School me on the 232 V8

[putecht421]

Good morning everyone!

After a few years of neglect, my 6 cylinder 53 Champion is coming out of retirement and is getting put back on the road. A little backstory about the car, it is an all original 53 2 door sedan, 2 owner, and has been in my family for the better part of its life. The original flat head 6 decided to eat itself a few years ago, and with all of my other projects at the time it just got stuffed back in the garage until now. Well, fast forward until yesterday evening, I had the option to grab up a 232 V8 from a 53 Commander. I am typically a Ford man through and through (please don't judge!) so I know absolutely nothing about this engine. Am I going to be better off rebuilding my 6 cylinder, or will this 232 fit without too much persuasion from the blue wrench and welder?

Help educate someone trying to keep his Studebaker all Studebaker!

Thanks,

[64V-K7]

The Six cylinder cars had lighter duty rear axle, transmission, frame, suspension, brakes, etc. You would need to upgrade more than just the motor mounts... If you could find a nice 185 cubic inch Six from 1955-58, you would be way ahead.

[BobPalma]

What Bob said. Everything was lighter-duty in Champions, so you're better off warming up a 185 flathead...or with a little more work, putting an OHV Skybolt Six in it. It will fit; I've done it. BP

[putecht421]

I'm not really after any more performance, I would just much prefer a V8 in its place. The 232 I have came with a transmission, and I can go back and get the rear end if needed. Not looking to build a race car, just a V8 powered Sunday driver. I'm trying to avoid the Mustang II, brand X engine route to get what I want out of the car.

[putecht421]

Front disc brakes and a dual reservoir master cylinder are sitting in the garage waiting to go on, and I am already talking to a spring manufacture about new springs to set it just a little lower and make up for any additional weight I add, so that isn't really a problem for me.

[rkapteyn]

I fully agree!
There are multiple headaches when you try to install a V8.
If you would have bought the rest of the car where your V8 comes from you would have most of the parts you need.
The dash and wiring harness are different and a pain.
You will be spending much more than the car would ever be worth.
A 1953 2dr sedan with a V8 is not worth very much.
Keep the six.Parts are much cheaper.
Robert Kapteyn

[Alan]

You never said what trans it has. If stick it has to be changed too. Myself, if it were in my possession, it would be getting a 90's 5.0 roller block with lots of aluminum parts. A TKO 500 and a 9". Duck incoming!

[putecht421]

You never said what trans it has. If stick it has to be changed too. Myself, if it were in my possession, it would be getting a 90's 5.0 roller block with lots of aluminum parts. A TKO 500 and a 9". Duck incoming!

That is definitely not out of the question. Another thought has been a Mustang II suspension, with a 4.6 and a 6 speed similar to my Cougar!

[putecht421]

I fully agree!
There are multiple headaches when you try to install a V8.
If you would have bought the rest of the car where your V8 comes from you would have most of the parts you need.
The dash and wiring harness are different and a pain.
You will be spending much more than the car would ever be worth.
A 1953 2dr sedan with a V8 is not worth very much.
Keep the six.Parts are much cheaper.
Robert Kapteyn

Not at all concerned with what the car is worth to someone else. This car has been in the family long enough, it isn't going anywhere. I want to build a car I am happy with, not a car that is worth the most money...

[swvalcon]

As Alan said or go 4.3 chev v6 with a 200r4. 200 hp stock and way more than a flat head six. Your rear end that you have will handle it and maybe lighter than the six that's there now. Plus you could go throttle body with a stand alone computer and wire system.

[sweetolbob]

While I like the newer engine setup Alan and sw suggest, if you can get all the 232 V8 with the trans and rearend and chose it, where's the rocket science. Look at the car it came from, see what parts you need and strip them if possible. I don't know Jack about swapping a Stude V8 into a six cylinder car but I've been putting other engines in other cars and trucks for 50+ years.

If you can read a tape measure, weld reasonably well and have enough tools for the job, Forge ahead fearlessly. There have been a number of SBC's dropped in 6 cyl cars and I'm pretty sure the 232 is not a torque monster compared to them.

Take the brake upgrade seriously however, no sense being in today traffic with 50's brake technology. Look at Turner Brake as he builds setups for Studebakers and make sure the front end is in good nick. Bob

[putecht421]

While I like the newer V8 setup Alan suggests, if you can get all the 232 V8 with the trans and rearend, where's the rocket science. Look at the car it came from, see what parts you need and strip them if possible. I don't know Jack about swapping a Stude V8 into a six cylinder car but I've been putting other engines in other cars and trucks for 50+ years.

If you can read a tape measure, weld reasonably well and have enough tools for the job, Forge ahead fearlessly. There have been a number of SBC's dropped in 6 cyl cars and I'm pretty sure the 232 is not a torque monster compared to them.

Take the brake upgrade seriously however, no sense being in today traffic with 50's brake technology. Look at Turner Brake as he builds setups for Studebakers and make sure the front end is in good nick. Bob

I am not so much looking for how to information on the swap, I have fabricated an engine swap or two in my days! I was mainly looking for information in regards to the engine itself. I know absolutely nothing about the Studebaker engines, and I was hoping someone with one would chime in about highway manners, parts availability, speed parts and overall reliability. Never have I been on a forum where so many people were against a V8 swap!!

[sweetolbob]

I am not so much looking for how to information on the swap, I have fabricated an engine swap or two in my days! I was mainly looking for information in regards to the engine itself. I know absolutely nothing about the Studebaker engines, and I was hoping someone with one would chime in about highway manners, parts availability, speed parts and overall reliability. Never have I been on a forum where so many people were against a V8 swap!!

Hopefully your above post will make clear the question you asked, we're just a little slow on the uptake sometimes. As far as the 6 vs 8 question, I'll bet you haven't been on a forum where the average age of the posters exceeds the expected average life span of a normal male. It's all well meaning so take no offence.

Some of us still believe there is no replacement for displacement. Bob

[rkapteyn]

You are in Texas and should talk to Barry Hackney.
He probably have a six fro the many cars he stripped out.

http://www.studebakersite.com

[55coupe]

My very first car was a 53 champion that had the 6 removed and a 232 installed. They are fine v8s imop the motor itself has smaller heads and valves so not much to do in the performance department. If you have a parts car you have the parts. Up grades bolt on from meny other years use the search on this forum and have fun.