swaping cranks ??

[wayfarerstranger]

hello folks me again ,, i have a rebuilt 54 ply motor with a 4 bolt crank .. is it possible to take the crank from my 50 dodge motor & put it in the ply motor so i could attach the fluid drive set up .. and use the good motor ,, i hate to rebuild another motor if i can use the one i got .. .. i would love to just use the plymouth motor & regular 3 spd but the cross mount for the bell housing is in a different location ...

[Heavy Flat Head]

wayfarerstranger,

You also will have to change the rods. The blocks are the same but with different cranks and rods.

Ed.

[Young Ed]

Only if 1 is a 218 and one is a 230.

[steveplym]

So if I have a 218 and a 230 the cranks will swap?

I'm getting ready to fix the rolled rod bearing incident in my 230. I've got a 218 in the car now and I'm afraid the crank may be beyond fixing in the 230. Wanted to use the 218 crank if possible.

[Young Ed]

218 and 230 cranks can be swapped with the matching rods.

[steveplym]

Good. That will make things much easier if the crank is toast.

Thanks.

[grey beard]

If anybody needs one, I have a very nice 218 crank with eight holes in the flange - took the fluid drive member off myself a couple of years ago. Anybody needs it, come get it quick.

Thanks

[wayfarerstranger]

i believe the 54 plymouth is also a 230

[Plymouthy Adams]

Only after the following date and engine sequence #

February 24, 1954 110 HP engine replaced 100 HP engine. Power Flite automatic transmission introduced ($189.00 MSRP) after engine * P25*243001.

[Don Coatney]

Chance;

A 4 bolt crankshaft will NOT work with a fluid drive.

[wayfarerstranger]

don i know .. thats why i thought about swaping cranks .. just sucks i have 2 extra plymouth engines one rebuilt and one is super nice condition , and nothing to use them on .. i`m going to pull the valve cover on the 50 dodge and check for stuck valves . if i find any i`ll go from there ,. but having 2 middle low cylinders side by side still think i`ve got a blown head gasket .. if all fails i`ll repair the 50`s engine or i may pull the one from my pink 52 wayfarer coupe and use it ,, it came from a truck originally.. i checked compression on it and they were all around 100 ... then just sell the coupe body to someone wanting to hotrod something ..go to many cars anyway ....

[wayfarerstranger]

engine #`s on mine p25 340743 ,,, tim it shouldn`t be such a big deal to put the 8 bolt crank and new rods in it , or is it ?? thanx georgia wizard

[Plymouthy Adams]

As stated earlier....the things you need to keep in mind.....what stroke on the 23 inch block are you working with ....the crank and rods must match......common bore...odd strokes. That being said, next you have to keep in mind what tranny configuration you are running...fluid drive Dodges get the 8 bolt pattern I understand...others are less...you can take the 8 to a 4 application but not the other way around I understand. Now something I cannot answer....position of the rear crossmember on the Dodge versus the Plymouth because of the fluid drive...this may be the final deciding factor on mix and match drive lines...however the engine should is just a matter of correct crank..do not overlook the fact that the Dodge had 218 engine in 39-41 I think....fluid drive also...

As for hard...just time consuming...cause for a few new gaskets and seals...

Edited January 26, 2021 by Plymouthy Adams

[Young Ed]

pickups had 218 with fluid drive in the pilot house range of trucks too. So another wrench in the works there

[wayfarerstranger]

the cross member on the plymouth is closer to the front because the bell housing is smaller and the mounting holes are closer together . on the dodge it sets further back and mounting holes are further apart because that bell housing is larger . there is a lay out in the manual that give exact measurements.. as far as the truck engine i have in my 53 dodge i`m not sure of the size it came from a 52 or 53 model i believe and it must have had fluid drive cause it`s in the dodge and running and has been for about 12 years now , i didn`t do the swap ..

[Jim Yergin]

Tim or anyone else who knows, when and why did Chrysler begin using a six hole crankshaft and flywheel. I have a flywheel that is supposed to be for a later 50's Dodge and it only has six bolt holes. Did Chrysler decide that eight bolts was overkill and sought to save the cost of the extra two bolts?

Jim Yergin

[blueskies]

So if I have a 218 and a 230 the cranks will swap?

I'm getting ready to fix the rolled rod bearing incident in my 230. I've got a 218 in the car now and I'm afraid the crank may be beyond fixing in the 230. Wanted to use the 218 crank if possible.

You will be losing cubes by swapping out the 230 crank for the 218...

I swapped my 218 crank for a 230, along with 230 rods. Blocks are the same. You will need the flywheel too, the 230 crank has a thicker flange, and corresponding recess in the flywheel to take up the extra thickness.

Pete