Matt, nothing on this car other than the SBC has anything to do with GM, Ford, Chrysler or AMC. Studebaker only used GM engines in '65 and '66. AMC only bought transmissions. All AMC engines are of AMC design. Studebaker bought their transmissions from Borg-Warner (similar unit that Ford bought from Borg, the Ford-O-Matic).

As for the '65 Commander, personally I'd get a ZZ4 crate motor from GM Performance. This is a 350 HP engine and will do the job fine. The Borg-Warner unit will take the power, but I'd look for a first gear start valve body. These units typically start from 2nd gear.

You could also get a Chevy Turbo 350 or a GM 700R4 (with overdrive). You would have to get a drive shaft made for it and modify the trans mount, but they do work.

The rear end is pretty tough, and there were all kinds of gear sets used including a 3.55 and 3.73. Mine came with a 3.07. Finding a good Twin-Traction unit with the gear you want should not be hard to find.

To stop the little beast, see about getting a Turner brake conversion kit. This will allow Ford brake vented discs and GM calipers.

Petronix makes electronic conversion kits for Studebaker distributors. I'm not sure if this includes the distributor in the GM engine, but that's where I would start.

Headers were available at the time. They fit very tight and are hard to find. I'm unsure of their availablity, someone may still make these(?).

My other suggestion would be to join the Studebaker Drivers Club (the online Forum does not require membership). I would also check out the Racing Studebakers site. Keep in mind that most that paticipate in the SDC forum are into keeping their Studes all Stude. But the people on the site have forgot more about these cars than you or I will ever know .

The one thing to watch for is the frame cracking in the rear suspension area. To much power thru this old frame could twist the car apart, which is why I'm suggesting no more than a ZZ4 engine.



GM ZZ4 Crate Engine
Pertronix
Turner Brake
Fairborn Studebaker Flanged Rear Axles for the Dana 44 Rear Axle
Studebaker Online Vendor List

Studebaker Drivers Club
Racing Studebakers Forum
SDC Forum