Projects Chrysler straight 8 questions

I know it's a chrysler straight 8 but that's all I know. Any info that could be provide would be great as I'm not a chrysler guy. I recently got this and I know it's missing the harmonic balancer but other then that it looks super clean and turns over new wires plugs and balancer and it looks like it would fire up. I just don't know anything about these. Id like to know the value if someone has an idea.

 

Can anyone please help me out?

 

If you can give us the engine number located on the left front of the block above the generator and just below the cylinder head on that flat area (it's under the rag in the first photo), we can tell you something about it.

 

What is the serial number? Should start with a C and a 2 digit number and possibly a letter like C29K. That gives you the year and model. Should be stamped on the block somewhere. The raised letters are casting numbers that tell me nothing.

 

I can tell you that the exhaust manifold is crazy expensive to replace; a high percentage of them are cracked.
I can also tell you that they are pretty cool, but you already knew that.

Not many hot-rod guys have any interest because they are a bit difficult to work with. AFAIK, I am the only shop making a trans adapter for them and no one is beating a path to my door.
Like any other old odd-ball engine you can expect rebuild parts to get expensive, but they are available.

Are you planning to use the engine or is it just a shop decoration?

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Dodger that is where the 6 cylinders have their serial# but I don't see it in the photo unless it is covered up by the rag. There should be a serial number some place but I don't know where exactly.

 

Might be late 1940s with that 90 degree gooseneck for the upper radiator hose.

 

Yep....it should be under the rag in the first photo. I am not familiar with the bent oil filler tube, so it might be from a boat. Here is a buddy's early straight eight with the number location shown....

 

Camera angles can be tricky but it appears to have a plain clutch and flywheel which would make it pre 1939. If I am wrong and there is a thing that looks like a torque converter in there, then it is 1939 - 48.

As for serial # location the book says 'left front of block'

 

Sorry....I meant to type in late 1930s.

 

It is possible it is some kind of industrial or marine unit. If so the serial # will start with IND or M.

Chrysler used this straight eight in the Saratoga, New Yorker and Imperial models. They were selling against the Buick Roadmaster, Cadillac and Packard at the time. 323 cu in 135HP. Very well made, durable engine. Parts are getting hard to come by compared to the much more common Chrysler 6.

Would make an interesting choice for a vintage speedster or hot rod project. Value, hard to say. Might be worth a few hundred bucks to the right party.

 

There is nothing under that white rag number wise

 

I got it to possibly build another dirt track car down the road but I rather just sell it and put the money towards the one I'm currently building

 

It must have a stamped serial number somewhere if it is a car engine or truck engine. Where did you get it? Do you know what it came out of?

Dodger your photo looks like a serial number pad, why are there no numbers on it?

 

My friend got it with a bunch of parts no clue where it came

 

Looks like you've got it identified. 323.5 Cu in. used from 1934 through 1950.

I pulled one of those out of a 39 Imperial and rebuilt it for my Frankenstein WWII Dodge 4x4.


I recently put this freshly rebuilt motor up for sale. It cost me over $2k in parts to overhaul it 10 years ago. I think it has gotten a lot more expensive to build obsolete motors since then. I've run it in the chassis, but have not put any miles on it. I collected everything to put a Dodge 4 speed truck transmission behind it.


There happens to be one on ebay now, not mine: http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHRYSLER-SP...athead-Engine-1934-1950-RAT-ROD-/262454346908

 

The way it sits right now I was hoping to get around $500 seems like running ones go for $1000 and everything is good on the even the intake manifold so parting it out should get me around the same just don't wanna have to deal with every single thing

 

The number is there. It is just so rusty that the shot does not show it well.

 

I was thinking truck, too with that bellhousing/shifter mount setup.

 

Did they use the straight eight in trucks? I have seen one in a crane in a junkyard so I know they made industrial straight eights. And I believe they were available for boats.

My guess is the OP's engine is from a late 30s New Yorker or Imperial.

 

Thanks for the help guys

 

Rusty, you are right about the Chrysler straight 8's being used in boats......a well known Australian boat building company, Halvorsen used these engines from the mid 30's........a mate who was searching for a starter motor for his 1938 Imperial Limo found a couple on Halvorsens spare parts shelf..........andyd

 

I would love the learn about original truck applications for a straight eight. I have never heard of Dodge using the eight in a truck. They did have a big six that was around 400 cubic inches. They even had a diesel around 1940, but no eight that I am aware of in a truck.

The US military experimented with all kinds of setups in the 30s. There were prototypes using Lycoming and Duesenberg eights, Franklin air-cooled sixes and some V-12s from luxury cars. I haven't seen one with a Chrysler eight, yet. I would love to see one.

 

I just noticed the water pump is different than my '39 Imperial engine. It mounts lower. I am guessing this came out of a '34-'37 Airflow. That's just a guess, but I thought the front of the airflow hood was lower and closer to the top of the engine. They could have done that in the later post war cars, too.

I'd be interested in buying the water pump off of it. or maybe trade for my newly rebuilt water pump. I put my eight up for sale, but if no one buys it, I might as well continue to get it running. My water pump is currently too high to fit a fan in my WC59. chassis.

 

That bent filler tube is why I thought boat.

 

Here is an Airflow and the water gooseneck is on the side of the head....although....the oil filler tube IS bent....

 

My '39 Imperial did not have that bent filler tube. It was straight.

I don't see a place to bolt a fan on that water pump pulley, which would argue for boat, but wouldn't a boat have a water-cooled manifold?

 

Barn Find....you are probably correct regarding the manifold.

 

Thanks. that's helpful. We know it's not an airflow head, but it does have the same lower water pump.

The electric solenoid on the starter might be a clue. Dodge trucks of the era had a mechanical pedal on the starter. Perhaps the fancy cars has key or push button start all the way back to the 30s?

Is that flywheel housing big enough for fluid drive? I woul dnot expect a boat to have a clutch linkage like that.

Where does the engine mount to the car frame in the rear?

 

The engine is in my grandpa's shop and I finally went there today he said he couldn't find the serial number the other day so I walked into the shop today and saw a number right under the head on the block CU 6210