Studebaker straight eight engine family 312.5, 337, 250.4, 236, 221

Today on what it’s like engine episode Thursday.. did you know Studebaker made an in line eight in this episode we will look back at the studebaker in line eight
Enjoy
If you’d like to get in touch with me or shoot me a comment in the comment section below or check out our Facebook group to correlate with this KZbin channel by clicking the link below after the show
www.facebook.c...
If You would like to send me a private message shoot me an email
[e-mail]

[@JamesAllmond]

34 Commander 35 President Charlie Daniels, Long Haired Country Boy?

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices and ding ding ding we have a winner =)

[@THEScottCampbell]

@@What.its.like. Ding dong???????

[@judithgraham7218]

My dad had 3 Studebakers the last one was a 57 President I learned to drive in that car loved it my Dad is gone I really miss him I’m 80 now no complaints❤

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you so much for sharing his car with us..

[@scottymoondogjakubin4766]

With todays modern engine oils these inline motors are even more reliable than ever ! Like alot of other inline motors ! Great video !

[@charlesacker8552]

Studebaker afficionado here. Marvelously informative video on an oft neglected powerplant. Of the four Studebakers I have, one is a 1941 President four door with the described 250 ci engine. It is a wonderfully smooth engine, my example still such after 83 years. These engines are, however, subject to cooling issues, often overheating. Perhaps it is the distance from the water pump to the rear two cylinders. Great video, as always.

[@What.its.like.]

Thank you so much for sharing some of the issues that these engines have. I’m glad you did this episode. It was really hard to put together. =)

[@daveridgeway2639]

Hi Justin, nice video! I did not realize that Studebaker produced such good looking cars, in the 1930s and 1940s. In regards to profiling motorcycles, I say, absolutely! Please reply. Dave...

[@What.its.like.]

You bet studebaker made some awesome over looked cars

[@glenfreeman6119]

These are great videos could you do a video on the huge side valve petrol truck engines from the twenties to the fifthies thanks

[@meangreen7322]

They also used the straight 8 in the fire trucks as well as i have a 1928 studebaker fire truck with the straight 8 in it

[@P_RO_]

There were a few of these engines which were 'oversquare', or where the bore was wider than the stroke was long. All modern engines are that way, but I was never expecting to see that pre-depression. And I didn't know Studebaker made a straight-8. There's a bunch of motorcycle engines you could cover but be warned: the 'purists' will whine and correct you harshly if you err on the details. Most of the better-known classics have lots of available info on them, and as for unusual how about an oval piston? Or a stepped-piston supercharged two stroke? And rotaries; there were a few different ones of those made. Tractors might be a popular subject too but I know little about them, and they go back to the steam era. WYR I like the 34 Commander and it's modern looks for the time, but the 28 President has a classy elegant look to it so call that one a tie. Round 2 goes to the 39 President.

[@THEScottCampbell]

i keep reading/hearing that a straight 6 has perfect balance, which is why there are large GM, Ford, and Cummins six cylinder truck engines. I also heard that Mercedes and BMW are going back to straight sixes. I learn a lot from this series.

[@What.its.like.]

BMW ever give up the straight six? I saw Chrysler is building a straight six the hurricane twin turbo unit, but I’ve also heard that it has issues.

[@electrician248]

Studebaker cars were actually well built. Our family had a 1951 Champion as a second car. I remember polishing the cars "Nose"!

[@dougabbott8261]

Motorcycles would be great !!!! WYR 1934 Stude Commander WYR 1932 President although I prefer the grill on the 1935 Always great stuff Jay, Thx

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome thank you so much for the feedback Sweet choices

[@ColtonRMagby]

WYR: All of them. I'd love to see an episode on a Lanz Bulldog. Single cylinder 2-stroke hot bulb diesel engine that you start by hand. That engine can run at zero rpm by running at the idle setting without completing a full rotation of the crankshaft. It's crazy what German engineering could do in the 1940s.

[@What.its.like.]

