Ahhh!! The memories and the reason I fell in love with 53 & 54 Stude coupes. These are memories from high school in the mid 60's. A guy put a 392 Hemi in a 53 stude. I dont know too many of the details but at that time. I remember it had to have a remote oil filter. Stock front Studebaker suspension ( no Mustang 2 's at that time ) The car also had a Ford 3 speed std. transmission. Either he bought the adapter plate or had it made? Used a certain Ford std. trans. something about a spline difference in Ford stds. around that time? Also. a 57 or 59 Ford rear end was a bolt in job! No moving the spring perches! Ran like hell in a straight line but would not hold a curve at all. The car had a tendancy to run hot, so he got 6 Buick port holes from a 55 or 56 Buick and put them in the hood in a "V" shape ( cool )
There is an article in Turning Wheels Magazine about a Hemi in a 53 Stude...Ill look for it in my pile.
I have a 53 with a GM clip and a Ford 351 -W...Yes, its different.
Hope this helps