My grandson and I are looking for a project and came across a 1958 President with 76K on the odo for sale from the collection of a deceased Studebaker enthusiast. While we liked the idea of a studebaker, we went little cold on the deal when a friend of the family who is helping with liquidation told me the car had a 259 cubic inch engine instead of the 289. The engine turns free. My questions are these
1. In what years were the 259 made
2. Is it more or less durable or reliable than the 289
3. in a president what is the discernable difference in power?
4. What year is the most desirable 289 made? Is there such a thing?
5. Are parts like rockers, fenders, floors and quarters readily available for this car?
6. this car needs both rockers, rear of front fenders, lower section of right 1/4 and right trunk floor
7. the interior looks intact
8. I am hoping to keep the grandson involved by getting it fired up and usable without a full restore before plotting a restore together potentially with the 289. How amenable is the 259 / 289 engine to pulling the gear off the distributor shaft and using a drill to get oil moving in the engine before firing it up. I have done this on SBC....can this be done on stud?
9. If I can get this car for a grand, is that fair? It is all there except headlight rings, a tail light and bezel and this engine thing.
10. Is there some kind of magic for an auto transmission that has been sitting? what are the chances it will move?
1. In what years were the 259 made
2. Is it more or less durable or reliable than the 289
3. in a president what is the discernable difference in power?
4. What year is the most desirable 289 made? Is there such a thing?
5. Are parts like rockers, fenders, floors and quarters readily available for this car?
6. this car needs both rockers, rear of front fenders, lower section of right 1/4 and right trunk floor
7. the interior looks intact
8. I am hoping to keep the grandson involved by getting it fired up and usable without a full restore before plotting a restore together potentially with the 289. How amenable is the 259 / 289 engine to pulling the gear off the distributor shaft and using a drill to get oil moving in the engine before firing it up. I have done this on SBC....can this be done on stud?
9. If I can get this car for a grand, is that fair? It is all there except headlight rings, a tail light and bezel and this engine thing.
10. Is there some kind of magic for an auto transmission that has been sitting? what are the chances it will move?
Comment