51 Plymouth engine swap

I recently bought a 51 Plymouth hardtop and I'd like to know what drivetrains any of you have put in an early 50s Plymouth. I'd kinda like going with Mopar but not necessarily? What fits easy? Has anyone used a Dakota pickup with a 318 for a donor? Any problems?

 

Easiest fit is a Mopar flathead. The slightly longer DeSoto/Chrysler engine will fit with a little work, even though it is a couple inches longer. Up to 265 cu in and 120HP stock. Or, the 230 cu in Dodge six from a later model up to 132HP.

Any V8 is going to be a problem because of interference with the steering, a**** other things. It is possible to put a V8 in, it has been done, but it is not easy. They were just never designed for a V8.

Now the 55 up were designed for a V8 and one will fit a lot easier, even if the car came with a six.

Don't write off the flathead six. They were a well made engine with a lot of staying power. Guys have hopped them up and drove them around for years, had a lot of fun and got good mileage to boot. You won't win many races but when you pop the hood guess who's motor everyone will be looking at, your twin carb flathead six or the Chev 350 in the car next to you?

 

A 318 with rear sump from a Van or pick up will fit in nicely with a little cutting of the inner fenders & offset to the p*** side an inch or so.

 

As a Mopar fan I hate to say it but a Chev V8 fits in easier than a Dodge.

 

That's why they have become "Belly****ons".

 

anything you do other then a inliner 6 is a challenge the stock steering box is the biggie going sub frame route is pretty big undertaking but the way I went Fatman rearsteer rack and pinion worked out fine the stock firewall posses a problem with its narrow setback for the 6 needs to be widened for a v-8 trans hump on floor needs to be raised for modern transmission
other then that its a piece of cake expensive hard to bake cake

 

I put a 75, 318, 904 tf in my 51 ply concord not long ago. I left in the stock steering and suspension. The motor was offset to the p*** side
about 1 and 1/2 inches to clear the steering box. Rear sum pan and dart
stock headers. Had to do a little denting on the p*** firewall.
mounts from Butch's rod shop. the motor and trans was set were kept
parallel to the frame with a custom made trans mount..... Tex Smith has
a great book called "How to build Mopar Hot Rods ". Not a hard
swap just be careful .