FESTER60 Posted July 1, 2011 Report Posted July 1, 2011 I have the chance for a sweet deal on a flathead engine. It is marked "P14" on the side. The owner says it's from a '38 Plymouth. I suspect it is a 201 making it too small for me. Does that sound right? I hate too pass it up but if it won't work then I'll have to. Thanks for all replies. Quote
Young Ed Posted July 1, 2011 Report Posted July 1, 2011 P14 should be from a 42 plymouth. It may have been most recently in a 38 but it started out life in a 42 and I think that makes it a 218. Quote
FESTER60 Posted July 2, 2011 Author Report Posted July 2, 2011 Hmmm. Very mysterious. Engine only has 30k on it. I know the bore should be 3 1/4" if it's a 218. What would it be if it's a 201? Quote
WatchingWolf Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 (edited) Hey Ed, this is my spare engine, the casting mark down low is P 14, but the motor "VIN" is P6*I69536* . Does this make any sense to you? P6 says it is a '38 block. P14 says '42 ? Does the first number of the serial being an I indicate it started life as an industrial? Edited July 2, 2011 by WatchingWolf Quote
Young Ed Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 No they used Is as 1s pretty regularly. Pretty sure my engine is actually PI5xxxxxx. What is the casting date near the dist hole? If its in the 30s I'd say its a P6 motor but its also possible that it came from a state where they used the engine # on the title and it was restamped to match when installed in the 38. Quote
Young Ed Posted July 2, 2011 Report Posted July 2, 2011 Ok with a 1937 casting date I would consider that a 1938 plymouth and a 201. Now if I remember my engine history correctly a 218 is a bored out 201. I know they will both bolt in the same. Only tricky part is the 201s are rumored to have weaker cranks than the later flatheads. Quote
FESTER60 Posted July 3, 2011 Author Report Posted July 3, 2011 Thanks to all for your expert advice. Quote
B-Watson Posted July 5, 2011 Report Posted July 5, 2011 Hey Ed, this is my spare engine, the casting mark down low is P 14, but the motor "VIN" is P6*I69536* . Does this make any sense to you?P6 says it is a '38 block. P14 says '42 ? Does the first number of the serial being an I indicate it started life as an industrial? When determing the model year of an engine, only the stamped engine number is of any use. The casting numbers for the block may have been used over a number of years. So, P6*I69536* means the engine is a 1938 Plymouth engine, 201.3-cid 23" block, 3.125" bore and 4.375" stroke. 1938 Plymouth Business Six was model P7 and the DeLuxe series was P8. An industrial engine number usually started with IND. Quote
Jim Benjaminson Posted July 5, 2011 Report Posted July 5, 2011 Its a 1938 engine, block casting date is sometime in 1937, can't make out that first digit but P6 is the clue. All P5 and P6 series Plymouth engines began with the code P6 (there were no P5 blocks). Engine numbers began an P6-1001 and ran thru P6-532,087. 1938 car production began September 3, 1937 for the P6 Deluxe and September 22, 1937 for the Business/Road King series so this engine is correct with a 1937 casting date. Quote
Robert Horne Posted July 6, 2011 Report Posted July 6, 2011 My 1937 4 door has an engine number of P4 100 960 My 38 Coupes did not have engines when I got them. The engine in my 38 Coupe is 2C 3779, I believe came from a 36 Dodge. Quote
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