I'm currently looking for a rebuildable flat six for my 48 Plymouth Special Deluxe and I was wondering what you guys think I should be paying for one in decent shape. I have rebuilt sbc's before, so work and a learning curve don't scare me. What do you say? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
A few years ago I went looking for the big brother Chrysler/DeSoto six which is harder to find. I ended up with 4 of them, none cost $100. 1 - had been rebuilt, then accidentally left with water in the block which froze and cracked. Paid $75, salvaged a reground crank, camshaft, lifters, new valves and springs, rods, pistons, head, and hardware parts. 2 - Traded a VW beetle 1600 motor for an industrial six that had once driven a water pump, complete with trailer (but no water pump) 3 - At an auction sale, bought a complete engine for $65 4 - traded a junk dealer a non running 97 Lincoln Town Car plus $100 for a 49 Chrysler Windsor sedan and a 55 Dodge sedan, both with engines. Got the Chrysler running with a couple hours work and it ran like a dream. The Dodge was stripped for parts and a non runner. It took a couple of years of perusing around junk yards, auction sales, and Kijiji ads but that was the box score. I could have had lots more if I had been willing to pay silly prices like $500 or $1000. Comparatively speaking, Plymouth and Dodge engines are a dime a dozen.
Incidentally if you want a more powerful motor for your Plymouth, a DeSoto/Chrysler six will squeeze in with a little more work, although it is a couple inches longer than the Plymouth motor. It offers up to 265 Cu in of Chrysler flathead goodness. Found in DeSoto and Chrysler cars up to 1954. Do not overlook the industrial engines which can be found in M***ey combines, and many types of generators, welders, pumps etc. Also marine engines. A rotting cabin cruiser could have 2 of them. Also, flatheads were used in heavy Dodge trucks to 1962. Some of them got the bigger DeSoto/Chrysler engine which was not offered in half tons. The big block head measures 25" long, the Plymouth/Dodge head 23 1/4". "Spitfire" on the head means it came from a Chrysler Windsor but they do not all have such a marking. Best high compression head and engine is the 1958 - or newer models. Good hunting.
I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and ***uming that you really mean flathead six, not flat six, and just don't know the difference. The prices I quote were for non running engines with no guarantee. For a good engine, all complete, of course you would pay more. You have to use your own judgement here. S**** iron value is probably $50 so $50 to $100 for an engine is not out of line. $100 to $200 if it comes complete with generator, starter, air filter, etc. $200 to $500 for a good runner. Inspect the block carefully along the left side, they crack at the bottom of the cylinders, sometimes behind the starter where it is hard to see. A small crack is not the death of the engine, it can be fixed, but get a good block if you can. You have to drain the block using the drain **** provided, just draining the rad is not good enough. One thing I will say, DO NOT buy a "good" engine without doing a compression test. Chrysler built engines are very well behaved. They continue to start and run without protest when in an advanced state of wear. You can easily mistake a nearly worn out motor for a good one, you have to go by the compression and the oil pressure, not by the way it sounds or the way it runs. Unlike certain compe***ors engines which sound like a bucket of bolts in a washing machine even when they are in good shape. Compression will be lower than an OHV high compression engine. "Perfect" compression on a newly rebuilt engine would be 110 to 120 depending on compression ratio. 90 to 100 is good. Compression should be even on all cylinders within 10 pounds. A low cylinder indicates a problem.
From my experience Plymouth 218's in running condition go for $300-500. I scored a rebuilt Dodge 230 last fall for my roadster for $600. Cheap in my opinion. Happy hunting! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Couple of years ago, I purchased a previously rebuilt 230 and transmission from a 59 model for $150. The 230 actually is a very noticeable difference in performance over the 218. One thing to consider with the big block version is that there are a lot fewer "speed" parts available for the big block engines. They are out there but not nearly as many and pricing is therefore higher. You can get a lot of vintage or new "speed" parts for the 218 - 230 short blocks.
Wow! Thanks a lot guys, especially Rusty up there! I think I have a pretty good idea of where to go from here Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
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