pic......4dr or 2 dr?

By the way, a Plymouth is either a "Special Deluxe" or the cheaper model

is a "Deluxe". (I think a super deluxe was a ford)

Yes, you have a newer engine. The 48 begins with P15.

And - - I might as well be the first to say - please consider putting your make and model car,

plus at least what general part of the country you live in either the upper right corner or

signature line at lower left of your posts. That way some of us can remember who and

what and where...... You access that function thru user control panel. Its not difficult.

[TJM70's_48]

Hi Bob,

Will do with the location & model.

It's a 4 dr..."Special Deluxe"....what an embarassing mistake for me to make...showing off my "green-ness".

Thanks for the info...the car runs & drives pretty good. I'm still learning, listening and learning more.

Lots of learning to do.

[greg g]

The engine as noted is a newer one, but is identical internally and externally as the on that came in the car. The Plymouth Owners club will deduct points for not having an original engine but if you don;t go to their events it won't matter. Engine swaps were a common way of keeping these mopars onteh road, not unusual to find dodge engines in Plymouths, truck engines in cars, industrial engines in Desotos etc. Even with the engine number indicating its a 218 Plymouth engine, some one may have wapped over the crank and rods from a dodge motor making it a 230. The stroke being the only difference.

Take a look at the host page that this forum is attached to by pushig the button in the header that says return to P15 D 24 lots of good necessary information there dor new old mopar owners.

Welcome, congratulations on your purchase, hopefully your participation here will ehance your ownership experience.

Please do fill in a bit more info on you profile, or using the user's control panel you can add that information to your signature line.

[BobT-47P15]

Oh, by the way Tom, two of the best books are the repair manual and a

parts manual. The parts manual shows exploded views of many parts on

the car.

I owned my P15 for many years, but didn't know a lot of things about

it. I'm not much of a mechanic......just like to drive it. Since finding

this forum 3 or 4 years ago, I've learned all sorts of things.

[TJM70's_48]

The original owner had the car from 12/22/48 to 1982!

Second owner apparently had it repainted and did some floor repair, interior work, etc...so I am guessing he did the engine swap, too...but it's just a hopeful guess, really.

Third owner didn't have to do any big mechanical work to it - points, timing, plugs, brake lines, new brakes.

It has some noise (tappet? my best guess) at idle, but sounds good while running - no knocking or weird noises. Doesn't use any oil to speak of. Is a little valve noise normal at idle?

Oil pressure is pretty good. All my gauges work - although the gas is reading off by 1/4 tank on the high side.

[greg g]

lots of swaps were done around the 50K mile mark. Rather than rebuild the engine and take the time to have the car off the road during the rebuild, the engine would be swaped for a newer one or a dealer/ aftermarket rebuilt unit. Sears and Roebuck used to sell remanufactured engines for 85 bucks plus installation. The dealer i worked for in highschool has two guys who did nothing but engine rebuilds, tehy usually had 2 or three of each type ready to go. tied up the car for a day or less.

As oil and filters got better, metalurgy improved and more roads got paved, engine life improved and the practice kinda went away.

[jimainnj]

Hi Tom Nice looking car, this forum has helped me many times either in previous post or same day, my 47 P15 is all most done, I'm from Pittsburgh

area originally (swissvale) good luck Jim

[Reg Evans]

There is a little difference between a 48 and a 50 Plym engine. The 48 had a cr of 6.6 and was rated at 95 hp. The 50 engine had a cr of 7.0 which added a whopping 97 hp !!!!!!

[RobertKB]

The original owner had the car from 12/22/48 to 1982!

Second owner apparently had it repainted and did some floor repair' date=' interior work, etc...so I am guessing he did the engine swap, too...but it's just a hopeful guess, really.

Third owner didn't have to do any big mechanical work to it - points, timing, plugs, brake lines, new brakes.

It has some noise (tappet? my best guess) at idle, but sounds good while running - no knocking or weird noises. Doesn't use any oil to speak of. [b']Is a little valve noise normal at idle?[/b]

Oil pressure is pretty good. All my gauges work - although the gas is reading off by 1/4 tank on the high side.

A little valve noise is a good thing. You do not want them absolutely quiet as you will burn valves. It seems your engine "sounds" alright. Nice looking car by the way. You will enjoy it and this forum.

[steveplym]

Nice looking car Tom. Good to see another more door in the group. Welcome to the forum.