Studebaker Myths and Misconceptions

[bonehead007]

When I have my Packard Hawk out I always get its not a Packard its a Studebaker. Title says Packard, hood says Packard. Or Ill tell them that Studebaker was brought out by Packard so all Studebakers after the merger are Packards. Drives em crazy.

[JGK 940]

When I have my Packard Hawk out I always get its not a Packard its a Studebaker. Title says Packard, hood says Packard. Or Ill tell them that Studebaker was brought out by Packard so all Studebakers after the merger are Packards. Drives em crazy.

What this forum needs is a "thumbs up" "Like" button. LOL

[BobPalma]

Another bit of lore is that most Studes came with flathead 6s. 'Can't tell you how many times someone will look at my Transtar and ask if it still has "that original flathead six" in it.

Well, does it? BP

[JimC]

I have been told by employees who worked at the GM/McKinnon plant they put aside only the really good castings for Studebaker engines. I can really see that happening, they stopped painting the valve covers yellow because it was too much trouble.

Keep in mind that they were telling this to a Studebaker person. When someone asks my opinion of their wife, I don't tell him that she's built just like all the girls out there. <G>

Truthfully, considering McKinnon was GM owned, you'd think if anything they'd have more incentive to save the worst engines for the Studebakers, since they were still technically competition to GM.

[Roscomacaw]

No, I reply - It's got a 289 V8. Guess what the NEXT question is.

[JimC]

I think the top ten list could sum up all the Engine Myths with the question "Didn't Studebaker use Chrysler/Ford/Chevy motors?" with the answer "No. Studebakers were always powered by Studebaker motors. The only exception to this were 65-66 models, which used motors made By McKinnon in Canada. While the McKinnon plant made near identical motors for both Studebaker and GM, the motors that went into Studebakers were specifically ordered for Studebakers, and had never been destined for any GM vehicle."

[Studedude]

"They were all either green or yellow."

[Marie Mac]

I have to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder...however, I keep hearing that "Studebakers are ugly"...makes me furious--I think they are beautiful!...You'd be surprised how many times I've heard that...

[BobGlasscock]

Another bit of lore is that most Studes came with flathead 6s. Can't tell you how many times someone will look at my Transtar and ask if it still has "that original flathead six" in it.

Well, mine does.

[Rerun]

Avantis were made in Canada.
Avantis had steel bodies, only the replicas had fiberglass bodies.
The 289 is a Ford engine.

Avantis are STILL made in Canada.

[Dick Steinkamp]

I have been told by employees who worked at the GM/McKinnon plant they put aside only the really good castings for Studebaker engines. I can really see that happening, they stopped painting the valve covers yellow because it was too much trouble.

How did they perform this sort? Did GM pay their employees to sort out the best blocks for their competitor or were the employees closet Studebaker fans and do it on their own time?

Dick,Have you,ever tried to install,a regular GM crankshaft in a McKinnon 283 block? I've,been told,by a fellow,who has,rebuilt a number of 283 McKinnon engines,that they will fit in,but will not rotate,due to crankshaft web intefernce with the block. Art Kendall

Then there must be two part numbers out there for 283 crankshafts. One for most and one just for Studebaker. Can you post those part numbers? I sure can't find 2. (BTW, you CAN put a 327 crank in a 283...both have 3.250" main journals...but the crank won't rotate due to web interference with the block. Do you suppose...)

When I first got into Studebakers, I found that the first 5 guys told me that the 289 in Studebakers was a Ford engine were pretty insistent. I couldn't talk them out of it, even when I showed a few a 289 Stude engine and a 289 Ford engine, they stuck to their guns. After that, I just nodded my head to the next 20 that made that statement.

I've found the same with those of us that believe the 283 in a Stude is special. After the first 5 and except for this thread, I've just been nodding my head. I know I won't change minds on this one.

[j.byrd]

Mr. Shaw, my "facts" that I have been told by Studebaker "experts" that almost to a man have never owned one, are : 1- the 289's were a Ford engine, 2- all Studebakers were powered by Chevrolet engines, 3- all Studebakers were made in Canada, 4- they went out of business in the 50's, 5- the blocks were too hard to be bored, 6- the Studebaker family hated cars, 7- any Cadillac intake will bolt right on, 8- Studebakers were made by...fill in the blank, I've heard several manufacturers named, 9- too far ahead of their time, 10- all Hawks were Golden Hawks, 11-all Hawks were supercharged, 12- all Avantis "for sure" had Chevy high performance engines, 13- any engine besides the stock 6 cylinder in a coupe will cause the frame to break, 14- Avantis were actually NOT Studebakers, etc., etc., . Now, some of these may be true, who am I to question the "experts", ha ! Thanks for doing this, it should prove interesting and hopefully there will be no innocent Studebaker owners hurt or killed in the sure to follow arguments, ha ! I am the previous owner of a 50 Champion 2-door, 50 Truck, 51 Truck, 48 Truck, 57 4-door, 53 Champion 2-door, 56 Sky Hawk, 63 4- door "Lark", 58 Truck, 63 Avanti, 57 Hawk, ?? Champ truck, 54 4-door Champion, current owner of none at the present, but watching/listening carefully for a Coupe Express or another 49-up non-Champ. As you can see from my list, I have very little experience with the brand, plus, my Dad worked at dealerships from "the coupes thru the Avantis", so I argue with none of the "experts", just blindly stumble along learning as I go, ha ! John

[kmac530]

Rosco,
The concept that "most Studes came with flathead 6s in them" especially in trucks is not that far fetched. My opinion on that is that up until the mid 50s all trucks had the flathead 6 in it and the Stude trucks from the 2R-3E {I forget the later model numbers, please correct me if wrong} all look very similar, so it is logical to think that many folks not in the know might assume that even an early 60s Stude truck is actually older than it is and thus put it back in that mid 50s flathead 6 era.
Of course they are incorrect, and should be corrected, but not inconceiveable that they might assume that.

[Cultural_infidel]

1. You can't get parts for 'em anymore.


jack vines

ran in to this one first hand when I was trying to find brake parts. I asked a few small local shops if they would be able to fix my brakes. First, they werent sure if they had the know-how. Then they said, "only if we can find parts, which is unlikely."

[Effie]

When I had my Avanti, people used to ask if it was front wheel drive. Confused with Toronado, I believe. Anyone else heard this comment?