Packard Forum Index » Studebaker Built Packards (1957 - 58)

I don't want jinx myself but...my rebuilt supercharger should arrive tomorrow!
It's been a long wait ( three years) but finally coming home.
Am excited to put this back on the car and have it operational! Like so many of these units, my supercharger was in a deteriorating cardboard box in back of the car.

Here is hoping everything is as you expect. I am curious to know your impressions on how much it actually adds to the driving experience. I would think the 289 on such a light car should be fairly peppy as is. From what I've read it was more a marketing thing back in the day to make up for when they suddenly lost all those cubic inches and horsepower during the era when big was better but then they also lost quite a few pounds to haul around at the same time. I don't recall ever reading a driving comparison between 56 and 57 with or without a supercharger.

Well for an update, Supercharger arrived as expected! John did a good job on the rebuild.
I installed it in the car today, looks great!, still need to do some plumbing.
Lord knows how long ago it was removed! Many, many, many, years ago I would guess!

I had read that the '57 Hawk handled better because of the lighter weight of the Studebaker 8.

The Studebaker 289 engine with supercharger about 695 lbs. , the Packard 352 about 690 lbs. The difference in handling probably due to the Studebaker engineers relocating the rear spring to rear axle mounting position........on 57 Golden Hawks.......

Hello,

I am currently doing the same to our 58. Please post some pictures.

Thanks

I must apologize for not getting back to you. I had some medical issues to deal with. Do you still need some photos? There are quite a few unique parts you would need to hunt down to mount supercharger the way the factory did.