brian hood Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Hey, I need help. Was there such an engine as a 201 in a Plymouth? I need an engine for a 53 Dodge B-4. It has a 218 in there. If there is a 201, will it fit in place of a 218? How do I tell which is which? The owner claims it came from a 41 Plymouth P-12. Any ideas? Brian Quote
Young Ed Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Yes The flatheads were a 201 before becoming a 218. The 218 is a bored out 201. Then to make the 230 the stroke was increased. Find the engine # from it and someone will be able to identify what it is. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 the 201 has a narrow head, exposed cylinders on the drivers side...starter issues is the main concern when putting one of these engines in place of the 218... PM sent... Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Aren't the valve diameters smaller too on a 201 ? Quote
B-Watson Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Hey,I need help. Was there such an engine as a 201 in a Plymouth? I need an engine for a 53 Dodge B-4. It has a 218 in there. If there is a 201, will it fit in place of a 218? How do I tell which is which? The owner claims it came from a 41 Plymouth P-12. Any ideas? Brian Yes, Plymouth used a 201.3-cid (3.125" bore / 4.375" stroke) engine from 1934 through 1941. The block is Chrysler's 23" block and is physically the same size for all 23" blocks - 189.8-cid (3.125" bore / 4.125" stroke) up through 230.2-cid (3.25" bore / 4.625" stroke). The engine was introduced in 1933 and modified for 1935 with full-length cylinder water jackets. Your Dodge truck has a 217.6-cid engine (3.25" bore / 4.375" stroke), again a 23" block. I use 217.6-cid so as not to confuse it with the 25" block 218.0-cid engine. From the outside, a 1941 Plymouth block will look the same as the 1953 Dodge truck block. To tell which is which, check the engine number stamped on the left front of the block, just below the head. If it is from a 1941 Plymouth the engine number will start with either P11 or P12. Being a little smaller, and older, than the Dodge truck engine, the Plymouth engine will have a little less power. Bill Vancouver, BC Quote
Young Ed Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Tim that smaller head exposed water jacket thing only lasted for 33 34. After that they look the same. I have heard rumors of 201s having weak crankshafts though. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Thanks guys..I have a mental block on what years that was applicable..just knew it was early style..never owned one that old so did not really have a "need" to know or remember..will try to commit this to memory. can't comment on the crank... Quote
kiwi mopar Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Yes, Plymouth used a 201.3-cid (3.125" bore / 4.375" stroke) engine from 1934 through 1941. The block is Chrysler's 23" block and is physically the same size for all 23" blocks - 189.8-cid (3.125" bore / 4.125" stroke) up through 230.2-cid (3.25" bore / 4.625" stroke). The engine was introduced in 1933 and modified for 1935 with full-length cylinder water jackets. Your Dodge truck has a 217.6-cid engine (3.25" bore / 4.375" stroke), again a 23" block. I use 217.6-cid so as not to confuse it with the 25" block 218.0-cid engine. From the outside, a 1941 Plymouth block will look the same as the 1953 Dodge truck block. To tell which is which, check the engine number stamped on the left front of the block, just below the head. If it is from a 1941 Plymouth the engine number will start with either P11 or P12. Being a little smaller, and older, than the Dodge truck engine, the Plymouth engine will have a little less power. Bill Vancouver, BC i have seen you guys talking about a 23 and 25 block and i understand that the size. but as for the quote above my is a 240cid or 241cid in a 1935 chrysler. so i have been told by a lot of guys. these guy say it the biggest block you can get is this right. and what colour was the block form factroy ? Quote
Reg Evans Posted March 21, 2008 Report Posted March 21, 2008 Yes, the 25" block was the largest block made for automobiles. The color in 34 was probably silver. Quote
Young Ed Posted March 21, 2008 Report Posted March 21, 2008 I think 34 was still black with a silver head. I believe the all silver started in 36. Quote
mackster Posted March 21, 2008 Report Posted March 21, 2008 Yes, Plymouth used a 201.3-cid (3.125" bore / 4.375" stroke) engine from 1934 through 1941. The block is Chrysler's 23" block and is physically the same size for all 23" blocks - 189.8-cid (3.125" bore / 4.125" stroke) up through 230.2-cid (3.25" bore / 4.625" stroke). The engine was introduced in 1933 and modified for 1935 with full-length cylinder water jackets. Your Dodge truck has a 217.6-cid engine (3.25" bore / 4.375" stroke), again a 23" block. I use 217.6-cid so as not to confuse it with the 25" block 218.0-cid engine. From the outside, a 1941 Plymouth block will look the same as the 1953 Dodge truck block. To tell which is which, check the engine number stamped on the left front of the block, just below the head. If it is from a 1941 Plymouth the engine number will start with either P11 or P12. Being a little smaller, and older, than the Dodge truck engine, the Plymouth engine will have a little less power. Bill Vancouver, BC I Need a picture now! I have not seen a 201 ever!!!!... Quote
Andydodge Posted March 21, 2008 Report Posted March 21, 2008 Mackster, I have a 1941 Plymouth Coupe, it still has the 201 , engine # starts with P11, it looks identical to the later 218/230, apart from maybe some minor differences with bolt on stuff but otherwise identical, I have a 230 that I'm building to replace the 201 with, sorry I don't have a pic of the engine bay to show.......andyd Quote
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