'54 Manhattan Parts Car.....$500 (Dayton, OH)

[joefrazer]

Superchargers have serial numbers. If you have a photo of yours, keep an eye on eBay. Your thief will show up.

[Fid]

Is it this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kaiser-Supercharger-1954-swingarm-carb-box-pulley-/251610481565?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a9527439d&vxp=mtr

[51Deluxe]

Doubtful... The item is in St Louis and Dayton and St Louis are 6 hours apart

[haroldworthington@yahoo.c]

I think I'll pass on it. Sorry about the break-in.

[Roadmaster49]

A cautionary story for sure.  BUT that car is still too nice to crush.  I understand parting out, because there somehow seems to be a LOT of 54's out there.  But it would still make a nicer restoration project then most $500 cars out there.  Crusher price, if picked up by one of the advertisers on CL, would be at least $200 +

[kfnut]

The 54 drives just fine without the supercharger . The car looks too good for the crusher . I would " jump " if I was close enough . Have had one the same color for many years that never had the supercharger .

[Mr Manhattan]

Does anyone know if rocker panels and brake parts available for a 54 Manhattan ?

Thanks...Fred

[joefrazer]

Everything you need is available. Rocker panels appear on ebay quite frequently...a fellow in Michigan is reproducing them. Brake parts can be found here -> http://kfparts.com/

[Roadmaster49]

The 54 drives just fine without the supercharger . The car looks too good for the crusher . I would " jump " if I was close enough . Have had one the same color for many years that never had the supercharger .

Yes I would imagine it would drive fine.  I wonder how it looks?    Also, a supercharger is constant (as I understand) so I wonder if the 226 would be a "dog" without the supercharger because of reduced compression or timing adjustments.  Not sure.

[MilesP]

I drive my 55 with the supercharger not hooked up it works great and can keep up on the interstate not the speeders but the average traffic not a dog at all works as well as any other Kaiser

[51Deluxe]

I can't understand the Kaiser engine having a reputation as such a "dog". After getting used to my '51 for a couple of weeks, I didn't notice a lack of power, for a vintage six. The 1951 Mercury flathead V-8 had 3 less horsepower. The dual carb Hudsons were the only hotter sixes of the time that I'm aware of.

Now a car  that was REALLY a slug: Ford Falcon 144cu in Six, especially with automatic. And any VW bus.

[Roadmaster49]

I don't think I meant to say the 226 is a dog.  But I have worked on modern cars with turbos and superchargers and so my reference comes from them.  In many cases, initial compression is reduced because the boost from the supercharger (or turbo) could destroy the pistons/valves. 

I don't know the engineering behind the 54-55 226 "blown" motor so I was assuming it would be a dog from a lower compression and timing aspect, as compared to a "normally aspirated" engine.  But, apparently I am incorrect.

The bottom line is even the supercharged 226 was not keeping up with the Jones' in 1954-55.  So, most of us would not purchase a 54 for their performance.    As admirers of KF, and given that only 4000 or so Manhattans were made, we would collect and restore this one for the styling, place in history and camaraderie. 

Hope it can be purchased, maintained and restored. 

[Mr Manhattan]

Question about this Kaiser with out the supercharger: Does the supercharger have its own belt separate from the water pump/Gen belt ?and are there any differences in the carb  settings and timing ?

Thanks...Fred

[joefrazer]

Yes, a separate belt drive the supercharger although it and the fan belt were both driven off the crankshaft pulley. A different carb and distributor were used. Compression ratio was the same as non supercharged engines however. Point gaps were different between the two engines as well.

When the supercharger was not engaged there was zero boost, it was only along for the ride. When engaged it provided something like 4lbs boost. Horsepower went from 118 to 140...not a big change but enough to give a twin-h Hudson a run for its money.

[Mr Manhattan]

Update : The supercharger is back on the car, long story. But now he wants $1,000.00 for the car