ENGINE SPECS

1955 Studebaker 259 V8 Engine Specs

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model Designation:
Commander V8: 16G8 (this engine was only used after Jan. 3, 1955)
President V8: 6H

Wheel base: 2 & 4 door sedans: 116-1/2"; coupes & hardtop convertibles: 120-1/2; Land Cruiser: 120-1/2"

Valve Location: In head

Bore and Stroke: 3-9/16 x 3-1/4

Piston displacement, Cubic Inches: 259.2

Compression ratio: 7.50

Maximum Brake Horsepower:
Commander 16G8: 162 @ 4500 RPM
President V8 6H: 175 @ 4500 RPM (prior to Jan. 3, 1955)
President V8 6H: 185 @ 4500 RPM (after Jan. 3, 1955)

Maximum Torque Lbs.Ft. @ RPM:
Commander V8 15G8: 250 @ 2800 RPM
President V8 6H: 250 @ 3000 RPM (prior to Jan. 3, 1955)
President V8 6H: 258 @ 2800 RPM (after Jan. 3, 1955)

Normal Oil Pressure Pounds: 40

TUNE UP SPECIFICATIONS

Spark Plug Make: Champion H11

Spark Plug Gap, Inch: .035

Firing Order: 18436572 (front to rear: left bank: 1-3-5-7; right bank 2-4-6-8)

Ignition Timing: IGN on Vib. Damp.

Engine Idle Speed, RPM: 500

Cylinder Head Torque Lbs.Ft.: 60

Compression Pressure & Cranking Speed: 120 Min.

Voltage & Polarity: 6 volts, positive ground

PISTON AND RING SPECIFICATIONS

Fitting Pistons with Scale:
Shim Thickness to use: .002 (1 inch wide feeler);

Pounds Pull on Scale:: 11 to 16

Ring End Gap: (Fit rings in tapered bores for clearance shown in tightest portion of ring travel.)
Compression: .008
Oil: .008

Clearance in Groove: Compression: .002-.0025; Oil: .0015-.002

Wristpin Diameter, Inch: .875

VALVE SPECIFICATIONS

Operating Clearance:
Intake: .024 Hot Exhaust: .024 Hot

Valve Seat Angle, degrees: 45

Valve Timing: (BTDC = before top dead center; ATDC = after top dead center)
Intake opens: 19 degrees BTDC
Exhaust Closes: 6 ATDC

Valve Spring Pressure Pounds at Inches Length:
Inner Spring: 50 @ 2-1/32

Valve Stem Clearance: Intake: .0015-.0035; Exhaust: .0015-.0035

Clearance for Timing Intake: .030

ENGINE BEARING SPECIFICATIONS

Connecting Rod Bearings:
    Journal Diameter, Inches: 1.99925-2.00025
    Bearing Clearance, Inch: .0005-.00215
    Rod End Play, Inch: .007-.012
    Rod Bolt Tension: Lbs.Ft.: 52-54

Main Bearings:
    Journal Diameter, Inches: 2.4995-2.5000
     Bearing clearance: .0006-.0027
    Shaft End Play: .003-.006    (Thrust on front bearing)
    Main Bolt Tension: Lbs.Ft.: 88-93

CAPACITY DATA

Cooling System:
Without heater: 17-1/4 quarts
With heater: 18-3/4 quarts

Fuel Tank: 18 gallons

Engine Oil: 6 quarts

Transmission: w/out overdrive: 2-1/2 pint; with overdrive: 3-1/2; w/Auto. trans.: 9-1/2 quarts

Rear Axle: 3 pints

DELCO-REMY DISTRIBUTOR SPECIFICATIONS

Distributor part number: 1110839 (distributor rotates counter-clockwise when viewed from top)

Cam Angle, degrees: 28-34

Breaker Point opening, Inch: .013

Condenser Capacity: .20-.25 Mfds.

Breaker Arm Spring Tension: 17-21 Oz.

Centrifugal Advance: (degrees at RPM of distributor)
Advance starts: 2-1/2 degrees @ 350
Full Advance: 17 degrees @ 1450

Vacuum Advance Data:
    Inches of Vacuum to Start Plunger Movement: 4-6
    Inches of Vacuum for Full Plunger Travel: 10-1/2 - 12-1/2
    Maximum Vacuum Advance, Dist. Degrees: 8

DELCO-REMY GENERATOR SPECIFICATIONS

Generator Number: 1102778 (generator rotates clockwise, 6 volts, positive ground)

Generator output: 45 amps @ 2450 RPM

Brush Spring Tension: 28 oz.

Field Current: 1.87 - 2.0 at 6 volts

DELCO-REMY REGULATOR SPECIFICATIONS

Regulator Number: 1118950

Cutout Relay:
    Voltage to close points: 6.4
    Reverse Current to Open Points: 1 amp
    Armature Air Gap: .020

Voltage Regulator Setting: 7.4 volts

Current Regulator Setting: 45 amps

Current and voltage armature air gap, Inch: .075

DELCO-REMY STARTING MOTOR SPECIFICATIONS

Part number: 1107115, 1107116 (starter rotates clockwise)

Bush Spring Tension, Ounces: 24-28

No Load Test: 70 amps, 5.65 volts @ 5500 RPM

Torque Test: 550 Amps, 3.25 volts, Torque, Lbs.Ft.: 11

WHEEL ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS

Caster, Degrees
Limits: -1 to -2-1/2
Desired: -1-3/4

Camber, Degrees
Limits: 0 to +1
Desired: +1/2

Toe-In, Inches: 1/16 to 1/8

Toe-Out on Turns, Degrees: (If toe-out is incorrect, when other adjustments are correct, look for bent steering arms.)
Outer wheel: 20
Inner Wheel: 22-1/2 to 23-1/2

Kingpin Angle, or Steering Axis Degrees: (If king pin or spindle support angle are incorrect, but camber is correct, look for bent suspension arms or steering knuckle support)
6 @ 0 Camber