Dodgy6

Castlemaine brewing in Brisbane, (now Castlemaine Perkins and ownded by the Lion Nathan Group), was so named because: "In 1877, brothers Nicholas Fitzgerald and Edward Fitzgerald bought the site of a failing distillery and created a brewery, which they named after an existing brewery that they owned in Castlemaine, Victoria in the Victorian goldfields.<SUP> </SUP> They began to brew beer there in the following year and the brewery continues production to this day. Castlemaine Perkins is the home of the XXXX beer brand." {Wiki} So loosely related in that it is named after the town in which Bennett's Garage was located. I grew up not far from the XXXX Brewery in Brisbane, and if the wind was blowing right you could smell the hops. Not an unpleasant smell!

You guys are the best. I didn't think to look further, (I have now!). It seems there may be nerdier people on here than me.... So, I paid $30 shipped. I'm rich, rich, rich I tells ya!!!

Oh brother......something else I don't have yet for my car.....

Wow, thanks Jason. I didn't come across that site in my search for info on this engine. I'll give it a crack!

Yes, you are right about shipping costs. Trust me it works both ways! The amount of stuff I can get from the States compared to over here for my DA, means there is no way I am going to get ahead on my project without being slugged on overseas shipping for something at some point. However, I thought I'd give the guys on this forum first right of refusal seeing as it has been good to me so far. Something smaller like an oil pump for eg. wouldn't be so bad on shipping for someone who might be finding it hard to source one from the US. I will be listing this stuff "locally" soon. Also I havn't seen too many Australian Plymouth "U" owners let alone 4 cyl DB truck guys over here.

Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that! So, you got me thinking Jason, and I did a little searching, (gotta love the internet!), and came up with this. This is pretty cool :cool:, (and I may be a little nerdy....),: "NOTE: Many older bottle openers have a small square hole called a "Prest-O-Lite Key". It was used to turn the valve on automobile gas headlights from about 1910 through the early 1930's before electric headlights were widely used. " Pretty cool examples here too: Just For Openers for Bottle Opener & Can Opener & Corkscrew Collectors

I am parting out this engine. I believe it is the same engine used in the DB light 4cyl trucks of the same era. Full story of engine and pics here: http://forums.aaca.org/f154/plymouth-u-engine-328197.html I am getting ready to advertise stuff so if anybody wants anything give me a shout now. I have pulled the head and cleaned it up - all looks good. Original gasket should be good to use again too. Oil pump pulled - seems to be in good working order. Turns freely and soulds like it has suction. Inlet manifold is clean and intact. There was rust scale inside but it is solid with no cracks or holes. Valve cover pulled and is straight. Water Inlet and outlet fittings are solid and usable - prob need a little cleaning up if you are doing a proper resto. Havn't dropped the oil pan yet. Clutch pedal and mechanisms all there. Small pedal that looks like it was attached to the starter is there with mechanism - I havn't figured that one out yet! Let me know if there are any other bits you want me to pull or just want to see more detailed pics. I am happy to help. Ross.

I am parting out this engine. I believe it is the same engine used in the DB light 4cyl trucks of the same era. Full story of engine and pics here: http://forums.aaca.org/f154/plymouth-u-engine-328197.html I am getting ready to advertise stuff so if anybody wants anything give me a shout now. I have pulled the head and cleaned it up - all looks good. Original Gasket should be re-usable. Oil pump pulled and seems to be in good working order. Turns freely and soulds like it has suction. Inlet manifold pulled - is clean and intact. There was rust scale inside but it is solid with no cracks or holes. Valve cover pulled and is straight. Water Inlet and outlet fittings are pulled. Both solid and usable - prob need a little cleaning up if you are doing a proper resto. Havn't dropped the oil pan yet. Clutch pedal and mechanisms all there. Small pedal that looks like it was attached to the starter is there with mechanism - I havn't figured that one out yet! Let me know if there are any other bits you want me to pull or just want to see more detailed pics. I am happy to help. Ross.

