I agree with most of what Rusty says except the part about parts not being easier to find for the 23 inch blocks. Speed parts are few and far between for the 25 inch Chrysler and Desoto engines. The flathead Mopars can be cool engines. Check out Edgy Speed Shop http://edgyspeedshop.com/ for aluminum head (both 23" and 25"), intakes, reground cams. Langdons Stovebolts http://stoveboltengineco.com/ for intakes, cast iron headers and HEI distributor. Paul Curtis http://home.comcast.net/~tcb***/t5.html has an adapter for a T5 5 speed to the flatty. An alternative is to look for a Borg Warner R10 OD from a mid 50's Dodge or Plymouth. Other than running a couple of wires for the solenoid it is a direct bolt in swap for the standard 3 speed. If you don't want a 5 speed and can't find the R10, then look for a rear end from a late 90's Explorer of 89 - 91 Dakota with 3:55 gears. You will need to move the spring perches and modify the drive shaft but you get a much better RPM at cruising speed. Also make sure you check out the P15-D24 site http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_...eferrerid=1152 there is a ton of Mopar Flathead knowledge over there. If you go with the 23 inch block look for a 230 out of a later (55 or so on) Plymouth or (early 50's on) Dodge, the difference between it and the earlier 218 is very noticable performance wise. Check out Blueskies site http://50plymouth.com/ he does a good thread of the rebuild of his 230. Here is my 230 in my 48 Plymouth Coupe. Also a video of my old 218 running through 2 inch duals with cross over pipe and a pair of short 14 inch no name turbo style mufflers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxfKQ4KMM9s. Don't have a video of the 230 yet.
Can you still get parts for it? is it a Canadian or U.S car? I believe the bore is different.. correct me if Im wrong..
Hkestes what you say may be true in Texas. It is not true in Canada. Reason, the smaller engine was never made or sold in Canada. Plodge, the whole engine is different. Canadian made Plymouth and Dodge got what was basically the American DeSoto/Chrysler engine, in a smaller displacement. Parts are not hard to get.
Would be nice if our Canadian Mopar fans would post right off the bat that their car is a Canadian Produced vehicle. Would make the discussion a lot more germaine to thier situation, and to less nit picking a**** the support troops.
I took a hint from where it said on his avatar Location: Langley BC Canada, and his speaking of driving south to the US to get a parts car.
When an OP is anywhere close to the border then the origin of the car is suspect. Yes, if the OP knew in advance that there were both 23" and 25" engines and that the 'exports' were only 25" then he could mention it. .
This is ****** knuckles from the iron lords cc's flattie in his old 51. Freaking sweet! He is dialing my 34 flattie in at the moment!
Tom Langdon Stove bolt in Detroit area is great, he is in with Asche as well... I would go with the 230..... 49 dodge truck motor.... But see what parts are readily available and go from there. Normally, they are the same.... Take Dodge, they use Plymouth and rebadged them Kingsway for Export to Canada.... In 41 the grills where different, and it made no sense....
I've had very good dealings with Tom Langdon. He specializes in MOPAR flat 6 speed equipment. His site is www.stoveboltengineco.com , phone is 586-739-9601. He is a wealth of help/info. FYI, there's no need to go with the crude stuff from George Aische, when Offenhouser still makes dual carb intakes and Tom Langdon has Fenton-style headers. He can also supply parts for you to convert your 3 speed to a T-5 set-up. I have hopped up Dodge flat 6s in my '46 Ply business coupe and '39 Ply business coupe (see my avatar). Also, I had Earl Edgerton re-grind the cam for the '55 Dodge engine in my '39 and I'm very pleased at how well the engine runs, he did a great job.
I have a factory dual carb set up for the big flatty....any idea what it's worth? I have the header too....looking to off load it for my 300 fund....
Kingsway?!?!? I thought they were Fargos! Or did it depend on what year? Just like Ford sold Canadian "f"100 trucks as Mercury "M"100s.
On one hand the offy and fenton stuff looks awesome.......but "crude" home made stuff looks better to me cause that's how the low buck I can barely afford to build this rodder does things!
Dodge Kingsway, a low priced Dodge car, basically a Plymouth with Dodge engine, emblems and grille. Made in Canada 1946 - 59 for Canadian and export markets. Fargo, a Dodge truck with Fargo emblems to sell at Plymouth dealers in Canada and in some export markets.
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