Big Six vs Commander Six, identification cues; a primer.

[rockne10]

We often see posts or inquiries referencing Studebakers with the "Big Six" engine, when the inquirer actually means a Commander Six. Perfectly understandable, as the "Big Six" hasn't been installed in vehicles for almost a century.
Still, in the interest of clarity, it's good to understand what we've got and correctly identify it in our inquiries and discussions.

I believe this is a "BIG SIX" Studebaker engine. (Better authorities can correct me.) I believe Studebaker stopped using it in 1926.
Not to be confused with the "Light Six" or "Special Six" of the same vintage.

This is NOT a "Big Six". It is a "Commander Six", developed from the "Rockne Six" of 1932, and used in automobiles through 1950 and in some trucks in to 1961.
And still altogether different from the "Champion Six" introduced in 1939.

[StudeRich]

Please note for clarity that Picture #4 is a Champion 169/170 Six like Pic #5.

Note the "Humped up" Exhaust Manifold on 226 & 245 Commanders.

The 245 was used up until Only 1960, in only these Trucks:

5E6 1/2 Ton Champ
5E11 3/4 Ton Champ
5E14 1 Ton Transtar
5E16 1 1/2 Ton Transtar

These trucks have a higher Load Capacity than their V8 counterparts.

UPDATE: Thanks Guido, corrected typo on E16 & 226 was 223.

[56H-Y6]

The "big" six description probably came in general usage referring to Studebakers in the era when there were both Commanders (the "big") versus Champions (the "small") six. Think of a used car dealer telling his customer "I've got good used Studebakers, both the big six and those small ones, both easy on gas".

The Big Six model of the teens and twenties wasn't likely to be confused since none of their sixes was very small at the time: 242, 288 and 354. Small sixes then were usually under 200ci.

[Blue 15G]

I agree with Rich that picture # 4 is a Champion Six. When I see an under-hood picture of an older 6 cylinder Studebaker for sale, I look at the exhaust manifold and if it has the hump, I figure it must be a Commander Six instead of a Champion.

Another way to find out: I think the Commander Six has more head bolts than the Champion, but I don't remember how many and it's a lot easier to look at the exhaust manifold than to try to count head bolts!

[Guido]

Please note for clarity that Picture #4 is a Champion 169/170 Six like Pic #5.

Note the "Humped up" Exhaust Manifold on 223 & 245 Commanders.

The 245 was used up until Only 1960, in only these Trucks:

5E6 1/2 Ton Champ
5E11 3/4 Ton Champ
5E14 1 Ton Transtar
5E15 1 1/2 Ton Transtar

These trucks have a higher Load Capacity than their V8 counterparts.

Two comments:

* The earlier Commander 6 was 226 CID, Ford had an inline OHV 223 CID engine.

* A 1960 one ton truck with the Commander 6 would be designated a 5E-14, the 15 designation was for 1 ton trucks with the Champion engine. A 1.5 ton truck produced in 1960 with the Commander 6 was designated as a 5E-16 (following the scheme in the M and 2R trucks).

[Guido]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]73897[/ATTACH]

I am surprised no one noted the lack of a battery hold down...

[rockne10]

Please note for clarity that Picture #4 is a Champion 169/170 Six like Pic #5.

Photo position corrected. Thanks, Rich.

[willys54]

Commander & Champion have different configuration water inlets also.

[StudeRich]

Learned some interesting FACTS from both the Truck Parts Catalogs and Shop Manuals:

(1) The Parts Catalogs do not show the Weight Capacities 1 Ton, 1 1/2 Ton etc. Most Shop Manuals do.
(2) On "M" Trucks, no Engine size is shown, only Bore size, Weight Sizes are not shown in either Book.

It turns out they made some Odd changes through the years regarding the availability of these Commander Sixes:


..........................E ('55)..........2E ('56)..........3E ('57/'58)...........4E ('59).........5E ('60)..........
______________________________________________________________________________

3 (1/2 Ton)............................................................................ .Yes...................................

6 (1/2 Ton)............Yes...............Yes.................Yes....................NO. ..............Yes...............

11 (3/4 Ton) .........Yes...............Yes.................Yes....................Yes....... ........Yes................
.
14 (1 Ton).............Yes...............Yes.................Yes....................Ye s...............Yes................

16 (1 1/2 Ton).......Yes...............NO..................Yes....................Yes..... ..........Yes................

17 (2 Ton).............Yes...............NO..................Yes....................NO ...............NO.................