well from what I have been told it the engine in my Studebaker was built by Packard.Was there any aftermarket preformance parts offered? Is any body running one know? I just picked up my wifes Grandma's 54 Studebaker Commander it has been sitting for over 25 years.So I droped the tank yesterday and i'm getting it boiled out. Today I'm going to start putting oil in the cylinder bores.I dose not appear to be froze. But I want to make sure the rings arn't dry when I fire it.It ran fine when it was parked so it should run. We want to drive the car a lot so any info on the engine would help. I don't know if I should look for a doner engine and put this engine in my wifes 33 sedan. Thanks for any info. Scott
Studebaker made their own motors. Very rebuildable, but not as cheap as a SBC. Speed parts are avaliable, oversize pistons, intakes, cam shafts, etc. I ran over 30,000 miles on a 10 year old rebuild before having to freshen up my 289 in a Model A pickup. I got all my rebuild parts from Ted Harbit, who recently sold his business, google his name or chicken hawk and you should find it. There are quite a few Studebaker V8 people on here, or shoot me a PM if you have any specific questions I can answer Good looking project, good luck.
I believe the Packard motors were used later, '58 or so? and only for a short time. I also think the Stude motors used a high nickle content iron block, steel crank and solid lifters in all their V8s, could be wrong there, so don't quote me. there is plenty of go fast stuff available for those motors, cams, pistons superchargers and dress up stuff is out there too, valve covers and whatnot... my 259 will remain stock looking except for the induction, the little motors don't need a ton of that, a single four barrel would be plenty. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=104926 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=104927
I believe 56 was the first packard in a stud. My friend had a 56 golden hawk with the packard engine, roller cam and 2x4 carbs. It was very very fast for its day. I used to drive it 160 about every week. Don't remember the quarter times , but ran damm good.
THE 232 is a nice running engine- parts are plentiful. I have a 54 Commander HT with a 232 and 3 speed overdrive that is a great cruiser. Will do highway speeds all day. Looks like you've got yourself a very desireable car. The HT's and coupes are very popular these days. Rack and pinion kits are available to put on the studebaker suspension as well. If you own the car in the pic, it's a 53 and not a 54- the 54s have the little teeth in the grille. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Evan
Both the 53 and 54 have the horizontal grille bar- but the 1954 has small "teeth" that go vertically from the horizontal bar to the edges of the side grilles. Both are very similar. I am very happy to see that one saved from hibernation- those cars are getting harder and harder to find. Try this link: www.studebakerdriversclub.com - a very good group of people who love driving studes. Evan
I used to play in a 53 2 door sedan that sat on the family farm,it was parked in 67 and it sat there untill 71 or so when my aunt had it hauled off and I was pissed as I was wanting to get it running when I got older but I ended up with the 37 chevy p/u that sat there too. Jeff
That would make sence because there are small holes on the horizontal bar of the grill.I am realy looking forward to starting on this car. Thanks for all the info.It looks like I'm going to go all out on this one so I want to get it right.Thanks Scott
Congrats on acquiring a milestone of American Automotive design! Packard engine was 1956 Golden Hawk only. All other Studebakers (including 1957-58 Packard) used the same block, from 232 all the way to 304.5 Paxton supercharged R2/R3. Lazy “S” trim on your hood indicates original Champion 6 power, so either the hood or engine was changed. Either way, check brake drum diameter or upgrade to bigger GT Hawk (Wagner) brakes or, even better, Turner (disc) brake conversion. These cars look fantastic in any style from stock to La Carrera the only way they look wrong is with the ass too high, squaring off the elegant proportions.
interesting, your second post in 14 years is to a thread that hasn't been responded to in twenty years. but still good response to a good thread.
I seem to remember that there was a guy who ran on old ('52) Studebaker with a 232 V8 in the lower stock classes at the drags in the fifties. He had the engine blueprinted to the nth degree and tuned to the teeth and had found some ridiculously low rear-end gears. As I remember, he ran 13's or 14's in the quarter with it. Anyone remember who this was or anything about it?
Seems like I answered my own question with a quick "Google" search.. It was a guy named "Ted Harbitt" in the early sixties and while not as fast as I remembered, he still turned some impressie times f0r "K" stock. "Specs (in 1962) Purchase price: $30 (found sitting in a field in 1961) Engine: 1951 232 cu. in. Studebaker V8, bored 0.060 over Carburetor: Stromberg 2-barrel Headers Class: K/Stock Transmission: 4-speed Chassis mods: Traction bars ET: 16.9 sec at the '62 NHRA Nationals 15.40 sec is the best it has done in stock form"
Yes, this is a twenty-year-old thread about an old engine. Yes, many parts are available for StudeV8s, but not 232" pistons. The good news is later 259" and 289" blocks are still thick on the ground. Yes, we're still rebuilding Studebaker and Packard V8s every day. jack viens
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