Wow I’ll have to look into that engine Awesome choices

[@ColtonRMagby]

@@What.its.like. The 1949 and older models use the steering wheel to turn the engine, but the 1950 onwards models have a handwheel on the flywheel for "safety."

[@BrewBlaster]

Personally, I would like tractor engines, but cycles work for me too,

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome feedback

[@bparksiii6171]

I'd go for the tractors too

[@keith3970]

I kept a 1931 Dictator for my Father-in-law for 2 years.Drove it to work twice,took it to Yorktown and Colonial Williamsburg and two car shows.It had the straight eight.Ended up going to germany.Too bad.

[@draggonsgate]

I wonder if these car companies could go back in time, if they'd be buying other companies in '28 waiting for what was around the corner. The thing I don't get, during the depression, car sales went thru the floor. Meanwhile, they're hemorrhaging cash to come up with new engines, and not just one or two, but whole families of engines to go into cars that aren't able to be sold. You'd think the smart business move would be stick by the tried and true powertrains, advertising the reliability and low maintenance costs, and focusing on driver/passenger enhancements, which were cheaper. But, history can't be re-written. WYR: 1) '34 Commander 2) '35 President

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree great choices

[@davidpowell3347]

Would be interesting to compare the 1939 Studebaker Commander with the equivalent (4 door sedan?) Dodge of 1939 -- my father's older brother owned the '39 Studebaker and my father later owned a '39 Dodge - both these cars looked similar with the sort of Chrysler Airflow style front end with the headlights fared into the fenders and tall,narrow radiator opening. The Dodge I understand was quite sluggish.

[@What.its.like.]

That would be a really awesome comparison if I can find both of those cars.. the comparison that I really want to do is a continental Mark two versus the Cadillac Eldorado Brougham but I can never find those two cars together

[@professormadlad7773]

We need more car companies here in the united states it's getting boring here with just GM Ford & Chrysler.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree

[@BlaiseMiller-bk7dk]

I like the 104 foot drop photo, makes me sleep sound at night to know I’m safe if I take my new Studebaker off a cliff

[@What.its.like.]

Hahaha nice =)

[@bparksiii6171]

First pick 34 Studebaker Commander, second 35 Studebaker President. Those small bore 221 Studebaker straight 8's have more power than the small displacement 60 horsepower Ford V-8 . The motorcycle engines is a great idea maybe include the Honda CBX 1000 6 cyl motorcycle engne, also the GMC truck V-6's and the International diamond series straight 6's, and the Lycoming straight 8 and V8 if those haven't been done already and maybe the Olds quad 4, and Mustang SVO engines.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

The studebaker straight 8 was a great engine, but even better was the Studebaker v8, which was anywhere from 232-304 ci.. as the owner of a 58 silver hawk with a 289 v8 with a 4bbl I can tell you it’s a smooth, torquey and powerful engine

[@aerialcat1]

Imagine the reaction to naming a new car the Dictator today’s ultra sensitive environment. Straight eight’s were incredibly smooth engines, I’ve only seen a couple of them actually running, one was a Buick, the other, might have been a Pontiac.

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree and it’s sad

[@user-ts1fp4nm9y]

34 Commander,39 President, classic motorcycles AND engines would be really Cool!!!!! Great video!!!!

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices great feedback =) also happy you dig this one

[@keithstudly6071]

34 Commander, 32 President! I think the Rockne was dropped after his death and became the Erskin who also died but not in an airplane. In the early 1930's Studebaker was providing engines for cars in the Indianapolis 500 and they were not so fast, but they never broke. Erskin was a close associate with Samual Insull who was firmly convinced that the depression would be short and at least partly responsible for Erskin spending all Studebaker's money and driving it into bankruptcy when recovery didn't come soon enough.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices great insight studebaker was super confusing in the early 30s with adding new products while taking other ones away just to replace them with existing products that they took off the menu

[@kpadmirer]

Insull had Checker Motors build him an armored car because of his paranoia, he was also considered to be one of the inspirations for Charles Foster Kane in the film "Citizen Kane".

