Nice truck. Compared to some of the trucks people drag home yours looks to be very well priced........at least in US dollars. I'm a bit confused by your engine description......maybe others are too. It doesn't have it's original 251.........it's got a 218? The 218 uses the same block (dimensionally) as the 230...........right? The 230 just has a longer stroke? Was the 218 used in earlier Dodge military vehicles....or was it just a car motor? I don't think I've ever seen much written about the 218.
I forgot there was a short 218 in the south. the 218 that once resided in the 49 canadian Pilot house 2wd pickup has the same 25in head as the cdn m37's 251ci motor. short 218s and 230s were never delivered to canada. all our blocks were long with the 25in head, the longer intake and no offset wrist pins.
...so the 218 in the truck is a canadian long block that will accept the 251 and the 265 crank... and because of how things work. the moment the truck was finished I received a frost damaged 251.....
.............................. use it ...............