Questions in ID'ing my 1962 Lark.

[1962larksedan]

Cowl tag: 62V-Y4 7761
VIN: 62V-39316

I know I have a 1962 259 V8 in a Y body with the 'Deluxe(?)' trim level but I can't figure out what '7761' stands for. Car is off white (Ermine?) with a blue interior.

[Anne F. Goodman]

The 7761 is the body number

[monomaniac]

Anne is correct -- just a body number.
The numbers you show tell you that the car was originally equipped with a V8.
They do NOT tell you if the V8 was a 259 or a 289. You need the engine number to determine that.

[1962larksedan]

Anne is correct -- just a body number.
The numbers you show tell you that the car was originally equipped with a V8.
They do NOT tell you if the V8 was a 259 or a 289. You need the engine number to determine that.

I'm 99.9% sure the motor in there is a 259 from the factory since the car has that spindly Dana 27 rear end. And it has the partial flow oil filter up top (Fram PH17 which is a very odd and rare number) along with single exhaust and a 2V carb but the
manifold has provisions for a 4 barrel.

[studegary]

Anne is correct -- just a body number.
The numbers you show tell you that the car was originally equipped with a V8.
They do NOT tell you if the V8 was a 259 or a 289. You need the engine number to determine that.

The car is a Deluxe four door sedan. Since I believe that in 1962 only Cruisers and Hawks (and fleet models) came with the 289, it would be a 259.
The car was assembled in South Bend, not Hamilton.
What is strange is that the Serial Number is near the end of 1962 production yet you do not have a full flow engine. Do you have the build sheet? Does the car have its original engine?

[1962larksedan]

The car is a Deluxe four door sedan. Since I believe that in 1962 only Cruisers and Hawks (and fleet models) came with the 289, it would be a 259.
The car was assembled in South Bend, not Hamilton.
What is strange is that the Serial Number is near the end of 1962 production yet you do not have a full flow engine. Do you have the build sheet? Does the car have its original engine?

Unknown on whether the engine is original...........although after almost 50 years anything is possible.

I have yet to run into its build sheet (if it still exists).

[JimK]

The build sheet is easily obtained from the Studebaker Museum - check their website for the details. I forget what the cost is these days.

[mbstude]

The car is a Deluxe four door sedan. Since I believe that in 1962 only Cruisers and Hawks (and fleet models) came with the 289, it would be a 259.

FWIW Gary, my granddad's '62 Cruiser has a 259.

[StudeRich]

/Cut/And it has the partial flow oil filter up top (Fram PH17 which is a very odd and rare number) along with single exhaust and a 2V carb but the manifold has provisions for a 4 barrel.

All of the '59 & up 2 Barrel and 4 barrel Intake Manifolds use the same casting, before machining throttle bores, and drilling and tapping the Carb. stud holes.

The Oil Filter should be a Fram PB50, Purolator PER3, now L30003 or WIX 51050, unless they superceeded the number.
If you have the wrong Filter that could cause leakage when changing it, the correct ones have a restrictor orfice in the drainback center hole.

Maybe you should look at the lower right side of the block right next to the Block coolant drain plug, to see if there is a Full Flow Filter block-off plate on this Engine, because with that late a Serial, it may have the late Engine.

[studegary]

FWIW Gary, my granddad's '62 Cruiser has a 259.

Maybe my post wasn't worded well enough. 1962 Cruisers came with a 259, but the 289 was optional in the Cruiser, but not for the rest of the Lark line (like the subject car).