Studes...

Anyone know any good web sites with information on Studebakers?..

Dave Brisco

Oh, oh!!
Sounds like the beginnings of the scorchies!!!!;)

hmmm... What are the scorchies?...

Dave Brisco

Dave, don't know what type of information you are looking for, but here is a good place to start.http://www.stude.com/

As I am presently on my 3rd studebaker build, I know a little bit about them. http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...er=392&thumb=1

I knew you would come through...

I think I have a couple of parts cars at my disposal, one 1950 and one 52 Commander Starlight Coupe... The 52 has some good body parts but the rest is about gone... The 50 is almost all there except for the grills and the bullet...

I am in the very early stages of looking into what could be done to get started on a killer Stude project... I am seriously thinking about building a square tube chassis and using a Scotts, Heidts or Fat Man front end, a set of airbags, some big rollers (18s & 22s) and a Ford 9 inch rear... Engine might be a 502 crate motor or maybe a nicely built small block... I want to build somthing with some serious attitude that will virtually sit on the ground...

At this point I want to see what is available as far as parts go... I would definately want to locate a 52 grill and bumper or a bullet, grills and bumper for the 50... I may also need another set of fenders and a hood as I am thinking of stretching the wheel base 3 or 4 inches and that would involve cutting up a couple of sets of fenders and a hood or two...

Any insight you might have is definately appreciated...

Thanks,

Dave Brisco

After reading your last post,........................................it's what you got!!! i.e. that burning desire, might start out slow, then it either gets extinguished, or, the temperature rises, sometimes gaining momentum to an inferno (meaning the "affair" goes through to completion, I know some of you guys have "Bolero" running through your mind, tsk, tsk, ):eek:

I'm hearing a real world version (meaning non megabuck) of Frankenstude here. The '52 front end would be unique, never have seen one of those on a custom/rod/machine.

Dave, I don't know exactly why you would want to stretch a studebaker. They have a pretty long wheel base on them as is. I don't remember off the top of my head what the 48 Starlite Cpe was that I did, but the 53 I am presently building is 120" wheel base. These cars have a lot of room under the hood and a big block isn't even a shoe horn affair. I went with a 350 chevy in my 53 and moved the engine back 8". So, I had to put a little 2" dimple in the firewall. The Vintage air Generation II still fits under the dash just fine.

Personally, I like the 50 bullet nose much better than the 52, and parts are available for both. Ted Harbit out of Florida runs a 51 Bullet Nose with a 289/supercharged studebaker engine that he has turned 10.3 quarter miles with. A good man to contact for parts. He can be found in the "Venders" section of the Studebaker.com link. SASCO also has a lot of NOS studebaker parts, including bumpers.

As far as chassis or suspension pieces, look at Art Morrison's stuff. They also have the air ride available. I used one of their coil over rears suspensions on mine. Nice unit. I also used a Fatman front clip and MII. Not all that impressed with it. Jim Meyers also has a nice front suspension setup. It has a lot more ajustability to it.

If you decide not to go the all out tube chassis route, the studebaker front suspension is actually very good. A Grand Am center steer rack and pinion adapts to them well. Turner Brake carries a disc brake conversion, and they do need a lot more brakes.

Speaking of 502 Studebakers, check this one out. http://www.streetrodparts.tv/502stude_1.htm

Weeg, that 502 stude is awesome and has "The look"... My idea about eztending the front is just to give the car a longer leaner look, but at this point it is just an idea...

I want to do some subtle things that will give the car a slightly different look, but I don't want the modifications to be too obvious...

Thanks for the tips on Hemmings, I should have known!!!

Bob, you are right on about the real-world (read low buck) version... Heck, I am even thinking of painting it in a way that it looks like rusty metal, al la George Poteet's 32 stake bed with some indian blanket upolstry and some big diamater steelies and caps... Of course once I really get into it I will want to go all out and end up trying to make it slick...

The biggest obsticle right now is getting my shop finished, but I thought I would start getting a plan together for the build-up...

I am ready for some building fun...

Dave Brisco

By the way... Here is a photo of George's Truck just in case you guys have not seen it yet... This is a newly built truck and the patina is actually painted on...

Dave Brisco

Dave,

Talking about carrying the theme all the way through... did you happen to get close enough to this truck to notice the barnyard odor?

Dan J

I got really close... Close enough to try and figure out how they painted the rust on it... ;) I did'nt happen to notice the smell, but I would'nt put it past those guys!!!

Dave Brisco

Hi Club Hot Rod
I must say this is an ausome site I am new member and thank you for having me. I am sill trying to learn how to navigate through it so please bare with me. Basically I own a 1952 Stude Commander, sueicde doors, Pearl White with a bone top Very pretty.
My problem which can be solved I hope, now that I found this site is talking to the pros like you guys and finding what I need to complete my projest which is as folows
A. converting the whole front end suspension to power disk brakes,rack and pinion steering,
B. New spings and shooks
C. Changing the A frames to include upper and lower Ball Joints
D. I have in the car original motor and trans Rebuild with 2500 miles for sale
E. I am trying to find a brand new replacement motor and trans but I have no clue as to which one will fit
F. I will sincrerly appreciate any response this project that you can help me with
G. My email adress is nojo45@netzero.net

Thank You
Joseph Irizarry

Joseph,
You really didn't say if you where looking to upgrade the stock suspension or adapt another type of suspension to it.

You also said you where looking for a new engine. A new Studebaker engine or other brand to drop in?? I'm quessing that you are looking to streetrod it and adapt aftermarket or other brands to it.

First, consider this:

A. Turner Brakes has a disc brake conversion available for the stock suspension. A Pontiac Grand Am rear steer rack and pionion adapts to the studebaker very well.

B. New springs and shocks are easily available.

C. The original front suspension on the studebaker is actually a very good suspension. New replacement bushings are available to rebuild it. The stock suspension does not have ball joints, but has King pins. Also, easily replaced.

D & E. The original engine, being a commander must be a V8. They are very stout engines and Ted Harbit has speed equipment available to build em up.

F. There are many studebaker vendors at this site if you need them. http://stude.com/vendor.htm

Now as far as aftermarket pieces, there are many ways to go. Fatman Fabrications has a front sub-frame available for these cars. As I'm sure other suppliers may have also.

If you are looking to install and engine other that studebaker, take your pic. It is pretty much a matter of "make it fit". Any of the big 3 small blocks will generally be the easiest to slide in.

You should take a look at what I have spent the last 2 years in build time on here:http://www.clubhotrod.com/photopost/...er=392&thumb=1 and that I expect will be another year or more yet to complete. This is a big project to take on and you should consider all your alternatives before you sell anything off of the car. You may decide at a later date that you wish you still had it.

Dean

Welcome to CHR... Good to have you... How about posting a few pics of your 52, I could use some insperation!!!

Dave's Stude Update...

I am still building my shop but I did have a chance to get a good look at the parts cars in question... After looking at them I realized that one is actually a 51 and the other a 52... I am thinking seriously about moving forward with my plans to build a Hot Rod stude...

Here is a photo of the 51 as it sits now...

Dave Brisco