Oval or Round?

[SN-60]

I'm thinking ALL of the front bumper face bar retaining bolts should be oval.......but the rear face bar 'outers' are still a toss-up.

[bezhawk]

Perhaps the outer rears changed with the advent of the 56 Hawks. Every post 56 one I have ever seen were round at the outer ends of the rear bumper.
(I'm only talking C/K cars)

[Hallabutt]

You are right Gary, virtually all of my cars have been Vernon cars. The ones that were from South Bend were generally not worth saving, not because of build quality, but because of where they lived their early lives.

[SN-60]

Well, I guess the jury is IN!....According to the '55-'58 Studebaker Chassis Manual, (revised in '61), ALL the bolts that retain the front & rear bumper face bars to the inner support brackets on C/K's should be OVAL.....('55-'58), including the sedan models.....and the 1958 Packard Hawk.

'59-'66 Stude passenger car models..............?

[345 DeSoto]

My Sky Hawk bumpers (17,000 miles) have never been removed and ALL the bumper bolts, front and back, are oval...

[studegary]

Well, I guess the jury is IN!....According to the '55-'58 Studebaker Chassis Manual, (revised in '61), ALL the bolts that retain the front & rear bumper face bars to the inner support brackets on C/K's should be OVAL.....('55-'58), including the sedan models.....and the 1958 Packard Hawk.

'59-'66 Stude passenger car models..............?

I would say that you need a different jury. When you refer to a 1961 revision, that would be what was available or what was to be used at that time. If round heads were used prior to 1961, they MAY have been superceded by the oval heads.
However, I do believe that oval heads were used on the later C/Ks. It is only the 1953-1954 C/Ks, particularly early 1953s, where round heads were used at the end (as shown in factory pictures, I do not have my early parts books available at this time).

[SN-60]

I would say that you need a different jury. When you refer to a 1961 revision, that would be what was available or what was to be used at that time. If round heads were used prior to 1961, they MAY have been superceded by the oval heads.
However, I do believe that that oval heads were used on the later C/Ks. It is only the 1953-1954 C/Ks, particularly early 1953s, where round heads were used at the end (as shown in factory pictures, I do not have my early parts books available at this time).

I disagree with your assumption Gary,...but you're certainly entitled to your opinion!

[studegary]

I disagree with your assumption Gary,...but you're certainly entitled to your opinion!

Please re-read my statement. I did not make an "assumption".

[SN-60]

Gary, factory parts manuals ALWAYS indicate when a part has been superseded by another.....You should know that!