Rebuild 41 studebaker engine

Is there anyone that knows for sure if the crank shaft has babbit bearings or not on 1941 studebaker champion engine?

An original engine would have babbit bearings but could be upgraded with rods from a 1948 to have replaceable bearing shells.

An original engine would have babbit bearings but could be upgraded with rods from a 1948 to have replaceable bearing shells.

thank you I understand you can replace the rod bearings but I'm wondering about the bearings for the crankshaft

Babbitted rods were used in 1939 and 1940 (models G and 2G) with insert bearings for the mains. The 1941 Champions (model 3G) and later cars used insert bearings in rods and mains. Rod and main bearing sets are easily available, fairly cheap. Sizes from standard to as much as .060" under are made. Cam bearings also available - and any other parts you might need for the engine. See www.studebakerparts.com or www.studebaker-intl.com , for example. Get the Studebaker International printed catalog (or download it in PDF version) to see the complete range of parts available. Be sure to buy a reprint of the 1934-46 Chassis Parts Catalog ($45) and the 1941-46 car Shop Manual ($30) to make your life easier.

Here's a page from the Parts Catalog showing the internal parts of the engine. The numbers shown are Illustration Numbers, not part numbers, so you have to look on the right page of the catalog to find the correct part numbers. Because this was a generic drawing for the 1934-46 catalog, the rod bearing shells are not shown in the drawing, but they are listed in the section on rods and bearings.

Strange that Studebaker reverted back to babbitted rods for the champion engines used in the T24, M29 and M29C Weasels (1943-1945). And then after the war started using inserts again.