Engine: Repairing Crankshaft with bad connecting rod journal

[DWillis]

Dear Forum Members:

I'm new to this forum.

Last year I purchased a 1957 Studebaker Commander Provincial Station Wagon from an Idaho salvage yard. I knew going in that the engine would have to be rebuilt. In my inspection, I found that the number one connecting rod had sliced through the oil pan. Not a good thing. At present, the engine is out and is 98% disassembled. The block and cylinder walls appear to be salvageable but the #1 connecting rod journal is out of round. The engine was run hard with dirty oil and the bearing seized and broke apart.

I'm trying to decide if a weld repair is the way to go or seek out a used crank that can be reconditioned with oversized bearings. The engine is a 259. Your input and experience is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

DWillis

[RadioRoy]

There are still NOS 259 crankshafts available at a reasonable price. There are also plenty of 232 engines around to donate their cranks. studebakervendors.com

Welcome to the forum.

[64studeavanti]

As said, you can buy nos or there are plenty of good used. I would not weld unless that was my only choice.

[Bud]

Buy a new crankshaft. 259 crankshafts are cheap enough and readily available. If you can find a used crankshaft that can be cleaned up at .010" under size, that will work too. If you were talking about a 289 crankshaft, they are getting hard to come by so welding could be an option on them. Bud

[PackardV8]

X3 - junk that crank and find a good used one. Be aware some of the NOS cranks still out there are not in mint condition. The last one I saw had to be turned .010" under to be usable.

When replacing the con rod, be aware Studebaker has left and rights, so make sure to get the correct replacement.

jack vines

[DieselJim]

NOS crank, Studebaker International, 1558011, $220.00

[JoeHall]

NOS crank, Studebaker International, 1558011, $220.00

Jim,
Is that part number for a long snout, or short snout crank?
Thanks,
Joe

[RadioRoy]

When replacing the con rod, be aware Studebaker has left and rights, so make sure to get the correct replacement.

jack vines

Would it be wise to replace both rods that rode on that journal?

[DieselJim]

Jim,
Is that part number for a long snout, or short snout crank?
Thanks,
Joe

1558011 crank,1955 to early 62.

[DWillis]

1558011 crank,1955 to early 62.

Dear Forum:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I bought a NOS Crankshaft from SI for $220.00.

Thanks to all.

DWillis

[PackardV8]

Dear Forum:

Thanks for all the suggestions. I bought a NOS Crankshaft from SI for $220.00.

Thanks to all.

DWillis

Just for the good of the order, let us know if it's usable as is out of the box.

jack vines

[tsenecal]

If you plan on using the connecting rods from that journal, I would have them checked and resized at a machine shop. I had a flat head Ford that had the bearing turn inside the rod, and it was torqued down that way. It spread the rod slightly, and the machine shop brought it back to specs. He called it resizing at the time.

[GrumpyOne]

If you plan on using the connecting rods from that journal, I would have them checked and resized at a machine shop. I had a flat head Ford that had the bearing turn inside the rod, and it was torqued down that way. It spread the rod slightly, and the machine shop brought it back to specs. He called it resizing at the time.

Yep… It's important to have any rod with a spun bearing, (or worse), trued by an engine machine shop. Vitally important!

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

You are new to the site.
Possibly new to Studebakers also, here are a several sites to stroll through for information.

http://www.studebakervendors.com/index.htm#ANCHORTOP

http://studebaker-info.org/rjvs.html

And a site with an extensive amount of Studebaker information:

http://studebaker-info.org/

[Neal in NM]

I know this is a little too late but, I found a place that can HARD-Chrome crankshaft journals to bring them back to the original size. It wasn't cost effective in my case because the crank was too far gone but, for one journal it might be worth it. Neal