Supercharging

[6hk71400]

[QUOTE=dean4history;n1880418]Hi folks I am new to this forum and to the Studebaker family. But I purchased a 53 Commander HT and while I was told it had a 289, I found out it actually had the original 232 , I think.

Dean,
This is something I missed from the original post. You may have a 232 but there is a sure fire way to find out. 1951-1952 V8's have the engine number stamped on the back of the engine, near the distributor. 1953-54 have the engine number stamped on the front of the engine block near where the fuel pump is mounted. 1955 up have it at the front of the block on a pad with the numbers stamped in the block.

If you haven't already joined the Studebaker Drivers Club, I suggest you do. There is a wealth of knowledge on your car and help for you to care for your car. There are many local chapters on the east coast; the home page has a list and contacts. Having a contact nearby can help save time and money.

Here is a link to engine numbers.

engine.pdf (studebaker-intl.com)

Studebaker International is one of the many vendors for Studebakers. Scroll down on the chart and you will see engine numbers.

Hope this helps.

Bob Miles

[r1lark]

An Avanti R2 (supercharged) engine might fit under the hood of a '53-4 C/K. Someone must have tried this and would know.

Here is a link to a '53 K body (ignore the fact that it's been converted to a convertible ) with a R2 (Avanti-style side mounted blower) under the hood........video of that car starts about 4 minutes 23 seconds into the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfO-S8HhvX0

Here is a pic a snatched from the video:

[Mike]

Bob Johnstone's Studebaker and Avanti Page (Optional VS57 Kits) (studebaker-info.org) , has pictures of the parts in early McCulloch kits for Studes. There's a good picture of the kit for '53 to '56 coupes, installed, with the supercharger centered on top, which clears the hood. That's done by eliminating the top section of the water pump housing, and running a hose from each head to the radiator. Hose outlets are 49/53 Ford bolted to McCulloch adaptors. The older, '52 &'53 kit, mounted the supercharger on the right, and probably required cutting the fender well. The drive belt was long, requiring an extra idler, and the kit was intended for use with a 2bbl carb. The later, top mount kit, was a big improvement.
A road test of a Speedster, dealer equipped with the top mount kit, was written by Dean Moon, and published in the mid '50's: McCulloch Road Tests (y-block.info).
The top mount, '53 to '56 kits are quite rare. In the last 20 years I've seen only a few parts on eBay, ( shown at site above), and one more complete kit, which I bought. I still need to have a water pump housing cut down, and some small parts like the vac/pressure switch and hoses, are modern substitutes, but it's a very complete, original kit. Now all I need is a nice '53 coupe, with a 259, OD, Hawk or Avanti brakes, and at least the "bat wing" cross member, or maybe even a later frame. Also, I need to be about 20 years younger.
Mike

[Dwain G.]

This is the Motor Life article mentioned. Click to enlarge.
Not sure where I go the second photo from.

[Mike]

Dwain,
That's a good copy of the article from "Motor Life". Jim Moody reprinted the text, without pictures, on the VS 57 site. I bought a copy of the magazine on eBay a couple of years ago, and expect they still show up.
The photo of a partially completed installation is still on Bob Johnstone's site, where I mentioned above. I think I got it from Jim Moody, originally. I posted it somewhere, and Bob added it to his excellent site. I used it as a screen saver for years. I wonder where it came from before Jim. It shows a relocated oil filter, behind the generator. There is no mention of this in the 20 page installation instructions. I think folks just eliminated it. Likewise I don't think thermostats were intended. They would fit inside the Ford outlets, but there is no provision for any bypass. My outlets are empty but I'm including thermostats in my kit. I suppose you could drill holes in the thermostats for a bypass. The kit for '56 Golden Hawks, (Packard engine), which uses a similar dual hose setup, provides thermostats and a bypass provision, several extra parts.
I became interested in the McCulloch '53 to '56 kits after trying to mount a '57 Stude Golden Hawk kit under a '53 hood. I could close the hood to the safety catch, where it rubbed on the hood. Cutting a hole in the hood was out of the question. I didn't know about low profile front engine mounts, which I think tilt the trans tail shaft up. This was the mid '60's and I didn't have the facilities to raise the body on the frame. I prefer the stock look, anyway.
Mike

[swvalcon]

If your just looking for a extra shot of power now and again just throw on a small NOS system.

