SQ4MN Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 I had a 48 Plymouth as a kid, it had a stock 217 cu inch six in it. I bought another six from an engine rebuilder back in those days that as I remember was bigger. Maybe it was the 230 cu inch motor. As I remember it just bolted in with no modifications. This is all by memory and I could be wrong. Was there any HP difference between the 217 and the 230 and if so how much? What year did the 230 come out? I think my new motor might have been a 1954, could that have been a 230? Just curious about this and I figure some of you guys know the answers. One more question, what is the biggest MOPAR flathead six that can be bolted in these cars? Thanks,Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 13 HP....if truly you got the 54 230 engine.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austinsailor Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 No modifications, probably 230ci. Minor mods, 265 ci Major mods, 413 ci. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 American made Mopar's built two basic 6 cylinder flathead physical sized engines unless you get into the big trucks. Plymouth and dodge use the 23" long engine. Desoto and Chrysler use a longer 25" engine. Chrysler only made a 265 CI engine for only a couple of years. Desoto made a 251 CI engine. The 25" engine will fit into a P-15 with a few modifications. I am running a Desoto engine in my car. As far as horse power the most heavily modified flathead is still shy of 200HP. I would guess that my engine bored .030" over to 255CI, lumpy cam, dual carburetors, dual exhaust, and dual point distributor makes somewhere in the 130-140 HP range but I have never verified this with dynamotor testing. As far as dependability on a slightly modified engine I have driven well over 40,000 trouble free miles. I have also installed a 5 speed transmission that allows the versatility to stay within the torque and HP ranges for most all driving conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SQ4MN Posted October 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I never remember my old Plymouth as being fast. I remember it as being reliable and I thought it looked cool, even with its primer spots. I also thought it sounded good. This was about 1960 so the car really wasn't all that old. You have to realize that at the time the overhead valve V8 cars were in their full glory, there were many factory hot rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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