The original Dodge Hybrid - Mixing and Matching Dodge Car and Truck Engine parts

[wagoneer]

I have recently discovered my Dodge B2B - Project Elise - is running a 1951  D42 Dodge Passenger car Engine (1951 Coronet is my best guess), but is equipped with some truck engine accessories including a 1950 stomp starter, undetermined original Chrysler alternator, an IAT-4003a distributor (1269126) from a 1953 B3B?? 

 

Regardless, this is more a fundamental question about compatibility across the Chrysler Corporation Flathead 6 models. The D42 seems to slip right inlace of the original T engine, but now do I need to gap it and treat it as a 1951 engine, or could I apply B2B truck engine standards to it?

 

Is there anything really fundamentally different about the Truck engine vs the Passenger car engine that should merit having to buy the D42 service manual, and ordering all d42 parts? 

 

It's a bit annoying to have to think of about which car my equipment came from. How do others deal? Does it really make a difference which distributor I put into the engine - could I put in a truck distributor in my car engine, and vice versa? Who knows if the 3 speed I have is the truck 3 speed, or the car 3 speed, but it links up fine with my column shifter.

 

What about putting other Chrysler co items like Plymouth or Desoto parts into the engines? I guess the only major difference is 23 vs 25 inch blocks.

 

 

 

[JBNeal]

my '48 B-1-B-108 has a '55 Plymouth 230 in it, with all of the '48 Dodge Truck engine components installed, including the external bypass thermostat housing, even though the head and block have the internal bypass.  From my experience, the flathead engine requires parts from the year of the engine, with the change in '51 to the internal bypass setup on all flatheads, as well as the rear main seal design change that eliminated the rope seals.  The truck engine components vary and depend on your application...your distributor repair parts depend on the distributor model number but not necessarily the truck model, as several distributors were interchangeable on these flatheads.  My experience was kinda expensive before the internets as I assumed everything in the truck was original, according to the previous owner (Dad) who inherited from the original owner (great grandfather), but we both learned otherwise when replacement parts did not fit.  Since the internets became accessible with the pocket gizmo, I can do my research from right in the engine compartment to get the correct parts the 1st time, reducing overall repair costs.

[busycoupe]

My 1948 D24 has a rebuilt engine that has a block from a 1951 Plymouth.  When I got it, it had an aluminum serial number plate riveted over the factory engine number.  I suspect that the internal parts are from a Dodge 230  because my car has fluid drive, and the crank shaft and fly wheel are different from a Plymouth crank and fly wheel.  Also, the head has a "T" cast into it.  Is this from a truck engine?   When I bought a rear main seal the catalog said that a 48 Dodge used a rope seal, but I had to get a bolt-on neoprene seal to fit the Plymouth block.  It looks like the rebuilder was fast and loose with mixing and matching parts. 

[kencombs]

23 minutes ago, busycoupe said:

 It looks like the rebuilder was fast and loose with mixing and matching parts. 

 

Normal mode of operation in most rebuilders of the flathead era.  So much part interchangeability, all were torn down, cleaned and parts stored.  If building an engine, just grab a block, rods, etc from the clean parts shelf, pistons, rings and bearings from stock.  I've seen a number of engines with rods from other engines, like two of the same number.  So, I developed the habit of punch marks on all rods, cap and mains before unbolting.  That way I  can put them back where they belong, not follow the numbers.

[Los_Control]

I really doubt you will find much difference in engine tune up. Seems the specs would be the same, point gap, dwell, timing, valve lash

 

Parts will depend on what you have, points cap rotor you always need to use # off the distributor to get correct parts. Same with carburetor.

 

My 1rst 49  3/4 ton B1C was a old farm truck and had a 1937 P motor in it with a 1/2 ton front axle 

I also had a 1952 b2b with a 1952 plymouth motor in it I would assumed it was changed also.

 

I cant remember where I heard this, could be no truth to it at all .... Think it was my Uncle.

During those years, if they were running out of the T truck engines, they would use up the extra P plymouth engines ... clear them out & get ready for next years models.

So if that is true, it is possible my 1952 truck had a original engine that was a P ... I dunno, they are basically all the same anyways. From 1936 forward.

At least my understanding of it.

 

 

[47Jim]

Same boat here, 47 one ton with '50 Dodge car 230, truck manifolds for sure, but I'm not familiar enough to know what else, since it has a basic 3 speed, and the manifold is a hunk of iron and nothing more, I order everything for the '50 Dodge 230, probably same part either way

[tinlizzy]

I have a 1948 1/2 ton Pilothouse with a 48 Chrysler Spitfire engine mounted up to 3 on the floor tranny and stomp starter.