[@jamesblair9614]

The bore and stroke math doesn’t work out for the 337 if it has a stroke of 3.3, however, if the stroke is about 4.37, you get your 337 cubic inch displacement.

[@Flies2FLL]

This engine must weigh at least 700 pounds~ Inline 8's are fascinating, but they have several very BAD issues. They cannot rev out at all; They have huge issues revving past about 3000 rpm due to bending node. Basically, what happens is that the end cylinder fires, and the thrust travels down the crank. And it bends, and the bend works as a spring: Imagine one single cylinder firing. It fires, the pressure pushes the piston down, the crankshaft is turned, but then like a spring, as soon as the exhaust valve opens about 120 degrees after top dead center, the metal that has been slightly twisted by the firing piston, bounces back. Then it goes all the way back to the front of the engine, like a wave rebounding off of a seawall. It completely bounces back. Now, 90 degrees of crankshaft rotation later, another cylinder fires. This sends another flex down the spring of the crankshaft. And then another 90 degrees later another flex is added to the crankshaft.... You wind up with vibrations along the long crankshaft that will eventually cause it to break if you have it at the speed that allows the waves of flex to come together in one spot. THIS is why they do not make inline 8 engines this day! The crankshaft would need to be MASSIVELY heavy! Even Inline 6 engines have problems with RPM; BMW made some inline 6 engines that could hit 7600 rpm; They made 333 hp this way, but I understand that the inline 6 crankshaft in this engine weighed 62 pounds, which is 10 pounds more than the crankshaft in a 7.4 liter/454 cubic inch Chevy V8! These old engines are totally cool, if you run across one at a Cars & Coffee event, but that is the ONLY place you should see one of these cars.

[@davidpowell3347]

I believe Packard Straight 8 crankshafts weighed over 100 lbs. The whole engine up to as much as a half ton ? Large "torsional damper" on front nose of crankshaft has heavy iron or leaded ring mounted by rubber inboard with steel hub in the center that is attached and keyed to the crankshaft - clutch disk at other end of crankshaft may also have had some "torsional dampening" effect also deep crankcase skirts and/or thick rib along one or both oil pan rails of crankcase (torsional vibrations can also involve engine block/crankcase how did GM/EMD accommodate torsional vibrations on their V 16 locomotive engine - (similar to straight 8 inline as to length) - maybe the crankshaft journals were a foot thick ? (I think they tried a V 20 engine design but I think that one did break crankshafts -- ) also helps to provide a main bearing between each connecting rod throw A Daimler/Mercedes racing overhead cam Straight Eight may have had its power take off via a gear near the middle of the crankshaft (turning another gear that drove an output shaft) would probably have had torsional dampers on both ends of crankshaft - also some torsional dampeners have viscous fluid and lead balls inside of them ?

[@nickjervis8123]

​@@davidpowell3347 I run a 1954 Packard Patrician straight eight here in the UK. 9 main bearings and a side valve design with the valves slanted towards the cylinders 359 displacement and an aluminium alloy head. This Patrician would have originally come allied to an Ultramatic 2 speed automatic gearbox but I have replaced that with a 3 speed manual overdrive gearbox from a Clipper She still has her 4 barrel carburettor The engine has been completely rebuilt with new camshaft and bearings, timing chain and tensioner, reground crank with new shells, honed with new pistons and rings, new hardened valve seats, new valves, new hydraulic lifters, rebuilt oil pump and the block has had the water galleries ceramically lined, new water pump, new clutch and throw out bearing, ported inlet manifold and painted in the correct Packard colour. Wilwood disc brakes, new shocks and springs, anti dive bar, panhard rod, steering box, power steering pump and Treadlevac. Rebuilt hydraulic power windows that uses ATF instead of brake fluid and power seat operation. Also has Autronic Eye. Regards Nick Jervis UK 🇬🇧

[@rdmineer1]

Leave This Long-haired Country Boy Alone - Charlie Daniels

[@What.its.like.]

