Engine: Hopping up a 232 with 259 parts

[wcarroll@outrageous.net]

Anyone have any personal experience installing 259 heads, intake, exhaust and (water pump manifold?) on a 232 short block?

My understanding is that it can be done and will help the 232 breathe better.

I imagine there might also be the benefit of an increase in compression ratio.

I know the old school guys (is Alan still around? ) probably have some experience with this type of swap.

Every now and then I see a 259 for sale cheap that has been pulled in favor of a different make motor and figured it might be worth picking one up for the above parts.

[StudeRich]

You would probably Lower the compression with the larger combustion chambers and have fit issues with the 3 3/8" small bore not properly fitting the Heads.

To fix this, you need to Bore the Block to 3 9/16".
Then after you do that, you will have the choice of the stock 232 Crank, your 259 crank or a 289 crank.

[PackardV8]

Yes, the 259" heads and intake would add power above 3500 RPM, however, the most horsepower is gained not in the heads, but in the additional twenty-seven cubic inches; just build a 259" and enjoy it from idle all the way up.

jack vines

[wcarroll@outrageous.net]

I’m not looking for extra horsepower.

The 232 in my car was replaced with a NOS block (surplus I’m guessing) and has low mileage and runs well.

I’m just looking for a bit more at higher RPM as Jack described and am interested in what the old school guys did back in the day using Studebaker parts, aside from a full late model swap.

From my memory of a conversation with Alan many years ago when he visited to drag home a couple of 232’s I had, you can do a few things to the 224 and 232 motors to wake them up a bit, and I’m kind of leaning toward building my car in the style of a mid-late 50’s hot rod and retaining the 232 and 3 speed.

But of course if say an R1 needed a new home, I might consider going down that slippery slope again as I did with my last K which had an Avanti R1 mated to a T5 with an Avanti TT 44 rear.

[r1lark]

you can do a few things to the 224 and 232 motors to wake them up a bit

The 224 is not a 232 variant. The 224 is a 259 with a shorter stroke. The 224 has the same heads, manifolds, etc as a 259.

[StudeRich]

The "Old School" '53 wake ups for 232's were mostly Hotter Camshafts and Carburation mostly 2- 2's, and Milling the Heads. .