m37 engine compatibility

[homer41]

Would an m37 engine be a bolt in for a 41 plymouth?  Dave

[Young Ed]

measure the head length. If they are both the same you should be good to go for the basic block. Might have to do some swapping of the externals.

[dpollo]

Check starter and  spacing of ring gear if you are changing from a 4 bolt crankshaft to an eight bolt.

M37s mostly had 230 s  but you are so close to Canada a 251 may have gotten into the gene pool.

[homer41]

Thanks

[RS2]

I just removed an engine from an M37 that was attached to the transmission, but not stock.  It bolted up to an early plymouth bellhousing just fine.  This one was 12V (some kind of dodge passenger car or farm implement) but I have heard there are major differences with the distributor, oil pump, starter, and flywheel.  Changing the distributor from the 24V military version and internal coil requires changing the oil pump also.  I think it would bolt in easy, but you have some challenges converting it to 6 or 12V.

Edited April 15, 2017 by RS2
typing fail

[dpollo]

I put a military 251 (which came in a crate ready to be field installed) into my 52 Fargo.  All the civilian gear fit.  No issues with the distributor or voltage. I kept the military PCV  ( Donaldson Valve ) but removed the manual shut off  and put a regular cap on the  oil filler.  I also used a civilian (SPITFIRE) head since the military engines had lower compression.