Has anyone Put A 318 In a 50 Plymouth?

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hi All, I am thinking about putting a 318in to my 50 business coupe. I will need some guidance from anywhere I can get it. Can I use my frame? Will it fit? Any thing that will help me decide. Thanks Tony

[BobT-47P15]

Have never done that, Tony. But I have always thought the 318 was a good engine. Surely someone out there somewhere has done that. Are they smaller than some other engines?? More convenient to install??

[blueskies]

Hi All, I am thinking about putting a 318in to my 50 business coupe.

Say it isn't so!

Your '50 is one of my fav's....

Pete

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes but I subframed so to get all the other goodies of the modern front suspension and braking along with the upgraded engines..HOwever I have the 41 here at the house...similar set up with stock frame, modern brakes/steering and 383 Mopar...

[Kirby D34]

I install a 318 with a 904 trans into a 50 Dodge club coupe. I use the 50 frame. Hope to finish installing the 8 3/4 rear axle this week end. Kirby

[Norm's Coupe]

Tony,

If Kirby got the 318 into his Dodge, it should slide into the Plymouth just as well. That's a nice coupe you have now. Putting the 318 in it will make it even better. Then you could drive it on those Rod Runs.

[Dennis Hemingway]

If this guy can fit a HEMI in this Plymouth Wagon a 318 should not be a problem. This photo was taken at the Big Bear Show last year.

Dennis

[Normspeed]

Tony, the POC ain't gonna like that. Either way, Your coupe is a beauty.

[/img]

[/img]

[Tony Cipponeri]

Thanks Guys, I am still in the kicking around stage, but I think I may go ahead. For starters does anyone want a 1964 El Camino, it has to go in order to fund an engine swap. I had my car at the spring national, and I figure in order to compete in that field, I would need to spend about 5,000 to make it completely stock. So I am going to make it a nice car that I want. Tony C

[Norm's Coupe]

Tony,

I think I would keep the El Camino myself. That is one nice car/pickup, and it's proved itself on the highway when you were on the rod run out here a couple of years ago.

Don't blame you for thinking about upgrading the coupe. I'm like you. Would rather spend the money and have a good highway car than to have one just for shows. You can have more fun with it that way.

[Don Coatney]

Thanks Guys, I am still in the kicking around stage, but I think I may go ahead. For starters does anyone want a 1964 El Camino, it has to go in order to fund an engine swap. I had my car at the spring national, and I figure in order to compete in that field, I would need to spend about 5,000 to make it completely stock. So I am going to make it a nice car that I want. Tony C

Tony;

I know a guy who is sort of looking. Post a picture and price.

[JerseyHarold]

Tony,

A 318 would really perk-up the performance of your Business Coupe (wish my '51 looked that good....). I say go for it.

Tex Smith's book 'HowTo Build a Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge Hot Rod' had an article on putting a 318 into a P15. One thing I remember from it is that if you put a passenger's side exhaust manifold on the driver's side it helps with steering box clearance issues.

Keep us posted on your decision.

[Norm's Coupe]

Tony;

I know a guy who is sort of looking. Post a picture and price.

Don,

I've seen Tony's El Camino up close and personal. It's one nice El Camino. You would need sunglasses on if you raise the hood on a sunny day. Nice chrome and stainless all under that hood that will blind you on a sunny day. The rest of the car is just as nice. Here's the one picture I have of it. I'm sure Tony has more and better ones though. This picture was taken on the rod run a couple of years ago when he was on his way to Green Bay, WI in the rod run. I blocked out the picture of Tony and Karen in this picture.

[Normspeed]

Norm, why block them out of the pic? BTW, I should mention that's not Tony in the coupe pics I posted.

[Norm's Coupe]

Norm, why block them out of the pic? BTW, I should mention that's not Tony in the coupe pics I posted.

They are not blocked out on the original picture I have. I did that when I reduced the picture some time ago and posted it. Wasn't sure if he wanted their pictures on the net. He later said it was ok. That's why they are blocked out in that picture. I know that's not his Plymouth in this thread. I also have a picture of Tony's Plymouth. Here it is here. Last I knew Tony didn't know how to post pictures on the Forum. Guess I did later reduce the picture with them still it. Just found it.

[Normspeed]

Yeah, that's him , looks just like his picture down at the post office:D

Actually that is Tony's ride in my pics, taken recently in CA. But the guy in the pic is not Tony.

Glad to hear you didn't erase them out of the photo for security reasons. I was worried that there might be some new kinda cyber-voodoo-steal your soul thru an internet photo scam going on.

[bob_amos]

Tony, Max, the upholstery guy, has a 50 that is set up for a small block Chevy. You can always have a look at his car to see how it was done. I can put you in touch with him. I'm sure he'd be happy to show you. By the way, what caused you to decide to make the change? Yu've never said a thing to me about it before.

[bob_amos]

By the way guys. I have worked on Tony's El Camino a number of times and it is one nice machine. Tony only goes for the best on his cars so anyone that gets it will truely enjoy owning it.

[blueskies]

...Would rather spend the money and have a good highway car than to have one just for shows. You can have more fun with it that way.

I'm having a ball with my "good highway car" and it's flathead six...

I don't think keeping the flathead six has anything to do with reliability or drivability on the highway. It's more a question of priorities and dollars. I could have put two crate 350s in my plymouth for what I've spent, but they wouldn't have been any more drivable.

I'm all for doing what you want with your car, I have a V8 in my '53 chevy truck. But I think it's a myth that the 'ol flatty isn't roadworthy. They pulled these cars around reliably for decades.

Pete

[Norm's Coupe]

I'm having a ball with my "good highway car" and it's flathead six...

I don't think keeping the flathead six has anything to do with reliability or drivability on the highway. It's more a question of priorities and dollars. I could have put two crate 350s in my plymouth for what I've spent, but they wouldn't have been any more drivable.

I'm all for doing what you want with your car, I have a V8 in my '53 chevy truck. But I think it's a myth that the 'ol flatty isn't roadworthy. They pulled these cars around reliably for decades.

Pete

Pete,

Didn't mean to sound like the flathead six wouldn't be ok on the highway. After all, I drove them on the highway many times back in the early 60's. However, that was back in the 60's when things were a lot different and you could buy your parts anywhere, anytime. It's a different world out there today when it comes to highways and speeds. Not to mention finding repair parts or a service shop on the road to do emergency repairs. I don't care how reliable a car is most of the time, it will break down or need repairs if you drive it. Having a modern drive train makes it easier to do those speeds on a continued bases and also to get parts and have it repaired in an emergency.

[No Bux Rod]

Tony,

I put a '55 Plymouth (259" I think?) V8 in my '48 special deluxe back in the early 1960s. We used the Ply. 3 speed and the stock rear motor mounts to locate the motor.

The only problem was the steering column which rubbed the cylinder head and required a custom exhaust manifold on the left side. Hopefully the 1950 will give you some additional room.

N B R

=============================

(looking for a 230" flathead motor in GA for a modern project)