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Studebaker Thunderbolt 283

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by davey_shumard, Apr 12, 2011.

  1. davey_shumard
    Joined: Jun 28, 2010
    Posts: 151

    davey_shumard
    Member

    does anyone have some information on this motor? is it a chevrolet built engine or not? what is the parts interchange if it is chevy design? and will it be compatible with chevrolet transmissions?

    thanks
    davey shumard
     
  2. Yea They were the last Studes. Made in Canada and used 283 Chev powerglide
     
  3. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    If that's the very late 283 cid engine that came in Studes just before the end. Yes it is a Chevy and what ever fits a Chevy will fit it.
     
  4. Caractacus Potts
    Joined: Jan 17, 2008
    Posts: 85

    Caractacus Potts
    Member

    65 and 66 Studebakers used Chevrolet-design engines built by McKinnon Industries Division of General Motors, St. Catherines, Ontario.
    I don't know of any design differences with a "real" Chevy 283.
     

  5. stude54
    Joined: Jan 9, 2008
    Posts: 47

    stude54
    Member
    from michigan

    Purchased straight from Chevrolet. They were generally installed with a Borg-Warner tranny but it has the standard SBC tranny mount.

    If you strip the valve covers and accessories off and set it next to a 283 SBC you will see no difference.

    Bob
     
  6. Swifster
    Joined: Dec 16, 2006
    Posts: 1,455

    Swifster
    Member

    The only difference is the plain valve covers vs Chevrolet script covers. Because GM also used those engines in Pontiacs in Canada, the valve covers had no writing.

    It is the same 195HP, 2-bbl engine used in Novas and Chevelles (maybe full size as well).
     
  7. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,513

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Hey, Davey;

    IIRC, the chev mills used by Studebaker were the McKinnon brand. I *think* for boats/HD-use/etc. Obviously they used street cams/etc, but the point is that, typical Stude, they were extra-heavy-duty construction. Had very thick cyl walls, unlike most chevs by that time. & possibly high-nickle content cast iron. Otherwise, there was nothing spl/odd about anything regarding dimensional specs. Cats that know, search these blocks out for those reasons. I believe that they also had forged crank n rods, although that may have been std in chevs at that time yet. Save this mill, it should have some value. Hope you use it. Somewhere I have some info on these things, but can't find it. Don't know about the heads, flow-wise. Doubt they're the "vaunted" Power-Pac or dbl-hump. Suspect they'd have thicker port-wall & deck-surface. But Rich is correct. Any chev stuff from that series will fit. Just be mindful of the bore size, etc. Same for trannies.

    HTH.

    Marcus...
     
  8. nrgwizard
    Joined: Aug 18, 2006
    Posts: 2,513

    nrgwizard
    Member
    from Minn. uSA

    Guess I type too slow... :0 .

    Marcus...
     
  9. davey_shumard
    Joined: Jun 28, 2010
    Posts: 151

    davey_shumard
    Member

    thanks a lot for the help guys! one other thing i have heard is that they were an internally balanced crank shaft, and that they had one extra ring on the pistons....i heard this was because of the marine/HD use..any truth to these tidbits of info?

    davey
     
  10. Swifster
    Joined: Dec 16, 2006
    Posts: 1,455

    Swifster
    Member

    NONE! It's a plain jane Chevy 283. The Studebaker guys like to think this was a special engine, blah, blah, blah. There is no difference. In fact, it's also thought that some of those 283's came out of the Flint engine plant. Look at the casting numbers on the block, and it's the same number as the standard 283/327 block used from '63-'66 (or '67).

    GM had an engine plant in Canada because of Canadian tax issues. Canadian Pontiacs used Chevy engines for this reason. It is nothing but a simple 283. There is nothing special about the block, crank, pistons, etc. Same as the American engines.

    The Studebaker guys like to brag about how strong their engines are. And with Studebaker 259 and 289 engines, they are right. The 283 was just a store bought engine. No one has been able to prove those engines are different than what was put in a '65 or '66 Pontiac. No one in the Stude club has been able to prove any different.
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  11. davey_shumard
    Joined: Jun 28, 2010
    Posts: 151

    davey_shumard
    Member

    thanks for the info! i appreciate all the help guys, you just gotta love the advantages of being a HAMBer! the history of autos as we know them - all at the click of a mouse! :)

    davey
     
  12. ALL small block Chevy's are internally balanced, except the 400 cu inch which are externally balanced. A 383 SBC using a 400 crank and 350 block is most times external balanced, but was not a factory made engine.
     
  13. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Most "real" Studebaker guys realize...they are just standard ol Chevy engines, only out of Canada, not the US, nothing more, nothing less.
    At least the Stude guys I know, know and understand.

    Mike
     
  14. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    Now my Studebaker has a nonstandard 383 inch SBC 4 bolt main block, with World Products 2.02 heads Comp cams 272H, roller rockers, Eledbrock Intake, Mallory Uni-Lite, Billet flywheel blow shield, 4 speed, 9 inch 31 spline, Power disk front and lots of other stuff like all new upholstery. And all you need to do is give me money and drive a original Calif. Black Plate car home. Must go. Make offer, but keep it within reason.
     

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  15. Rudebaker
    Joined: Sep 14, 2007
    Posts: 1,598

    Rudebaker
    Member
    from Illinois

    Yep, just a plain old 283, Studebaker was in serious financial trouble and going down fast. No way they spent extra dough for a "special" 283. The B-W automatic used behind the Chevybakers in '65-'66 was the same F-O-M they had used for years with a Chevy bellhousing bolt pattern. Got one out in the garage "just because".

    BTW, all '55-'86 small and medium journal small blocks were internally balanced. The 1970-up 400 small blocks and all 1987-up 1 Pc. rear main SBC's are externally balanced.
     
  16. That pesky late model stuff............... thanks for the clarification
     
  17. t walgamuth
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 25

    t walgamuth
    Member

    Were the stude chevs painted differently? Did they have a decal saying studebaker thunderbolt 283?

    Ok I just googled it and found a set of decals for the valve covers.
     
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2019
  18. 62SY4
    Joined: Oct 30, 2009
    Posts: 102

    62SY4
    Member
    from Irwin, Pa

    Black with yellow valve covers in '65. Vc decal only stated "Studebaker Thunderbolt"

    All black in '66 with "Studebaker Thunderbolt 283" decals
     
    stillrunners likes this.

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