Re: mopar spitfire engine

Posted by Hal/WA on January 06, 2005 at 15:51:17 from (148.65.0.200):

In Reply to: mopar spitfire engine posted by 730-LP on January 05, 2005 at 20:25:20:

If the engine is a flathead 6 with "spitfire" cast into the top of the head, they are similar to the Plymouth and Dodge car 6 cylinder engines, which had about 217 or 230 cubic inches and were advertised at about 100 horsepower. The Spitfire 6 cylinder engines had a bit more displacement. It seems like they were 250 and 264 cubic inches (and maybe a smaller displacement) and came in Chrysler Windsor cars and DeSotos. The Spitfire was a couple of inches longer than the 217/230 and had a bit more horsepower and torque than the smaller engine. Neither was extremely powerful, but held together fairly well.

Dodge trucks used both the small 6 as well as the Spitfire, depending on the model. I have read that some Canadian Plymouth and Dodge cars also used the Spitfire.

I have had both engines and found them to be very similar. It sure looked like it would have been possible to put a Spitfire 6 in a Plymouth in place of a 217/230 with a fairly small amount of adjustment of motor mounts and radiator, but I never got around to trying it. I had a good running 250 in my woods car, a 50 Windsor, but ended up blowing rods out of it.

Chrysler may have continued to use the Spitfire name on the Polysphere V8's that began in 1955, but I can't remember seeing that on them. I fooled around with old Mopars alot in the 60's and 70's. I wish I had kept more of that stuff...I had a bunch of it, including some Hemis. Some of it is quite valuable today.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Re: mopar spitfire engine jerry 14:36:01 01/28/06 (0)

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