Need Engine

[pdrnec]

While people are reading this post does any one may have a 185 engine or crank in the Los Angeles area? I have a 170 from a 59 and a 0.030 over 170 from a 53 and would like to use the pistons from the 53 in the 59 block and believe this would be the easiest way to do this. Any ideas?

I have an old 6 in my warehouse, you're welcome to it

[manest]

Anyone have .......or know where I can find a 185 engine for my 50 Champion ? I'm in South Georgia.
Thanks

I've got a 170 cid out of my 50 Champion, actually I have the whole drivetrain. If you are interested in any of it PM me.

[Ron Dame]

If you are planning to build a 185 flathead or ohv, you need the 185 crank and the 185 pistons from 55-58. Use a die grinder at the base of the bores so the connecting rods wont wack the block and you're set

Ron Dame is one of the recent 185 builders albeit an ohv 185.

Jeff T.

Yes I do, and I like it..it's not 259, but it is an improvement. The late blocks have a different deck height that allowed the use of the 185 crank but 169.5 pistons. Then Studebaker went back to 170 CI and had to change pistons to accommodate the new deck height. I don't explain it well on line, but you DO use the early 170 (169.5) pistons with a 185 crank in a late block. a 185 OHV runs great!

[Jeff T.]

If you are planning to build a 185 flathead or ohv, you need the 185 crank and the 185 pistons from 55-58. Use a die grinder at the base of the bores so the connecting rods wont wack the block and you're set

Ron Dame is one of the recent 185 builders albeit an ohv 185.

Jeff T.

[whacker]

For all the work you are planning to go through, it seems like you would be ahead just to buy new, correct pistons. You only want to do this once, don't you?

I was under the impression the the 64 was the worst year for wear and problems with the pistons. The 53 pistons may not be 1953 design but beside that I was going to relieve the skirts to allow the combination to work. It has been done before. I would have to pull the pistons to verify one way or the other. A 185 uses the same block as a 59 170 does it not? And the same compression height and bore as a 53 170? So, it would only be the skirt that would be an issue.

[JohnM15]

There is a Commander engine on ebay, newly rebuilt...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-S...item19c86cb79d

[studeski]

You cannot use the 169 pistons with the 185 crank. The 185 pistons are a little more that an 1/8" shorter in the skirt and there is a relief cut out just below the wrist pin so the counterweight on the crankshaft does not hit the piston. I got pictures at home.

[StudeRich]

There are some things that are better left as designed, I do not see '53 170 Pistons in a '59 170 Block working with a 185 Crank.

There is a reason the small 6 Pistons were redesigned many times from '47 to '64, there were many problems with them breaking, and they may have finally got it right with the 1964 redesign.

While people are reading this post does any one may have a 185 engine or crank in the Los Angeles area? I have a 170 from a 59 and a 0.030 over 170 from a 53 and would like to use the pistons from the 53 in the 59 block and believe this would be the easiest way to do this. Any ideas?

Anyone have .......or know where I can find a 185 engine for my 50 Champion ? I'm in South Georgia.
Thanks