Long haired country boy That’s the song and band JamesAllmond beat you for title

[@JamesAllmond]

Douglas Motorcycle engines and their progenitors.... (all flat twin motorycycle engines). Evolution of Mr Turner's twin (Triumph) would be neat, newest iteration is in my garage, among others. de Dion and what that turned into (like every motorcycle engine) can get weird and delve into atmospheric intake valves and such... so much that could bore the face off a lot of folks, but not this group! Me included...

[@charlesgall7829]

Thumbs up for motorcycle engine videos!!

[@andreamills5852]

Country boy can survive ---- Hank Williams Jr. ?

[@What.its.like.]

Not that song or band

[@THEScottCampbell]

Though it's not something you would normally do, you might consider reviewing the Tucker "helicopter" engine, the VW "boxer" engine, and/or the new Achates 3 cylinder/six piston engine, which is amazing.

[@What.its.like.]

Definitely going to do the tucker engines =) there was a prototype before the franklin engine.. We did the vw boxer kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXLMp5WFjL5jocUfeature=shared

[@philipingram1667]

"Dynamically" balanced crank - not "dramatically" unless I am uninformed. Good video otherwise - keep up the good work!

[@What.its.like.]

Yep you’re only the second person that’s ever caught that I left that in there to see if anybody would catch it

[@normmelanson9345]

Motorcycles and their motor are a good idea. There is a wide range of motorcycle and motors, but maybe you could also in the future, add some diesel motors as well. This is just my opinion

[@What.its.like.]

Great feed back =) diesel engines are a great idea

[@russwabuda1556]

me, i want, i really want, a 1928 locomobile 8, and am willing to pay for one

[@What.its.like.]

Hahaha awesome

[@ramblerdave1339]

Nash had an OHV straight eight, from about 1932-40.

[@What.its.like.]

Yes they did and it was epic nine main bearing crankshaft. I want to do an episode on that engine as well as the Nash advanced six. Information is super spotty.

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Back in the early-70's, I went with a friend who was going to buy this huge commercial lawn mower. The man who had it also had a 1920's vintage Studebaker President in his driveway. The car was huge and had an inline 8cyl. engine. At that time, I'd never heard of a Studebaker having an 8cyl. engine. Although they were also huge, most other cars of that era usually had 4 or 6 cyl. engines. But a Studebaker with an 8 cyl..........................

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome story I didn’t know about the straight eight Studebaker either until recently… I’m always looking for outside the box engines to do that other channels don’t cover.. that’s another reason why I thought maybe the motorcycle engine thing would be kind of cool this is mostly vintage automotive channel but I’ve had people ask about motorcycles. I personally can’t drive a motorcycle, but would love to talk about the history of those companies.

[@automatedelectronics6062]

@@What.its.like. lol. Maybe if you ask your wife nicely, she might let you ride a motorcycle. The s#*t hit the fan when I brought home my first Honda Trail 90(the engine had been bored out to 100cc and I could get it up to 65mph), when my dad found out about it. If you can't ride one of those then you probably couldn't ride a bicycle.lol

[@What.its.like.]

Hahahaha…

[@markchandler1130]

1928 Studebaker President 1935 President

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices

[@timothysotelo3868]

You could cover the whole Continental engine brand line

[@What.its.like.]

Totally planning on doing continental

[@ezerod1858]

Hi Jay, your idea to add motorcycles videos is gone to be a huge plus to your channel.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome I would love to get into some of that history. I thought it would be a really good idea but being that this is a community I wanted to get the consensus of all you guys first. =)

[@dougzack4565]

Led Zeppelin- Hey, Hey, What Can I Do?

[@What.its.like.]

Great guess not that song or band

[@mschiffel1]

1934 Commander and 1039 President.

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choices

[@earnestdavis2820]

Sounds Good.

[@BillEdwards-m2q]

Please ......Start your motorcycle Engine analysis with........it's a good series opener Only if you're willing but The Suzuki G T....750 Triple Water Cooled 2 stroke for the one's who's never seen one in traffic..... Thanks for your time

[@What.its.like.]

