engine and box anyone ?

[Arnolt57]

In a message dated 10/28/2010 8:07:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
webmaster@bristolcars.info writes:








The engine advertised for sale is definitely a later wedge head engine. I
last owned a "Polysphere" 318 around 1972, but if you put it side by side
with a later wedge 318, the difference in appearance is quite easy to see.
The valve covers are much different, just for a start. In 1971, federal
exhaust standards resulted in some very poor modifications to current
engines, resulting in much lower performance and poor fuel mileage. A 318 from a
1969 or 1970 would be much preferred, but might have to have the valve
seats replaced to handle lead free fuel. What I don't know is if engines sold
in Great Britain were stuck with the low compression, retarded timing,
exhaust gas recirculation, and other "fixes" required on our cars.

As for the Dodge Plymouth reference, this is probably because they are
identical cars with different badges and slight sheet metal differences.
Unlike General Motors, which used a different engine in every line of cars,
which probably contributed to their bankruptcy, Mopar made several engines, but
they were used across brand lines. I never could understand why Chevy,
Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Buick all had a 350 cubic inch V8 at one time or
another, but none of the major parts would interchange.

In the early Flat Head days, Ford and Mercury were different in that the
Mercury had a 1/4 inch longer stroke and a bit more power to make up for
it's heavier weight. In later years, the only difference between a Ford and
a Mercury were badges and a bit of sheet metal. The engines and
transmissions were identical. Mercury is now an "Orphan" and no longer made.

Jim McQuay
West Linn, OR.