Help with motor identification

[Edsel Face]

!951 Champion, which in 2019, the former owner said comes with a "new factory 185 C.I. engine". But the plate affixed to the front left side of the block says "Do not remove this plate. This is engine # 536332" and to order parts accordingly. But from what I can tell, 185 motors came with 7 digit serial numbers. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? Thank you.

[RadioRoy]

It's probably a PART number and not a serial number? Did you look in the chassis parts catalogs for this number?

[mbstude]

Here you go. It’s a factory replacement 185 that was “de-tuned” to mimic the power output of the 170.

[Edsel Face]

That's great! Thank you. Too bad it doesn't have the power of the 185 motor. In what vintage shop manual would this bulletin have been posted. This motor must have been sitting around for decades as the prior owner claimed it was "new", installed by the person who sold him the car.

[r1lark]

That's great! Thank you. Too bad it doesn't have the power of the 185 motor. In what vintage shop manual would this bulletin have been posted. This motor must have been sitting around for decades as the prior owner claimed it was "new", installed by the person who sold him the car.

The cam is off by one tooth to detune it..........would not be very hard at all to put the cam back to the straight up timing. Just some wrenching and gaskets needed. Make sure you have a crankshaft hub puller to remove it, and a pusher to replace it.

[Edsel Face]

The bulletin says each motor came with instructions. I wonder if anyone has a copy. Might the museum have that sort of thing?

[StudeRich]

If the replacement engine has been properly installed with the Proper Engine Rear Support Adapter Plate, Oil Pan, Oil Pickup, Crank Pulley, Vibration Damper etc. and the Front Engine Mount Brackets and Mounts from the 170 reused, all you have to do is Drive it!

[Dwain G.]

Matt posted page 1 of the service bulletin. Here's page 2 and 3......click on them to enlarge

[Edsel Face]

I'm concerned about compatibility of certain parts. For example, does it use a fuel pump for a 185 motor or a 170 motor?

[StudeRich]

The Fit of the Fuel Pump will be all about Which Engine Mount Brackets and Mounts are being used, 1951 or 1955.
I think if a Champion F/P fits on your Block with no clearance issues, it should be OK.

[Edsel Face]

Thank you for your reply. The '51 and '55 to '58 Champion fuel pumps are different as the arms point in opposite directions. I assume they are not interchangeable.

[Edsel Face]

Thank you Dwain G. for posting those instructions. That information was not available from the museum. Does anyone know when those motors were produced and how many?

[Skip Lackie]

1955 through 1958, both cars and trucks. No way to tell how many (but many thousands) without counting all the serial numbers during that four-year period.

[Dwain G.]

Thank you for your reply. The '51 and '55 to '58 Champion fuel pumps are different as the arms point in opposite directions. I assume they are not interchangeable.

The only printed reason I've found of why the pumps changed in 1955 is that Studebaker went to the 'inverted' design to place the pump further from the exhaust manifold heat to reduce the possibility of vapor lock. Yes, the arms point in opposite directions but will still operate either way.

[Edsel Face]

Thank you, inverted design meaning the arm points down?