Salvaging a 185.

[gordr]

Had the tractor going to move some vehicles around, so while I was at it, I picked up a sad-looking Champion six that was a relic of our chapter's parts stash at another location. "Either you take it, or it goes to Blackfoot Metals". So, I took it. There's a V8, too, with a Flightomatic on it.

I got the engine on my outside workbench, and propped it upright, which took some doing, because the oil pan was quite round on the bottom. Water had got in it, and frozen, and stretched it out. It was stuck, of course. T-96 transmission, no OD. Transmission rusty inside, a parts transmission for sure.

Got the head off. Gee, the bores look pretty nice, scarcely any ridge. Got the bellhousing, clutch, and flywheel off. Ring gear rusty, and worn on both sides, so somebody flipped it once. Took the front pulley off, and the timing cover. Pulling the crank timing gear caused the cam gear to break, as neither was about to turn.

Rolled it over; got the pan off. Rusty inside, and oil pump pickup trashed by rust and ice. All the bearing caps came off OK, and crank journals are discolored, but not really badly pitted. Might polish up? Looks like rod journals were cut .010, and undersize bearings fitted. Lifted the crank out. Got 5 of the 6 pistons out without busting anything. #4 is stuck near the bottom. I ran myself out of time today. Will probably try to knock it a little further down the bore, run the hone in it, and then back out the top. Pretty sure the pistons are oversize, too, but by how much, I don't know. Things were really dirty...

Engine serial number is C63886, which should be a '55 185, but it's fitted with 12 volt starter and flywheel. Block casting number is 533870-4, and head casting number is 536180, which is consistent with 1955, too. I have not measured the stroke of the crank, nor did I record its forging number. Pretty sure it's all 185 stuff, though. Definitely a large-journal crank. What I could see of the bearings looks good.

If somebody needs a 185, this might be worth looking at. It might just clean up to be a running engine without rebore or a crank grind.

[PackardV8]

Yes, Gord, thanks for saving it; a 185" core can usually find a home. If it's done enough miles to already be rebuilt once, check the lifter bores. They're apt to show wear.

jack vines

[gordr]

I just came in from cleaning up the pistons. I got #4 out by tapping down further, and running the hone in the cylinder, then tapping it back out. Did not take too much force. All the oil rings seem to be stuck, at least I cannot move them. Got all the compression rings freed up, save for the top ring on #4. Pistons are all marked .030 oversize. Part number on several rod bearings I checked ended in "010", so they might be undersize, too. The bores all cleaned up real nice, no ridge to speak of at all. I don't think this rebuild had many miles on it when it ceased to be used. No evidence of any catastrophic failure that might have killed it. I wonder if the stuck oil rings were that way from the get-go, and the poor thing burned so much oil that they thought the rebuild failed?

Cam, lifters, and valves all still stuck; have made no attempt to deal with them yet.

[StudeRich]

My bet is on the Starter failed and would not Start, possibly due to a 6 Volt course tooth Flywheel Ring gear running with a Fine tooth 12 Volt Starter.
After rotating the ring Gear once or twice they gave up!

[gordr]

No, there was a 12 volt starter on it, too. And the bellhousing was painted aqua green. Engine block and head painted machinery gray. I vaguely recollect that this engine was in a '56 or '57 Champion sedan. So maybe a '55 engine reconditioned, and used in a later car?

[studepickups]

the good news is if the block is no good, all one needs to make a 185 is another block from 1955-1964 and you can make a 185 using the crankshaft. It works well and you may not be bothered with bad lifter bores, it is even possible to have a 185 full flow Studebaker 6 cylinder engine with 12 volt system.
Ted Jensen

[PackardV8]

the good news is if the block is no good, all one needs to make a 185 is anotheItr block from 1955-1964 and you can make a 185 using the crankshaft. It works well and you may not be bothered with bad lifter bores, it is even possible to have a 185 full flow Studebaker 6 cylinder engine with 12 volt system.
Ted Jensen

Yes, IIRC, the '55-'60 flathead blocks are pretty much the same. Yes, one can build a 185" OHV using a '61-'64 core, but that additional power and compression can cause the early version head to crack even sooner.

jack vines

[S2Deluxe]

Yes, one can build a 185" OHV using a '61-'64 core, but that additional power and compression can cause the early version head to crack even sooner.

jack vines

Ok Jack, are you saying that later version heads, would have a reasonablly decent survival rate? What casting # should someone, with a desire to attempt this, be looking for?

Mark

[studepickups]

Jack may be right but the two I have converted have been running with no trouble for almost 7 years now. Both were full flow but one was earlier than the other indicated by the heater outlet in the head.
Ted

[TX Rebel]

I have a 185 from a '55 with a cracked block, but will salvage the crank & some other parts out of it if anyone cares. I have tons of new & used engine parts and rebuildable engines.