AMT 1958 Plymouth engine

[landman]

I've looked all over the internet to try and determine which engine is in this kit. My best guess is a 318. the 350 had dual fours.

[Ace-Garageguy]

For the Belvedere (which the AMT kit represents) it would have to be a single-carb 318, though in the Fury a dual 4-bbl 318 could also be had, as well as a 350 with the ill-fated Bendix electronic fuel injection.

If I remember right, the '58 318 was an "A" engine, while the '58 350 was the first iteration of the "B" engine.

Edited September 7, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[om617]

There was a option on Fury called V800 Super-Pak,this was single 4 barrel carb 318.

If you check out the original brochure there was 3 options for the Fury.

[John Goschke]

The engine in the kit mostly resembles the new-for-'58 350 wedge-head engine, but incorrectly has the distributor in the rear – it should be at the front.

The 58 318 is a completely different engine that had the distributor at the rear. Both engines were available with dual fours.

Just another reason why the AMT '58 Plymouth is a waste of plastic.

[Ace-Garageguy]

...Yeah, now that I look closer, the valve covers on the kit engine are entirely wrong for the "A" engine 318. And now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure this discrepancy has been addressed here fairly recently...somebody wanting the get a correct "A" engine to build this car.

[espo]

I built the '58 Plymouth a few years ago to represent a car a high school buddy drove. John may be a little harsh on this model, remember it was done several years ago, and the quality expected now is so much higher. I used the 2-4s from the AMT Chrysler 300 kit and used the laid down air cleaners. This would be incorrect if you are trying to do a show room type build, but it was the only way to get the air cleaners to fit under the hood. I used a prewired distributer and mounted it in the correct location at the front leaning toward the passenger side. I can't find the instruction sheet any longer so I can't remember what the kit called for. For me the biggest issue was the body side moldings that go to the rear with an odd bow to them. Other than that and the fact it sits like a dog getting ready to hike it's leg it's as close as you are going to get for a '50's Plymouth.

[MrObsessive]

Folks, I have this very car dead center on my radar screen for a not too distant in the future WIP. It won't be the model after I finish my Shelby (I'll want something easy after that one), but certainly the car after that. I already have in my mind and written in the kit's box, how to fix all what's wrong with that car. Chief among them is the woefully wrong rear fenders and accompanying side trim. 

Bill you're right............the engine was a thread that was started here, and I tried to get in touch with someone in Australia that ostensibly had the correct engine for the Fury. I never heard back from them after trying a couple times, and as close as I got to that engine was a pic that was posted on their site. I was informed later on that it too is not quite correct for a '58 Belvedere/Fury.

As a matter of fact, the '58 Fury WIP came VERY close to being my current build, but I wanted to switch up eras for a moment as I just not long ago finished my '59 Chevy.

So if you all can be patient and wait about a year or so (may not be that long), I'll be into building it full tilt. I may get bored with the Shelby for a minute and tinker around with that '58's bodywork.

BTW, I'm with John on how I feel about this car! I don't ever expect Round 2 to fix it no matter how much we complain. Too many folks have bought it as is (IMO a shame), and there's no reason to fix what's wrong with it just to satisfy us out here in the lunatic fringe.

[slusher]

What engine is in the movie car Christine...?

[landman]

So I gather from all this that it is not representative of a 58 Plymouth engine. Ah well,,,

[Ace-Garageguy]

So I gather from all this that it is not representative of a 58 Plymouth engine. Ah well,,,

Pretty much. It isn't accurately representative of ANY real engine.

Must have been one of those knowledge-is-irrelevant design procedures. 

[MrObsessive]

Must have been one of those knowledge-is-irrelevant design procedures. 

Which is probably the chief reason the car looks that way it does.

[my66s55]

There is nothing to closely resemble the Plymouth A engine. A person would have to start from scratch to build one as near to correct as they possibly could. Something as simple as the fact that the 56, 57, & 58 valve covers had three bolts holding them down and Chrysler went to two in 59 through 66. I am creating what I feel is correct for the three bolt valve covered engine because I have a need for one. Here is my stl. file of the block.

8822222 

Edited September 8, 2016 by my66s55

[BubbaBrown]

I wish you luck. If you start casting for the public I'm down for a few .

