I am thinking of buying a 1956 Plymouth convertible. Have questions--how many of these cars were built? How hard would it be to install a 1966 Plymouth 318 motor with automatic transmission? Would I have to cut the floor to get the transmission in? Would I have to change the rear end? Thanks very much Marko
They had a 277 "A" Poly as an option, dropping in a 318 & A/T should be no problem. Check out www.forwardlook.net Changing to a new style rear axle is easy also. What came in this one?
Why the swap? What is in there now? If you change to a post-62 trans you will need to use a post-62 rear axle...the e-brake is on the pre-62 trans. There is a 55-56 Dodge-Ply thread if you search.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=334234&highlight=55+ply .
56 plymouth...the only car I've ever owned that used different hardware to attach each wheel. Left handed nuts on the left front. right hand nuts on the right front, left hand bolts on the left rear, right hand bolts on the right rear. If it has the 277 then the existing engine is pretty similar to a 1966 318, although the transmission is completely different.
yea Chrysler, Desoto, Willys/Overland, popular on all those cars. Something to do with an engineering theory that they would come loose while you were driving otherwise. Theory = idea not backed up by facts. Back on topic. Marco43, Should be a pretty straight forward swap. If the car is a 6 cylinder car or the original engine is toast I would consider it. We had a lot of fun in a V-8 56 Plymouth post car way back when. Wre used it for a month with no brakes because we couldn't find on a the wrecking yard to rob the master cylinder off of and the fella that owned it didn't have cash for a new one. By the time he got a master cylinder for it reverse was so loose that you slip it into reverse at almost any speed to use it for a brake.
I had a 56 Plymouth Convertible in 1962 neither door would open so I drove it with the top down most of the time. made it easier to get in and out. On those lug nuts. one night in a real down pour. I stopped at a traffic light, there was an old couple with a flat on a 56 the old man was fighting the lug nuts. the old gal was standing in the rain holding an umbrella over his head. I didn't want to get out in the rain but I couldn't drive off either. The old guy was turning the lug bolts the wrong way. man they were tight but I got them off by jumping on the lug wrench. when I got done I was like a drowned rat. the old boy tried to force a 5 dollar bill on me. I started laughing and said "Do you think I would change a tire in this rain for a stinking 5 bucks?" he said that was all he had. Still laughing I told him "100 bucks or nothing" again he said the five was all he had. I said "then it's nothing" I don't think he ever understood what I was talking about. I slept good that night. Jim
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