Very cool. :cool: Beautiful day here too. Maybe I'll open the shed doors and go sit on my chassis and make some engine noises! BTW, lucky there is no traffic - you are driving on the wrong side of the road... :eek:

Just tidying up loose ends.... Got an E-mail back from the Castlemaine Historic Vehicle Society: "This probably refers to CT Bennett who owned Central Motor Garage in Castlemaine in the 1920's, next to the Criterion Hotel. They were Dodge Agents." So that's that.

Absolutely!

Thanks all. Very helpful. Anyone need anything off these? PM me if you do. It was used as a stationary engine to run a woodworking shop before it dumped. Its been sitting outside since the late 60's so I am told and has been robbed of a few bits in the meantime. Unfortunately when it was dumped it was straight on the dirt and has rusted underneath on the flywheel and clutch housing. I have removed the gearbox and the filler plug is missing so water has got in there rusting things up a little bit, so it is siezed in the stick mechanism but the gears turn but not a full revolution - one of the lower cogs must but junked too much on one side. When I took the top cover off to have a look a couple of cockroaches ran out! Engine block has been welded up on the side - maybe a thrown conrod at some point. The engine turns, but again not a full revolution. I havn't found out why yet but I suspect it is something lower down. I can hear the cylinders sucking as it turns.

Can anyone confirm this engine and gearbox for me. I'm fairly certain it is from a Plymouth "U" which is 1929 I think from a little research so far. Engine #: U102976 I don't know anything about this gearbox as the stick won't move as it is right now. Is it a 3 speed? And which way does the stick shift for the gears? ie, standard "H" etc. I have a 1929 Dodge DA (6 cyl, 3 speed{?}) which I am sourcing parts for, and I picked up this engine and gearbox - is there anything here, internal or external, that I may be able to utilise on my vehicle? Many thanks, Ross

Here is a couple of pics. The first is the welded up cracked block of Plymouth 4 cyl that I picked up and the second is my DA motor which I have posted pics of before:

That boat is very, very purdy!! :cool: Still not Dodge though...... Wait, what was this thread about again? :confused:

I do live in an area which goes below freezing most nights during the winter. We've just started getting frosts again. Could cold weather be a factor?

Ahhhh, one of those glass half full types eh?!! I suppose the odds of me finding a good one are getting better and better then So I take it from the responses that there is no inherent fault with thrown conrods in these engines - I'm just unlucky so far, (or lucky :confused:). I wonder what sort of responses I would get if I started this one on a Chev or Ford forum?

Or even from any car... Seriously Pete, I think you should make this go viral and post it up on the "General Discussion" board. Surely there is enough knowledge kicking around on the entire AACA forum site that if it is car related then somebody will have seen something like it. Besides, why should we have all the fun!

Say it ain't so Pete! I love this thread. More mystery, more conjecture, more more more!!! Who do I contact to request a sticky :confused:....

I have seen a total of 3 old flat head motors so far in my search for parts. 1. Mine - thrown conrod. Result - holes in either side of the block. 2. A later flathead 6 cyl out of a dodge truck at the wreckers - block had a welded patch, presume thrown conrod. 3. Picked up a Plymouth U(?) flathead 4 cyl motor and gerabox today, (wrong motor, but it was free so I took it home anyway...), with another welded up block - presume thrown conrod. So thats 3 from 3 on block damage from thrown conrods. Is this something that these motors suffer from or am I just unlucky :confused:

I hear you. I thought about going all high octane on this one for about 5 minutes - and who would blame me with the state it is in. But then I realised how much more satisfaction I would get in bringing it back to life as it is supposed to be. When that day happens and I move it out of the shed under it's own steam, I may just shed a tear! :cool:

huh, its that simple! Sometime my mind over complicates things automotive!

Oh dear......*bangs head against table*

Oh and is that a frame straightening machine you are referring too? Is there a simple way for the amature (me) to tell if the frame is straight or is it a pro job? Mine looks straight enough but you never know.

Thanks Jason. It must be in another thread I havn't got to yet. I'm going through the back catalogue of old threads, (Backwards for some reason), to find any info, etc, that relates to my DA. I'm up to where you start making posts. Some of your early stuff is quite amusing when you consider your knowledge input now. What a noob! 3500+ posts later and nothings changed eh?!!!! Ross.