Over on the Packard forum, a member mentioned seeing two '57 Packards for sale, disappointed neither having the supercharger present. I replied with this:
I wish I'd kept accurate count over the fifty years I've been looking at for-sale Studebaker-Packards which had been factory-equipped with superchargers. I'd say of the many used-unrestored supercharged cars I've looked at, nine of ten did not have the supercharger in place. Most times the blower was long gone. The other few times, it was in the trunk or on the shelf in the garage and went with the car - "can be rebuilt."
When a '57-58 Studebaker Golden Hawk '57 Packard or '58 Packard Hawk is operating without the supercharger, it is slower than most. With only 7.5 compression ratio and 2bbl carburetor the engine will only produce at best 200hp when the McCulloch isn't there to make the boost that gave the 275hp rating. To confirm this, back in '61, looking to buy a used Stude C/K, I once raced and beat a blowerless '57 GH three times straight with a '55 259" 4bbl car. I liked the looks of that '57GH, but the '55 was a faster car for less money, so I bought it instead.
Today at shows many restored cars arrive with the supercharger drive belt off and install it when no one is looking. Can't blame the owners for worrying about the longevity of the unit. Others have learned it costs a couple of MPG to pull the supercharger, about the same as an operating AC unit.
Having a supercharged Stude is like dating some beautiful girls I knew back when. When she's in a good mood, everyone is looking at you as you cruise the drag and life is good. When she's in a bad mood, she'll spend your money, cause you unending grief and everyone says, "Serves him right." Back to that '57GH; I didn't buy it at the time because no one locally knew how to rebuild the McCulloch and the cost of a new supercharger exceed the value of the used car.
What have been your experiences with McCulloch/Paxton Studebaker-Packards over the years?
jack vines
I wish I'd kept accurate count over the fifty years I've been looking at for-sale Studebaker-Packards which had been factory-equipped with superchargers. I'd say of the many used-unrestored supercharged cars I've looked at, nine of ten did not have the supercharger in place. Most times the blower was long gone. The other few times, it was in the trunk or on the shelf in the garage and went with the car - "can be rebuilt."
When a '57-58 Studebaker Golden Hawk '57 Packard or '58 Packard Hawk is operating without the supercharger, it is slower than most. With only 7.5 compression ratio and 2bbl carburetor the engine will only produce at best 200hp when the McCulloch isn't there to make the boost that gave the 275hp rating. To confirm this, back in '61, looking to buy a used Stude C/K, I once raced and beat a blowerless '57 GH three times straight with a '55 259" 4bbl car. I liked the looks of that '57GH, but the '55 was a faster car for less money, so I bought it instead.
Today at shows many restored cars arrive with the supercharger drive belt off and install it when no one is looking. Can't blame the owners for worrying about the longevity of the unit. Others have learned it costs a couple of MPG to pull the supercharger, about the same as an operating AC unit.
Having a supercharged Stude is like dating some beautiful girls I knew back when. When she's in a good mood, everyone is looking at you as you cruise the drag and life is good. When she's in a bad mood, she'll spend your money, cause you unending grief and everyone says, "Serves him right." Back to that '57GH; I didn't buy it at the time because no one locally knew how to rebuild the McCulloch and the cost of a new supercharger exceed the value of the used car.
What have been your experiences with McCulloch/Paxton Studebaker-Packards over the years?
jack vines
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