54 Kaiser engine

[Bobm90]

I have asked this before and didn't get a answer so I will try again. My 54 Manhattan has a 54 special engine in it, does anyone know if it could have been ordered that way from the factory or was the supercharged engine the only thing that could be purchased in that model car?

[rialto]

As far as I know the red "Kaiser 226" engine with the supercharger was standard equipment on the 54 Manhattan and could not be deleted. This for US models exports were different. You have the green engine with "Kaiser Supersonic" on the head ? Post all the numbers from the engine plate on the left side of the block. Someone here can probably identify the block.

[Bobm90]

Thanks for the reply rialto for the reply I tried to up load a picture of the plate on the side of the engine but i realized it was too large so i broke it into 2 parts here's the first

[joefrazer]

From what's pictured, I can tell you that the serial number tag is from a 54-55 engine. The 53 and earlier tags had Supersonic (rather than 226) on them. Does the engine have the supercharger lower pulley on it? They're easy to spot as they have a large groove to accept the supercharger belt, as well as a narrower one to accept the water pump/generator belt. If so, someone may have removed the supercharger and associated equipment and subbed in parts from another engine.

Another item to check would be the distributor. Supercharged engines used a Delco 1110237 unit while non-supercharged 53 and 54 cars used a 1110224.

In 1954, 226 tagged engines were used in the late Specials as well as in the Manhattans. The difference of course was the former did not have a supercharger as standard equipment while the latter did.

[mbflemingkf]

Yup...that's the engine data plate from a 54 engine!   

Here's a couple of shots from my old beast. 

Mike

[Bobm90]

Thanks for the help guys, I am going to try to post more complete pictures on here ,  the lower pulley has one narrow groove and the distributor part number is 1110237, engine is red (looks like a different color red than Mike's) may be a repaint?

[mbflemingkf]

One thing I notice is the taller water tube from the water pump to the back of the engine. This was to clear the SC mounting bracket on the front top of the engine.  Another clue this engine likely once had a SC.

 

[joefrazer]

I agree...the engine once had a supercharger. The good news is that if the supercharger lower pulley is still present, adding a supercharger is not difficult.

[rialto]

To further identify your engine the number stamped in the block above the freeze plug should match the number on the plate. There should be a tag on the carburetor. Post the number if it's there. Take a good picture of the fuel pump maybe it's a supercharged one. That heater tube does look like the supercharged one.

[Bobm90]

The number stamped on the block is the same as on the engine plate. I will post 6 pictures, 3 of the carburetor and 3 of the fuel pump.

[joefrazer]

The carb and fuel pump are not those used with a supercharger. The pump fits 1951-1953 and 54 Special. The carb was used on 1953 and 54 non-supercharged cars.

[Bobm90]

Thank you all for the info and the input. I conclude from all that the engine may be from a 54 Special as the only clue that it ever had a supercharger is the fact the water tube is high as on the SC engines. Could it be that the water tube alone was changed with a improper one ? This brings me back to my original question, could a Manhattan be ordered with a different engine other than the supercharged one ? I know during the 50's other auto dealers ordered cars to be factory built the way the customer wanted them not like "cookie cutter" cars of today. Was a  Kaiser dealer willing to do that or was he able to? Would there be dealer order sheets (if such a thing existed) in one of our members vast collection of literature ? I would like to keep this car if I can say it is stock, but I may not if this is not the original motor or it is and the supercharger has been removed. Buying parts is clear to me I will just use 54 Special engine parts, to swap the parts required to make it supercharged is not worth the effort or the expense to me. I have learned a lesson here "buyer beware" even if you buy from a dealer or should I say especially if you buy from a dealer. Thanks again guys !!

[r1lark]

Something to remember also is that dealers would not hesitate to swap components from one new car to another to please a good customer or to make a sale. I'm not saying that happened in this case, but could have. If a good repeat customer wanted a '54 Special with the supercharged engine, the dealer could have swapped engines with a Manhattan. In the days before window stickers, a lot of customers would not know the difference, and if the dealer gave them a little extra off the price of the Manhattan telling them it was a special order car so they could 'have the high level trim without the unneeded power' they would be happy. 

I know of cases where a dealer swapped a complete interior so the customer could have the color they wanted.

Something to think about.............

[Bobm90]

Thank you for that reply r1lark, that is a possibility I didn't think of. So somewhere out there may be a "special - special"