The 1957 Plymouth Plaza sedans came with the 277 V8, with the 301 V8 as
optional. The Plaza Suburbans, all Saoys and Belvederes came with the 301
V8, while the Fury had the 318 V8.
As for engine numbers, the first V8 built was number P31-1001, and the
numbers worked up from there. There is no relation to the VIN on those
models. There was also no way to tell which assembly plant used what
engine. The engine plant simply numbered the first engine P31-1001 and the
last one off the line was P31-492995. The Plymouth six ran from P30-1001 to
P30-177184,
The Fury engine, though, can be identified as it used the prefix "FP31".
Chrysler began using the engine size in some of the engine numbers in 1958,
using L230-100001 for the sixes starting mid-1958 (March, I think). It was
not until 1959 that Chrysler began identifying engines in the engine number
across the board, And that ended the ability to determine in what make of
car the engine was installed.
Bill
Vancouver, BC
> --- 57plymouth <57plymouth@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I have a line on a 57 Plymouth Savoy four door for
> > sale. He says it is a v-8 and has a pushbutton
> > tranny, but isn't sure if it is a 301 or a 318 or if
> > it is a powerflite or a torqueflite.
>
> (snip)
>
> > Here's the clincher, he is asking $850. Doesn't
> > seem right does it? I'm going to look at it
> > Saturday.
>
> That part sounds great!
>
> > Any advice on finding displacement on the motor? I
> > know the difference between a powerflite and a
> > torqueflite, but I haven't messed with fifties
> > v-8's, so I don't know how to find displacement
> > easily.
>
> I could be mistaken but I think the 301 was a
> Belvedere and Sport Suburban exclusive while
> Savoys/Custom Suburbans and Plazas/Suburbans still
> used the 277. (The 318 was AFAIK a Fury exclusive in
> '57.) I might remember that wrong and the 277 might be
> a Plaza exclusive while Savoys got 301s. Someone here
> remembers this part for sure!
>
> My car has what I think is the original engine, which
> is assumed to be a 301. It's a couple of miles away at
> the moment so it's kind of a pain to get to as I type,
> but it seems to me the engine number on mine is "P31"
> (which indicates a '57 Plymouth V8) followed by either
> the VIN or part of it. I know there was more than just
> the "P31" reference that convinced me my car has its
> original block, but can't remember now what that is.
>
> =====
> Mike Sealey, San Francisco CA
> '57 Plymouth Sport Suburban
> '64 Chrysler 300-K 2dr Hardtop
>
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