Engine swap

[gunny]

Will the engine from a 52 plymouth (218ci) fit the M37?

[ZGjethro]

Would that be even less powerful?

[MSeriesRebuild]

The basic block is the same. You would have to change over to all the military specific accessories to even get close to correct. There are a few items you can't exchange like the oil fill tube and other minor issues. It is a slightly less powereful engine, depends on your specific needs as to whether you could deal with that.

[gunny]

I intend to drive the truck around town, to parades, and some highway driving, maybe a little offroading. Will the flywheel have to be replaced?

[MSeriesRebuild]

Different applications used different flywheels and housings. Yes I would venture to say that for certain the flywheel and for sure the housing would have to change to the M37 specific set up.

[m-37Bruce]

Hey Gunny, It should fit, but no more 24 volt electrical. That a nice groupe of foto's you got there, enjoyed 'em a lot! I think you'll need a fly wheel swap 155 teeth should be what you have, anybody got the right/exact count?

[Cal_Gary]

Bruce, if you mean for an M37 it's 146 teeth-can't be sure based on how I interpret the post....
Gary

[Tanner]

Regaining 24volt electrics should be a simple matter of moving the electrical bits over to new engine, or am I missing something in this equation?

Tanner

[MSeriesRebuild]

Regaining 24volt electrics should be a simple matter of moving the electrical bits over to new engine, or am I missing something in this equation?

Tanner

This is actually an impossible to answer question without detailed info. As I mentioned before, these engines were equipped any number of different ways depending on the application they were initially intended for. I have done some conversions that were simple and went smooth as silk; while others looked like they would have also, but small details discovered later on along the way that were different didn't permit that without further changes.

Actually the best answer I know to this question in general is this; approach it hoping for the best, but keep in mind that you may have to address unforeseen issues as you work through the process, nothing is guaranteed. It may look like a perfect fit, it may even be a perfect fit, BUT that doesn't always work out to be the case.

[m-37Bruce]

Bruce, if you mean for an M37 it's 146 teeth-can't be sure based on how I interpret the post....
Gary

I bought a flywheel from Bob Stahl several years ago, supposedly stock, it had two many teeth for my engine. I ended up getting another from Memphis Equipt.
I have the t/o, maybe I'll try & count it?

[gunny]

Keep the comments coming, I'm picking up a lot of ideas on issues to look for. This is what the PW guys had to say in regards to the flywheel, "its a bolt in except the flywheel on the 230 has 8 studs and the crank in the 218 probably only has 4, I think. but the 8 bolt flywheel should bolt to the 4 bolt crank of the 218. I will only bolt on one way."

And, "Several years back I got what I thought was a 230 engine only to find out that it was a 218, which was okay since basically the 218/230 engines are the same with the exception of the 218 having a shorter stroke. Due to the shorter stroke, the 218 has different con rods and crank. My 46 PW also has 4.89's. Not sure what the top speed is since I haven't regeared the speedo drive gear. I'm guessing somewhere around 50-55 mph because when my speedo is showing 35-40 mph the governor starts cutting in."