1955 Studebaker Commander Generator and voltage question

[StudiousStudebaker]

Greetings from Texas Y'all! I am new to the Studebaker community, and Studebakers in general!
I have a (new to me) 1955 Studebaker Commander 4 door with a V8 (not sure the size yet) under the hood. It is a driver currently but does need some love -
First question I have is, if this car is 12V or a 6V car? Currently, there is a 12V car battery in it, and I am wondering if the wiring and all was changed?

Second, is the generator. The one that is in it was locked up, and after getting it freed up, the ear for attaching it totally broke off. I was wondering if there is a more modern replacement alternator/generator that would work well in this car? A replacement for this model directly is quite expensive, if you can even get one.

Thank you and look forward to hearing from yall!

[55coupe]

Welcome to you, your car if it’s still stock will be 6 volt positive ground. Look at light bulbs generator to see if parts are 6 or 12 volt . Good luck

[StudiousStudebaker]

55coupe Thanks for the response! That is what I thought it should be based off of the year. I will dig into it more and confirm.... I guess realistically I would need that answer prior to getting a new generator or alternator specked for it lol

Thanks again!

[gordr]

A '55 Studebaker was built with 6 volt, positive ground electricals. If it has a 12 volt battery in it now, and the lights all work, it's pretty safe to assume that a previous owner converted it to 12 volts. Do the fuel gauge and temperature gauge work properly? Turn the headlights on, and see which way the ammeter deflects. If it jumps towards "D", then the ammeter is now wired for negative ground (assuming the battery is so connected). If it jumps towards "C", then the ammeter was not rewired, and the car may not have been properly converted to 12V, negative ground.

If you want to keep the car 12 volts, then installing a common GM internally-regulated alternator would be a cheap and simple solution.

I think the engine in your car should be a 224, but might be a 259. Look for a number stamped into a flat pad on the front of the engine block, and just to the right (the viewer's right) of the vent stack that bears the oil filler cap. That number can be decoded as to year and engine size as of the day it was built. If the engine has oil filler caps on the valve covers, then it is probably a newer engine. Many Studebakers have had engine swaps, since it is quite easy to do that.

[RadioRoy]

Welcome to the forum.

Since you are new to Studebakers, you need to know that they are well designed and well built cars.

Do not let your first thoughts go towards redesign or replacing parts with modern parts from other brands. Studebakers can be redesigned by some experts, but the casual mechanic is well advised to keep the car as stock as possible.

Instead of replacing whatever system is malfunctioning with Chevrolet (or whatever brand) parts, bringing that system up to factory specifications (new bushings/bearings/seals/etc.) will do the job nicely and easily.

Doing so will give you a well running, well driving car.

[studegary]

Welcome to the SDC Forum! It appears that you also have a 1964 Dodge Dart. Is it a slant six or 273 V8? I owned two 1964 Plymouth Valiant Signet hardtops, one a slant six and the other a 273 cid V8. I also owned a 1965 Dodge Dart convertible. Before you get an incorrect impression, I have owned more than 50 Studebakers including two 1955s.

EDIT: Early 1955 Commanders had a 224 cid V8 and later 1955 Commanders had a 259 cid V8. Of course that is what they were built with. Give us the engine number and we will tell you what it started as.

[rockne10]

Give us the engine number and we will tell you what it started as.

Here's where to find that engine number.

[Hallabutt]

Adam,

Welcome! We all love to help people who have just discovered Studebaker. As one of the last independent car manufacturer, the company was a real survivor. Your car too is a survivor, I hope that you give some thought to maintaining it as an original.

I have owned near twenty 55's over the last sixty years. I've always felt that it was possible to point to the 55 as being a high water mark for post war production. It seemed to be a year that consistent quality was among the best for all post war Studebaker production. It was also the year that studebaker redesigned it's V8 engine, which would remain in production until 1964.

There were two body styles used in 1955, yours is from the second. The body was redesigned to accept the more contemporary wrap-a-round style. Today one style is not any more desirable then the other. They are just different. Since your car is from the second generation, there is a good chance that the engine is a 259, a good thing.

They were made in two plants. The main plant was in South Bend In. and produced about 90% of the production. The other was in Vernon (LA ) California. Most of my cars came from that California. There were a few production differences some which, IMO, really show up as part of an overall better quality product from that plant. With all that said sixty five years later any quality differences would have been muted by the passage of time. The engine number and the ID on the driver's side "A" pillar will both tell you what plant it came from.

Bill

[Skip Lackie]

As Gord said, it's probably been converted to 12v. But here are a few things to check. If it still has its Delco electrics, the generator tag will be black if 6v, red if 12v. Pull a couple of light bulbs and Google their numbers. The voltage will be identified.

[S2Deluxe]

If it still has its Delco electrics, the generator tag will be black if 6v, red if 12v.

Actually Skip, I think you might be mistaken? As I seem to recall it, it's the opposite of that. Or is it, just me, who's confused?

Mark

[Skip Lackie]

Mark-
Just checked (have both 6v and 12v with Delco electrics). I'm right.

[S2Deluxe]

Mark-
Just checked (have both 6v and 12v with Delco electrics). I'm right.

Ok Skip, thanks, for eliminating my confusion.

Mark