Are we weird for getting all excited over seeing a 1960s era, never run Chrysler wedge motor in a nerf crate? Of course we are, but you knew that already. We got tipped off to this eBay auction which ends later today and it struck us as something that the true Mopar freak would covet. We are not sure what makes this a “military spec” engine but we do know that it should carry a horsepower rating of about 200 and would have most likely been found in an armored vehicle called a V-100 Commando.
If we had to guess, one could strip all the military junk off, clean the block up, repaint it and stuff it in a Chrysler restoration project. It could also make a good starting point to build a Golden Commando or SonoRamic Commando engine clone, although we bet that the heads, cam, and pistons would need to be swapped to make a high performance variant of this anvil.
Hey, how often to do you get the chance to buy a complete, never run engine from the 1960s? Somewhere a Mopar dude just started sweating a murmuring to himself after seeing this.
Thanks to Rich Pedraza for the tip!
eBay Find: Chrysler Military-Spec 361 big block – NEVER RUN!
That would look cool in the model T I have. Too bad it is in CA…
No shipping is going to really restrict who can buy this thing, still under $400 with a few hours to go.
Is that a weird carb or does it look like its set up for propane?
I wonder what the inside of this thing looks like? Might be a bargain or a boat anchor.
I met an older couple on Power Tour that had put a complete Max Wedge engine in their mid-30’s Chrysler, a vehicle which was otherwise stock. The engine came from Purdue University. Chrysler had donated it in the early 60’s for research in power generation. Purdue put it up in the high bay; still in the crate. Sold it in the 80’s. Never having been opened or run.
To 428FE: considering its intended application, it would appear to have been completely waterproofed, which would explain the “weird carb”. What looks to be a carb hat is probably the south end of a north-bound snorkel air intake. Interesting offset on the heads, too.
It also looks like the intake bolts are vertical like a late model Magnum 360 or a 302 Ford. I’ll bet not much interchanges to a civilian 361.
For a military restorer the mil-spec stuff is worth its weight because production numbers are much lower than civilian, and the parts are tossed by people who work on the stuff and convert to car stuff. Intake, waterpump, fuel pump and brackets are usually different, wouldent suprise me if the oil pan and flywheel is too. I hopw a military vehicle guy gets it
I want the APC!
Is it for sale?