Engine thanks to forum member

[RobertKB]

Thanks to a forum member, Brendan D25, I have myself another spare engine. With information provided by him I bought a 1952 Dodge truck that had a running engine in it but had not run for a year or more. It had also sat outside with the hood off the truck for that long as well. Bought the truck, sold some parts from it, sent the rest to the crusher (so badly rotted out it was beyond hope), and ended up with a freebie engine. Got it home, changed oil, pulled the plugs and turned the 6V starter with a 12 V battery. Oil pressure quickly built to 55+ pounds and compression is 90, 95, 115, and 120(3). I reckon that once I get it running for a while the lower ones will likely improve. Gotta gap the points and clean them up a bit. Plugs looked great and I put on new wires. The radiator was good so I just need to connect it, give it some gas, and fire it. Looking forward to hearing it run. Now all I need is to find a project to drop it in. Engine is from a Canadian P26 ('55 Plymouth) and is therefore the long block. The brass tag on the side shows it was rebuilt with the cylinders being bored 30/1000 and rods and mains were turned 20/1000. I feel I got a diamond in the rough. Thanks again Brendan! This forum is amazing!

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Good score man! I feel confused however, hearing several threads talking about the Canadian P26 having a long block. Mine has a short block 230", and it's the factory fitted block according to the matching numbers. There is a 2 1/2" gap between the rear of the block and the firewall, but this has an accelerator pedal connecting rod running along it (the car is right hand drive). Maybe the factory fitted the short block to RHD models so they could accomodate this linkage. Hmmm.... maybe I'll keep my eyes open for a long block.

[RobertKB]

I have always understood that all Canadian export cars always had the long block engine. It is possible you have a US manufactured car as they did build them too. Your tag on the firewall should indicate which country it was built in. I also understood that cars assembled in NZ got tax preference so maybe your car was assembled there using a US engine. Beautiful country you have there...I was there in 1982 and thoroughly enjoyed it. Favourite spots were North Cape, Cable Bay, and 90 Mile Beach. I also went through Napier while there. I believe there was a big earthquake there in the 1930's?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Not sure of what you have but the engine in my 54car is a 230 and it sits within 3/4 inch of the firewall and has throttle linkage plus being an automatic it has kickdown linkage running from there to the tranny

[greg g]

what is the little brass tag near the oil pump?????

[RobertKB]

Greg, the brass tag is explained in the first posting. It just gives the details of an engine rebuild done in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, sometime in the distant past.

[Brendan D25]

Robert, I'm so glad that the deal on the truck worked out well for you. When I was looking at it in Lethbridge, I was thinking what a shame to see it go for scrap. Through this great forum I was able to contact you and am pleased that you acted on it and saved it to live on in parts to keep other old trucks on the road. Brendan.