Will the 218 work with the PowerFlite??

[54Illinois]

I pulled my 230 with PowerFlite because the walls were scored bad. The one I am swapping is a early 218 with Hy Drive. I know the stroke is different in the 218, but will it work ok with the PowerFlite? Of course I am plugging the oil ports.

Were there early 53-54's with the Power Flite that had a 218?

Thanks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

not 100% certain but being a hy-drive unit the crank requires 89 bolts flange in both cases..I would look close at the offset (flange diameter and distance from back of block both cases..) you kinda trolling uncharted waters...both use full torque convertors

[greg g]

can you put the put the 230 crank into the 218 block? How bad is 230, they can be bored .060 without problem, maybe more the sleved to stock.

[54Illinois]

I will measure the crank. I cant imagine plymouth made a different crank for just the Hy Drive.

The 230 is scored to the point that the machine shop said it can be bored, but marring may still be present. Also, I could spend about $600 on the engine, vs. use the 218 which looks great.

[Young Ed]

If you are rebuilding one use the 218 block with the 230 crank and rods. The bore is the same between a 218 and 230.

[Plymouthy Adams]

the common bond you do have is the hy-drive and the automatic use the 8 bolt crank..and I agree, it would make no sense to cast a special crank..but as to the best of my knowledge..this is the first this question has come up here and well..in similar situations differences have been found..its going to boil down to the "tale of the tape" I have the Powerflite but the manual does no cover this in any fashion whatsoever..not even mentioned in passing..the automatic was a true mid year change..difference is how the convertor is oil feed..so basically unless you happen to have the drawing on the automatic..it's hard to make an educated guess..you will have the opportunity to enlighten this board with your mechanical adventure..good luck..report your steps as you go..a few folks are interested in this thread..

[Niel Hoback]

Isn't it logical that the automatic converter would be internally fed from the transmission front pump?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Neil..the comparison is between the auto and the hy-drive convertors and their obvious difference.

[wayfarer]

From measurements I have taken and have been given, you should find that the face of the flange on the 218 is right at 1" from the face of the block, but the larger engines will measure in the 1.185" range...on manual trans cars the flywheel is the 'odd' part so what happens in the fluid drive system??

Be cautious of mixing parts until you are sure of how they fit/work.

[54Illinois]

I have both cranks, so I will set the 230 crank in the 218, and measure. I guess anything is possible. The 230 being the "upgraded" motor, and the Powerflite replacing the Hy Drive, a new crank was needed.

Did the 218 cease to exist after mid 1954?

Here is my latest gripe...rusted valves!

[greg g]

nope! some of the ones installed before the change are still running around. Sorry couldn't resist. That was it for cars, but they still may have been used in industrial applications.