[charlie8575]

I'll buy at least one of these if you get them out. I assume you're doing a 3-D printing of this, Doug?

Charlie Larkin

[John Goschke]

The hot engine in the '58 Plymouth would've been the dual-quad "B" series 350 engine. It was available in all models including the Belvedere hardtop, though most often seen in the Fury.

One source for this engine in 1/25th would be the 1970s Johan "USA Oldies" re-release of the '60 Desoto (and possibly the '62 Chrysler 300.) Though pretty simplified, it does have the proper oval air cleaners and the front-mounted distributor. In the Desoto it represents a 383, but externally (I think) the two engines are more or less identical. Just toss the alternator for a generator.

[my66s55]

I'll buy at least one of these if you get them out. I assume you're doing a 3-D printing of this, Doug?

Charlie Larkin

Yes Charlie, I am. If you have watched any of my posts over the past year and a half, you know I have the capabilities right here in my hobby room and can produce and end product of good quality. I have great reference pictures to make the job easier. The heads stl. are about 70-80% ready to print. For those unaware of my work with my home 3d printer, here is my 35 Lasalle trans & bell housing that is 1-25th scale. The file to print it was drawn by me at home and printed at home on the 3d printer I built.  

When done, there will be a complete engine with separate spark plugs, 3 different manifold options and more.

 

Edited September 8, 2016 by my66s55

[my66s55]

The hot engine in the '58 Plymouth would've been the dual-quad "B" series 350 engine. It was available in all models including the Belvedere hardtop, though most often seen in the Fury.

One source for this engine in 1/25th would be the 1970s Johan "USA Oldies" re-release of the '60 Desoto (and possibly the '62 Chrysler 300.) Though pretty simplified, it does have the proper oval air cleaners and the front-mounted distributor. In the Desoto it represents a 383, but externally (I think) the two engines are more or less identical. Just toss the alternator for a generator.

Yes John, the 350 B engine was available, but I am under the understanding that these people are interested in a 318 poly head A engine.

[John Goschke]

Oh, OK.

I thought the original question was what engine the lump in the kit was supposed to represent.

[my66s55]

Oh, OK.

I thought the original question was what engine the lump in the kit was supposed to represent.

Yes John, but as usual, the topic changed to what some were interested in.

[MrObsessive]

Doug, that .stl file is lookin' good!

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Oh, OK.

I thought the original question was what engine the lump in the kit was supposed to represent.

 

Yes John, but as usual, the topic changed to what some were interested in.

Hmmmm. Seems to have stayed pretty much on-target to me, with some additional useful info as to what OTHER engines could be used to accurately portray the car in question, plus some ideas as to sourcing a correct one, or modifying / making one that's correct.

What am I missing?

(I obviously missed the rule that said ONLY THE 318 POLY ENGINE IS ALLOWED TO BE MENTIONED.)   

Edited September 8, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Can-Con]

To me, and I've only seen pics of these real engines ,, it looks like a "B" engine with Poly intake and associated parts, like the distributor. 

 

So, how close to a stock engine would it be if you swapped a regular "B" intake and distributor onto the kit engine? Would that make it passable?

[John Goschke]

To me, and I've only seen pics of these real engines ,, it looks like a "B" engine with Poly intake and associated parts, like the distributor. 

 

So, how close to a stock engine would it be if you swapped a regular "B" intake and distributor onto the kit engine? Would that make it passable?

Given the, ahem, "quality" of the rest of the kit that's a sensible solution.

[Tom Geiger]

Why not one of these? Flatty 6 good all the way through 1959. Source is the AMT '41 Plymouth kit.  My cousin had a '59 Belvedere with one of these, push button tranny!

[426-Hemi]

As for '58, Plymouth had a choice of the "A" block 318 making it a "Poly" head, which like its big brother, the Hemi was a single shaft valve gear.... Where the Hemi had a dual shaft valve gear. The other engine option for the '58 Plymouth was in fact the "B" block 350 (Big Block) and it did come with dual 4 barrels! These engines were called the "Golden Commando".

The "A" block, 318 was the start of the Bendix fuel injection when irt was recalled the owner was offered choice of single 4 barrel, or twin 4 barrels. These engines were called "V-800".