Need some advice on 29 Stude straight 8

I ahve a 29 Studebaker Commander that I'l looking to do some mods to the motor. It's an inline straight 8 250 cubic inch motor. It's rated at around 80hp. What can I do to the motor to increase the hp and safely run without reliabilty issues. I'm not looking for a 300 hp motor. Perhaps 150 hp or more would be nice. A supercharger would be nice, but that would have to be for some other time. I'm needing to rebuild the motor so I figure now would be a good time to mod it.
Thanks

 

That's a toughie, but I'd be checking with the guys on the Racing Studebakers forum.

 

Thanks. I'll take a look.

 

I had two 37 Graham superchargers. they were an easy install on any flat head inline motor (one of them came off a desoto. google them for a view. they mounted on the left side of the motor with a water cooled cross over pipe that mounts to the stock intake maniflod on the right. they were driven off the back of a generator. I used a 49 nash generator.
other options include a milled head to raise the compression. build and intake manifold and headers. still won't have 150 horse but should get you to an honest 80-100

 

Awesome. That'll get me started in the right direction.

 

Keep us informed.
There's a guy in my club who rebuilt an earlier President 8 motor who might have some insights. PM me if you'd like his e-addy.

 

Interesting,,,, you should research crankshaft strength, how many bearings, does the motor have full pressure oiling to the cam, what was the origonal max RPM? What sort of manifolds, porting? If 80 was original HP, IMO 100 might be reasonable without major rework.

 

It has 9 bearings. It says it has oil pressure to the cams, 30# at 40 mph. 80hp max at 3600 rpm. Compression is 5.1 to 1.

 

Hi Speed. Was his last name Shanahan?

 

First thing to do is to give it some compression by milling the head. Then get it some easier breating with a larger diameter exhaust system. Is that set up with a updraft carburetor with the intake manifold below the exhaust? That might make things more difficult to adress anything on the intake side. Remember you are dealing with a 4 inch plus stroke, these things were built for down low torque, not Hp at revs.

 

No. Harvey.

 

Yea, it has a 4 1/4 inch stroke and is an updraft. Something interesting I did see on another Studebaker someone was selling was they converted the carb to a downdraft without changing the intake/exhaust. I do want to make a custom one eventually after I get it rebuilt.

 

You could also make and elbow and put a side draft like a big SU on it.