A friend has a '59 Plymouth Fury with the original 361 B engine and pushbutton transmission. It is badly sludged up and now won't start at all (tentative diagnosis is a jumped timing chain, pending further evaluation). This was complicated by a previous "mechanic" messing up the firing order (cyls. #2 and #4 were swapped) and hooking up an electric choke to the coil positive... an Edelbrock carb too... I'm amazed that it used to run at all.

Anyhow, he's interested in swapping in a later B like a 383/400 so the car is driveable while he has the 361 rebuilt. Will any B engine through 1978 be a bolt-in without problems with the torque converter, bellhousing, starter, balance, ? I don't know much about the engines before '67 so any hints appreciated. Thanks.