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Projects Should I buy a back up?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 50 COUPE, Mar 11, 2021.

  1. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Found a 230 flat head with a 2 speed auto trans from a 55 Plymouth for sale nearby and the seller wants $300 for the pair. I'm considering going to look at it all this weekend. I figured for the price, I would have a back up motor, should I have problem from my original one. The other option is to build the newer one, ( split manifolds, dual carbs, etc), while I drive my stocker.
    Will the 55 model 230 have more power stock than my 48 model? I'm thinking the compression may have gone up some between the years. Accelerator linkage may be different, but can be worked out.
    In regards to the 2 speed trans, are they worth having, or, of any value to sell? Would it have the park brake on the trans also? How hard would it be to use it in my 48, (which now has fluid drive), if I decided to go automatic?
    At the prices I've seen for used 230 parts, (exhaust manifolds, etc), I figure it's at least worth checking out! Give me your thoughts on this!!
     
    dana barlow and VANDENPLAS like this.
  2. oldiron 440
    Joined: Dec 12, 2018
    Posts: 3,299

    oldiron 440
    Member

    You've got to get em when you can, you may never need it but if you ever do just the hassle of trying to find what you need will be worth the price.
     
    stillrunners and TCATTC like this.
  3. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,933

    squirrel
    Member

    if you have the money and a place to put it, might be a good idea. You can slowly build it to be what you really want.

    if you enjoy driving with the fluid drive setup, then the automatic may not be for you. Also, you have to have all the parts to make it work in the car, for the swap to actually happen.
     
  4. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,723

    George
    Member

    Not a lot of demand for Power Flites except for restorers, but probably an improvement over Fluid Drive. Think QEC (73RR on the board) has, or is working on, an adaptor for the flatty to modern tranny.
     
    Hnstray likes this.

  5. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    If you have the room and the money get them,never hurts to have spares
     
    mgtstumpy and egads like this.
  6. dwollam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2012
    Posts: 2,319

    dwollam
    Member

    '58-'59 has the most HP. 135 horse if I remember right. A bunch more than the original 201 for my '36 Dodge pickup! it was 70 horse. Is a '55 Plymouth actually a 230 or is it a 218? Don't remember if or when the Plymouth changed.

    Dave
     
  7. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,933

    squirrel
    Member

    late 54 is when Plymouth started using the 230.
     
  8. AldeanFan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2014
    Posts: 892

    AldeanFan

    Unless you’re going to miss a meal or a mortgage payment my answer to the question should I buy car parts is always yes.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  9. 51504bat
    Joined: May 22, 2010
    Posts: 4,755

    51504bat
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You can never have too many flatheads.
     
    mgtstumpy, williebill and King ford like this.
  10. v8flat44
    Joined: Nov 13, 2017
    Posts: 1,211

    v8flat44

    The time to buy it is when you see it !!!!
     
    mgtstumpy, stillrunners and Budget36 like this.
  11. junkyardjeff
    Joined: Jul 23, 2005
    Posts: 8,588

    junkyardjeff
    Member

    I missed a 56 230 that had a factory 2 bbl for 50 dollars but no place to put it and nothing to put it in.
     
  12. King ford
    Joined: Mar 18, 2013
    Posts: 1,477

    King ford
    Member
    from 08302

     
  13. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    The 55 engine is 230 cu in 117HP and 7.4:1 compression vs 218 cu in 95HP and 6.6 compression on the 48. 57 - 59 had higher compression and 132HP.
    The Powerflite is a genuine modern type automatic but only 2 speeds as was typical at the time. Handbrake is on the trans, and it would be a simple swap into your car. Convenient but not exciting from a performance standpoint.
    If you have the cash and room to keep it you could go take a look, and make an offer. If the seller is smart he won't be too hard to deal with, there is not much demand for that engine and trans. He is probably discarding it to do a V8 swap. Inspect the left side of the engine for frost cracking above the pan rail.
    Would be good for a hop up but the later higher compression head, and a manual trans, would be better.
    Your 48 must be a Dodge if it has fluid drive?
     
    Hnstray, VANDENPLAS and stillrunners like this.
  14. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,173

    Budget36
    Member

    About 15 years ago if I could have found a 218/230 that wasn’t stuck for 300 I would have jumped on it. Took me two 218 engines and $$ later to make one that ran for what I needed it for.
     
  15. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Thanks for all the input you all. Going to check it out Saturday and try to negotiate an even better price on the combo. My 3 speed is giving me shifting problems and may switch to the auto trans. Don't know which way I will go right now, only had the 48 Dodge for a month and the flat 6 is new to me. Don't see where a back up engine could be bad to have.
     
    VANDENPLAS likes this.
  16. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Thanks sir for your input on this matter. A "simple swap" is what I'm wanting. If you have anymore info to share about this swap, please forward to me, as I am seriously considering going that route once I check the condition of everything
     
  17. TCATTC
    Joined: Oct 12, 2019
    Posts: 283

    TCATTC
    Member

    Always remember, they don't make this stuff any more...
     
    williebill likes this.
  18. "Don't see where a back up engine could be bad to have".

    Friend bought a 38 Plymouth coupe project with a flat six (no idea the year of the engine or the size), block was cracked. Found another engine ... block was cracked. Third engine he lucked out ... no cracks.
    Hopefully you have better luck :)
     
  19. Look at the exhaust manifold - for that nice light brown color - that would mean the engine was running good and if it turns over !
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  20. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,429

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You gotta want it when you can get it, because you can't always get it when you want it.
     
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  21. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Good point my friend! By the way, we are almost neighbors, I'm in High Point. Maybe we'll cross paths soon
     
    rockable likes this.
  22. 5window
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 9,514

    5window
    Member

    Maybe just missing a mortgage payment. Most of us could benefit by missing a meal or two these days!
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  23. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,429

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I was at Hagan's cruise in yesterday.
     
  24. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Just got my 48 Dodge D24 a couple of months ago. Giving it a full systems check and hope she will be roadworthy by late spring. Are cruises starting back up in our area? Been off the scene for a while and with the pandemic, wasn't sure if any were being held.
     
  25. hkestes
    Joined: May 19, 2007
    Posts: 585

    hkestes
    Member

    I had a 48 Plymouth coupe with the 218 that I put an Offy intake/carbs/cast iron headers on. Came across a 59 model 230 for cheap from a guy who was going with a 318. Bought it and started cleaning it up the engine had been rebuilt at some point so checked everything out added new gaskets, freeze plugs etc. About the time I got the 230 ready to go I broke a valve in the 218. Pulled the 218 swapped all the speed parts to the 230 plus an aluminum head and had the car up and running again in a weekend.

    Without the 230 on the stand in the garage I would have been weeks/months finding something to rebuild and getting the car back on the road.

    I can also tell you that the 135 hp 230 was far better than the 218 it replaced as far as performance. Made me wish the 218 had broken earlier. [​IMG]
     
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  26. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 12,592

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    I would be looking for a Hemi, but that's just me. ;) :D
     
    George likes this.
  27. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    What carbs are you running on the 230 and are all the speed parts on an otherwise stock engine?
     
  28. 50 COUPE
    Joined: Jan 14, 2011
    Posts: 78

    50 COUPE
    Member

    Do you know of any shops in our area that would be capable of rebuilding a 230?
     
  29. Charlotte if you can’t find any closer
     
  30. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 14,795

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Every car should have a back up. The race car is OT. 2DD806BE-742C-4A5C-B643-3897405074BF.jpeg
     

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