I’ll probably start with either Indian or Harley.. talk about all of the history going into it I would love to eventually do Suzuki.. but start with the earlier stuff Thank you so much for your feedback back =)

[@BillEdwards-m2q]

@@What.its.like. .I completely understand, just glancing at the many other Harley videos with numerous view counts so you're on the right track.... One hasta give the Masses what they want ....

[@What.its.like.]

I’m not pressed on views I don’t chase the algorithm.. personally, I like covering stuff that never gets talked about

[@BillEdwards-m2q]

Your channel your decision

[@julieanddavidmyers6641]

Yes...start some motorcycle engines!

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome

[@andreamills5852]

All of them

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices

[@paulhelman2376]

Dynamically not dramatically balanced

[@What.its.like.]

I caught that was wondering if anyone was going to catch that as well =)

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

My 1st car was a 51 Commander V8 also have had a 50 Champion fitted with 186 Holden motor and later on had 1961 Hawk and two other 64 Hawks all with 289 V 8s they were great cars and such have kept the Hawks

[@JefferyHall-ct2tr]

Hello again, Jay! Wow, what an exhaustive video on the Stude straight-8's! No wonder they had to file for bankruptcy! You know one or two versions of the 8 would have been enough! A large one for the fancier models, and a smaller one for the lesser models. Not only that, they went and redesigned the thing during the depths of the Depression! That HAD to cost a lot of money. Luckily, they were able to recover before the war. One thing, though, that engineer was probably right! That big six was probably just as good an engine as the eight! WYR #1 1934 Commander! #2 OK I want ALL of those!

[@What.its.like.]

Totally agree studebaker took a huge gamble that didn’t pay off when they lost the $46 million but they were able to turn the company around long enough to catfish Packard into becoming aboard because they needed money… Awesome choices

[@petersipp5247]

I like the 1934 car. Including the convertable. Studebaker made trucks for the military. They were strong. Very well done video, ty.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome happy you dig this video

[@Steven-p4j]

Bike engines would be cool.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome that sounds like the general consensus of the community going to do those real soon. Maybe pepper one in every month maybe do an engine manufacture, a bike engine and two car engines a month who knows

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great vid!!!

[@epice6463]

Pls do Buick fireball 8

[@What.its.like.]

Already did kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHK3dXyCadlqbMkfeature=shared

[@epice6463]

@@What.its.like. thanks

[@johnhennery8820]

29

[@zfunk123]

Motorcycles, yes plz

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome =)

[@hcombs0104]

For WYR, it’s the ‘34 Commander and the ‘35 President.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices

[@scottflesia363]

Yes. Motorcycles

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome will do

[@johnzuck6163]

My vote is Indian

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome

[@johnhart125]

34 commander

[@What.its.like.]

Sweet choice

[@JerryThepartsguy]

Charlie Daniels Long haired country boy

[@What.its.like.]

That’s the song and band JamesAllmond beat you for title

[@randyrobey5643]

Is that "I'm A Believer," by the Monkees?

[@What.its.like.]

Great guess not that song or band

[@andreamills5852]

Wanted dead or alive -- Bon Jovi ?

[@What.its.like.]

Great guess it was long-haired country boy Charlie Daniels

[@dennischryst4174]

If you left out reading specs, there wouldn’t be anything left

[@What.its.like.]

There was history… but yeah the engine episodes are spec heavy

[@MikeMoskin]

"34 Commander and '35 President.

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome choices

[@firefly5981]

Motor cycle engine and cycle history would be great too!

[@What.its.like.]

Awesome totally going to cover motorcycles

[@mikebell2750]

Do bikes for sure…

[@Flatheadworld]

Hudson inline 6

[@What.its.like.]

We covered the big six kzbin.info/www/bejne/aILYeGqIaa6Bn80feature=shared

[@haroldbrown1998]

34 Commander.

[@haroldbrown1998]

I owned a 1950 Studebaker Commander 6 cylinder falt head