Cylinder to cylinder

[bob40]

What is the bore center number of a 259?

[Warren Webb]

4.5 inches

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[StudeRich]

OK Warren, I just have to satisfy my curiosity, how did you know that, and WHY would anyone want to know?

Seems insignificant, the holes are where they are, they were align bored at the factory.


StudeRich at Studebakers Northwest -Ferndale,WA

[Warren Webb]

LOL Rich. There was an article around 63 that had all the specs of the domestic engines other than bore x stroke, ect. I wondered why with a 4 1/2 inch bore spacing that Studebaker never opened up that dimention. The sbc has a spacing of 4.38 if memory is correct & the 327 & 350 carry a 4" bore while the 400 has an even larger bore, but with siamezed cylinders, steam ports, ect, so not really viable. While at a machine shop in L.A. that did some work for the local Rolls dealer, I noticed some cylinders. They were too thick for sleeves, so I asked. Turns out Rolls used a "wet cylinder" so my idea of boring the block out to take a similar set up isnt too far fetched. With the 259 crank you'd have a 327 & with a 289 crank it would be around a 358! Using the spec sheet for other makes as a guide, if the head bolt retainers would not interfer, then you could safely go as far as a 4.12 bore, but thats as far as I've thought on the matter. Put it all in the catagory of "what if's".

60 Lark convertible
61 Champ
62 Daytona convertible
63 G.T. R-2,4 speed
63 Avanti (2)
66 Daytona Sport Sedan

[Anne F. Goodman]

Wow I'm impressed!

Mabel 1949 Champion
1957 Silverhawk
1955 Champion 4Dr.Regal
Gus 1958 Transtar
1955 President State
1957 Golden Hawk
Fresno,Ca

[Mike Van Veghten]

Warren -

Don't want to stick a pin in anyones bubble....but.
While the deck is "almost" thick enough to "wet liner" a Stude block. The lower wall (bottom of the block) is no where thick enough to support a wet liner.

I don't recall the exact numbers right off hand, but my sonic checker told me not to attempt it. I checked in more than a few spots, once the bore material is gone, that wall is down to around .190"/.230" as I recall.

Might be doable for a coupla passes on the drag strip, or a single on the short course at Bonniville...but that's a lot of money for just a coupla runs.

Mike

[buddymander]

Could you stay clear of the very bottom? But, then what would you do for breathing? the stude heads are asthmatic as they are. I guess with a bigger bore, maybe cut the valve guide off center and replace the seat; where did I see that? But then the intake ports are tiny,,so what..chop an inch off the intake side of the head?

[Mike Van Veghten]

I'm experimenting right now with moving the intake port over.
So far, I've gotten them to flow as well as the old Corvette "fulie" (461,462 casting) and "almost as well as a mildly ported Corvette head.
What did they have for a bore size again...? Oh yea..4.000".

Anyway, it's been a bit of a pain finding someone willing to do the work I can't do (moving the guides and seats, working with me on seat dimentions, etc.). I think (hope) I have solved that problem.
Now I'm porting four ports slightly differently in an effort to find out a good compromise in port shape to do up a coupla (3 so far) sets to experiment with.

Two things that are now problems -
1. A custom intake manifold is now required.
2. More cam is now required.

Oh what fun...

Mike

I forgot...
No, to support the oversize sleeve, the sleeve must go to the bottom and be supported by something at the bottom of the sleeve, that is the block, where it's too thin for good support.