Once again, the BangShift readership knocked it out of the park with yesterday’s identification challenge. The engine in question was in fact a Studebaker R4, which is one of less than 10 known to exist in the world today and it was entrusted to Custom Auto Machine in Weymouth, Massachusetts for a rebuild. Exactly one R4 engine was installed at the Studebaker factory and that was in a 1964 Daytona which was built as a part of a magazine story and for press testing. The engine is a 304ci (304.5 if we’re splitting hairs) mill that had iron heads (not the aluminum which was suggested in the responses yesterday) with an amazingly stout 12:1 compression ratio. Factory dual valve springs were used, the same cam from the R3 supercharged engine was installed and to top the package off was a dual quad intake manifold with a pair of four barrel carbs. These were special engines intended for use in racing applications and they were essentially hand built by Andy Granatelli. The heads have huge valves and ports as compared to a “normal” 304ci Stude engine. This is truly one of the most rare factory high performance engines ever created by an American car company. This engine is heading for a killer ‘Stude that we’re going to work on shooting some photos of and hopefully riding in some day!
Here’s one last shot of the ‘Stude R4 head, which is one of less than 20 on Earth! — Scroll down for today’s challenge!
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Alright, since you guys all think you’re so smart and I have not been able to stump you yet, here’s today’s identification challenge and it is a toughie! Scroll down to see the photos and take your best shot at guessing what this interesting four banger is!
Mercruiser 470 (aluminum block four based on 385-series Ford)
I think your right
It might be a Mericruiser 485 if it came with a bigger carb. But basically it’s a 3.7 liter half of a 429/460 done up in aluminum (but, if memory serves, with a Chevy-pattern bellhousing). These old boat mills come up periodically in discussions like “What about a Kaase Boss 9 head four-cylinder for an SVO/Model A/T-Bucket . . . .”
ZZZZZ
Oh, good morning guys…Ya mean It’s already over…
Methinks Speedy lives on the east coast.
I think I’ll set my alarm clock for 4:00am!
Vega Cosworth ??
Methinks a 4pm EST post time for these would be perfect. The left-coasters will be just rolling outta bed.
Speedy got it, Mercruiser 470, They did use Ford big block heads, had a pair of them in my boat. Not sure if the block was based on anything from Ford. Fun fact, the assemble at the front is the “alternator” it was a fixed magnetic assemble over the front of the rotating assembly of the crank, did not have a traditional voltage regulator, regulated system voltage through a water cooled resistor.
A local engine builder here has built a couple for a local racer with the a pro stock Ford head. Engine is in a altered which is the current K/A record holder. There also have one in a econo rail which runs mid 8’s.
yeah – I think the 1st couple guys are right, but the main block kinda has an early Chevy/GM look about it.
I had gone through the post. The best way to familiarize is to test everything and document our results and test often, Play with the tester. If the results seem questionable we have to check the meager, leads a part then leads shorted.