Engine: Are there any speed parts around?

[Bill-W]

Hi All, I have searched e-bay Craig's list and several other sites and I can not find speed parte for a 1951 Commander V8, or any other studebaker. I know a man who has a 2 carb manifold and he wants $1000 for it. It is the only speed part I have found. It looks so tall that I wonder if the hood would close? Air cleaner ? What is it worth? Bill-W

[sals54]

The only 2 carb manifold I've seen for sale lately is one for a boat. The angle of the carb base is too far off for automobile use. Most of the speed stuff is cams, 4 bbl intakes and higher compression.
The higher compression can be obtained in several ways, but I would not recommend that any more. The gas sucks and won't really support the very high compression too well.
Cams can be bought through some of the vendors. Usually the basic Avanti cam is a good choice. Not radical, but enough to wake up a Stude V8.
Intakes can be found for a single 4 bbl fairly easily.
All depends on what you want to do with it.
There are some die-hards still racing Studebakers and taking them above 200 mph. So it can be done if you have the budget.
Now then, if you just want to go fast, you could do a turbo or two. Those are not too tough to fabricate and you can get some very streetable horsepower.

[(S)]

For the 232 there were Offy 4 bbl manifolds available. Some say they were not that good , but they were good on the 232, it also shaves several POUNDS. If that was mine and it had to stay a 232, I'd use 259 heads and shave them looking for 9 to 1 ratio and add the 259 exhaust manifolds and duel exhaust for sure with an R1 cam. It was done quite a bit back in the day, and better cams/ tech. is out there today. Get a newer distributor and tweak the timing until it is perfectly tuned.

[shifter4]

Hi All, I have searched e-bay Craig's list and several other sites and I can not find speed parte for a 1951 Commander V8, or any other studebaker. I know a man who has a 2 carb manifold and he wants $1000 for it. It is the only speed part I have found. It looks so tall that I wonder if the hood would close? Air cleaner ? What is it worth? Bill-W

Look here :

http://racingstudebakers.com/foo/index.php

https://www.ebay.com/bhp/studebaker-intake-manifold

[52-fan]

The speed parts are out there, but for a Studebaker you won't find many parts at Summit or Jegs. A Studebaker V-8 can be very peppy with the right combination.

[Xcalibur]

I have a Stu-V with the larger ports and front-facing 2-bbl carbs. It has two of the the correct early 2-bbl carbs (designation escapes me at the moment), one disassembled. No linkage or filters... $500 plus shipping... how about that? Half-price!

Btw, as the only one to have driven all three of the 200+ mph Stude-powered Avantis, that kind of power is NOT available with "bolt-on" antique speed parts, I can well assure ya!

[sals54]

I have a Stu-V with the larger ports and front-facing 2-bbl carbs. It has two of the the correct early 2-bbl carbs (designation escapes me at the moment), one disassembled. No linkage or filters... $500 plus shipping... how about that? Half-price!

Btw, as the only one to have driven all three of the 200+ mph Stude-powered Avantis, that kind of power is NOT available with "bolt-on" antique speed parts, I can well assure ya!

HEY ! ! ! Quit braggin on having driven all those fast Avantis. Some of us have tender egos. I'm jealous.

[doofus]

You probably have room for a turbo, mounted above the water manifold. exh. manifold's flipped over to feed turbo.better yet use a 259 or a 289, simpler fuel system to work with. if you want to keep the 232 normal hop up practices and a reground cam will probably do the trick. lots of good ideas, so off you go!!! Luck Doofus

[DEEPNHOCK]

That Ebay triple deuce intake is a Caddy intake.
It will bolt on, but.......

Look here :

http://racingstudebakers.com/foo/index.php

https://www.ebay.com/bhp/studebaker-intake-manifold

[PackardV8]

It's been suggested to use 259"/289" heads and that's important if one wants max performance.

As a nod to the old school here, the 232" is a nice-driving and torque-producing engine. Since 232" pistons are NLA, one bores it to 259" and tunes it accordingly, any more money mostly buys bling.

Yes, the two carb intakes look trick and go for $500 or less more often than they sell for $1000 or more.

Yes, there are still finned aluminum rocker covers and valley covers available.

Yes, billet aluminum distributors are available.

No, there are no headers available. Dave Thibault has aluminum repops of the R3 exhaust manifolds which look trick but they're $600 and add zero horsepower to a street engine through the mufflers.

jack vines

[shifter4]

Hi All, I have searched e-bay Craig's list and several other sites and I can not find speed parte for a 1951 Commander V8, or any other studebaker. I know a man who has a 2 carb manifold and he wants $1000 for it. It is the only speed part I have found. It looks so tall that I wonder if the hood would close? Air cleaner ? What is it worth? Bill-W

Well sir , we've given you a fair amount of info here .

Will you at least respond , or acknowledge that you've noticed that , or ask more ?

[DEEPNHOCK]

Cast iron repop R3 exhaust manifolds are available from Studebaker International.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/dyndetail.pta?catalog=0001003a&uKeY=AADTG

Also some AFB/WCFB intake manifolds are available from Studebaker International

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/dyndetail.pta?catalog=0001003a&uKeY=AAVKC

It's been suggested to use 259"/289" heads and that's important if one wants max performance.

As a nod to the old school here, the 232" is a nice-driving and torque-producing engine. Since 232" pistons are NLA, one bores it to 259" and tunes it accordingly, any more money mostly buys bling.

Yes, the two carb intakes look trick and go for $500 or less more often than they sell for $1000 or more.

Yes, there are still finned aluminum rocker covers and valley covers available.

Yes, billet aluminum distributors are available.

No, there are no headers available. Dave Thibault has aluminum repops of the R3 exhaust manifolds which look trick but they're $600 and add zero horsepower to a street engine through the mufflers.

jack vines

[3x2stude]

I know someone who makes adapter plates to bolt a small block Chevy intakes to the Stude. PM me for info.

JK

[PackardV8]

Since our OP is new to Studes, it's important to remind him the early aftermarket intakes were designed with small ports to match the '51 - '54 232" heads.

To use the '55 and later Studebaker 4-bbl intakes, R3 exhaust manifolds, the really well-done SBC adapter flanges and Jeff's beautiful modified iron Stude and aluminum Mopar intakes, all require '55 and later heads.

jack vines

[StudeB]

I have a Stu-V with the larger ports and front-facing 2-bbl carbs. It has two of the the correct early 2-bbl carbs (designation escapes me at the moment), one disassembled. No linkage or filters... $500 plus shipping... how about that? Half-price!

Btw, as the only one to have driven all three of the 200+ mph Stude-powered Avantis, that kind of power is NOT available with "bolt-on" antique speed parts, I can well assure ya!

Well, if your Stu-V 2-bbl setup is still for sale, I am interested in purchasing it from you.
Rich G.