Other 230 engines

[jjefferson]

Starting to debate dropping a donor engine into my M37 plow truck. It currently has a Plymouth 230 from a ’57 Belvedere, and that engine has a mix of civilian / military parts on it (civilian distributor, military oil pump etc). I have done a compression test and 1 to 5 shows 60 to 70 psi with a bump of 10 if I squirt in some oil to the cylinder, #6 shows 0 and the top of the piston looks like it ate a few rings in the past. The previous owner started it on ether for who knows how long – cured that my rebuilding the carb - so at least it starts on its own. It blows oil like its going out of style, I feel like a WWII destroyer laying a smoke screen when I am plowing and also looking for something fun to do while the girlfriend is away.

As much I would love to rebuild the entire engine this is just a plow truck, and nothing more, with no plans to become anything but a plow truck. Sorry plow truck, don’t mean to hurt your feelings. If anything the “real money” goes towards the other M37 that sits in the barn.

So that all having been said, were the Dodge / Plymouth 230 engines pretty much universal – basically looking to pull the old engine, and slap a new donor in. Upgrade a few parts – ie civilian oil pump and that’s about it.

Questions that come to mind include:
1. Will the 24 volt military starter fit on all other 230s?
2. Will the military fuel pump fit on all 230s?
3. clutch and tranny fit etc etc etc

Of course all the above depends if I can find a donor engine locally and if I can get the plow head gear off the truck – put on the truck with no thought towards the future.

As a side note – just got back from 6 months at sea and having fun reading 6 months of
G741.org in one sitting.

Thanks

Jim Jefferson
www.knockabouttoys.com

[rixm37]

Welcome home.
I know that the civilian Power Wagon fuel pump works fine on my 230 'cause that's what I'm using. No vacume booster though. It fits any 230 for all the years of the Power Wagon and M37.