Re: 352 Crankshaft

Posted by BH On 2012/2/4 10:24:52

Ok, now we have FIVE (5) different crank P/Ns to consider for the 55-56 V8s, with application as follows:

440594 - original cast crank, for 5540 (5522-42-47 bodies), per the parts book

440913 - original cast crank, for 5560-80, per parts book as of Nov. 1, 1955; this was replaced by 476009, per the numerical index, as revised July 1, 1956

476009 - original cast crank, for all 56th, per parts book of Nov. 1, 1955; then, for 5560-80 and all 56th, per parts book, as revised July 1, 1956

440912 - replacement crank (of unspecified type), for 5522-42-47 models (5540 chassis), per SSB No. 350 of December 1959

440989 - replacement forged crank, for 5560-80 and all 56th Series models, per SSB No. 350 of December 1959

..which can be summarized in two lines of supersession:

440594 => 440912

440913 => 476009 => 440989

Please be advised that I made a typo, in my post of 1/27 in this thread, regarding the P/N for the OE crankshaft for 5522-42-37, but am unable to edit that now. However, it is shown correctly here.

Nice catch by Randy on the supersession for 440913 by 476009. All three P/Ns for the OE cast cranks are shown in the Numerical Index, but not the forged. Now, the absence of those two P/Ns from that list doesn't mean the forged cranks didn't exist, but that they were not used to service Packard vehicles.

I then made my way down to the catacombs, here, and checked a couple of price books that I have. All three P/Ns for the original cast cranks are shown in the May 1956 edition of the Packard Parts Price List, but nothing shown for the other two replacing cranks. However, the March 1, 1957 edition of the combined Studebaker and Packard Parts and Accessories Price List does NOT show P/N 440954, and P/N 440913 advises "USE 476009". Curiously, P/N 440912 IS listed in that book, but NOT P/N 440989; this appearance predates SSB No. 350 by more than TWO YEARS.

So, it's still my gut feeling that the forged cranks were produced well before 1959, but for some other purpose, and that they were simply made available, later, as service replacements for these cars when the supply of original cast cranks was exhausted. Studebaker was just using up whatever stock they could, to avoid having to make more parts for these cars.

It could very well be that additional details regarding supersession were covered in some other prior document that we don't yet have - like a "Parts and Accessories Bulletin". An inspection of factory blueprints might also provide additional details, but those are out of my personal reach.