[Ron Dame]

[QUOTE=PackardV8;n1880424. Motor mounts sag/compress. Things get changed over sixty-seven years.

jack vines[/QUOTE]
Yeah, tell me about it!

[Mike]

If your just looking for a extra shot of power now and again just throw on a small NOS system.

The point today isn't just to make a fast car. I understand a modern rice rocket will out perform a supercharged '55 Speedster. From the magazine road test: " comparisons: 0-60 mph with the stock Speedster was 11.5 seconds, while the supercharged Speedster registered 7.7 seconds; standing quarter mile stock was 20 seconds to 80 mph, supercharger did it in 16.4 to 86 mph, 50-80 mph, stock 12.6 seconds, blown 7.0 flat (in second gear OD)." That's a substantial improvement over a stock Speedster, but not modern performance. Figures quoted are from less than precise tests using the car's speedometer and a hand held stop watch. Your results may vary.

I find period correct speed equipment on a collector car especially appealing, and I know other people do, too. A Speedster with the period correct McCulloch supercharger kit would be really special, and probably unique.
Mike

[swvalcon]

Nothing looks better with the hood up than a orange whirly thing.

[Mike]

Nothing looks better with the hood up than a orange whirly thing.

Fascinating aren't they.
An orange one is probably an SN60 with a MS or ML serial #, made for an R2 from the '60's.
The McCulloch kits for '53 to '56 Studes used VS57A models, painted maroon. VS57A & B models came with a 12 spring race load assembly and unpinned races, which were designed to turn in the housing and race load assembly, to prevent over speeding. Mine failed shortly after it was put in service, and it was installed on a shelf in someone's bedroom, where it sat for about 50 years. This prevented much wear on the walls of the air chamber that controls the split pulley. I plan to install a 14 spring race load assembly, with pinned races, from a VS57C, to replace the cracked original. This will give a housing with the original VS57A serial #, with improved internals, and even more "whirleyness".
I wonder what it sounded like when races turned in a VS57A. I've read it's kind of a moan, when impeller speed drops. Probably few people living have heard it. Few even know about this feature. Maybe I should leave the pins out.
Mike

[Dick Steinkamp]

This is Scott Hall's Speedster (with a 53 front end).

[Hallabutt]

Dwain,

Remember Ted V's 1954? He worked on that for years in order to get adequate hood clearance. He worked with engine angle, motor mounts- much of which just to get the 1/4" clearance that he needed. He ended up louvering the hood just so he could gain the clearance needed. It also benefited the cooling, which it really needed!

Ted's garage was a weekend gathering place. A fun place to gather, but I don't remember a lot of work going on! When Ted sold the car it was like a wake-nobody could believe it was going. You may know who bought the car, I certainly do! The last I knew of it it was in Ohio. Someone reading this is bound to recognize a black htp with a louvered hood.

Bill

[Dwain G.]

Bill,
I think I remember when he first got it, but I didn't know he did that much work on it.

[dean4history]

Thanks to all that responded with great info and memories. That was my first posting and what a response! I was a new member of the SDC last year and just sent in my renewal. It amazes me of the data out there among the forum's contributors. Just a note I did find the number on the engine to confirm it was a 232. However the car does have a 4 barrel carb and intake manifold. It also has dual exhaust.
Thank all of you again. DEC

[Dan White]

A number of years ago I visited the Studebaker guys that had a shop near Long Beach CA. They had a '53 or '54 with a VS-57 that looked and worked just fine. The blower was off to the right/passenger side clocked on the bracket for correct fit. Did not seem to be a problem at all.