Help Me Decide.......please

I'd be tempted to get a 4.3 GM v6 with a 700R4/60E trans combination and put it in without cuting anything that couldn't be returned to stock. If it has an open driveshaft I'd leave the rearend that's in it and just mate the driveshaft too the trans. It must have hydraulic brakes so a rebuild on those should provide sufficient stopping. Clean the exterior and if the paint can be saved so much the better. If the interior is in need of a redo just go for the blanket deal and call it good.
That should provide a reliable/economical ride that you won't have an arm and leg in and be a saleable package to a young rodder if you decide to off it.
Don't be surprised if you end up having a ball driving it and want to keep it.

Frank

 

Bomb it! That is, make a low rider bomb out of it. Perfect!

 

Frank nailed it!! I agree on making it a fun driver because driving an old car where the fun is. If you do it, keep the old parts so it could be changed back someday, or sold with that option.

 

As a fellow Stude owner my instinct is to sell it. It's too complete and unmolested to rod. Some guy in the Studebaker Driver's Club would love to have it. Properly advertised it would sell quickly and then you can buy something that you're p***ionate about and already know what you want to do.

 

i think i will try to sell but who knows I really want a 32 ford

 

I wouldn't do anything that can't be changed. With that said I'd buff out the paint, put some WWW tires on it, lose the hupcaps, and lower it! Next in line would be to start looking for some speed equipment for it intake, headers, heads, etc...In other words just make a really cool period rod out of it. I love 32 fords as much as anybody, but at the shows it's always cool to see something that is different, original, and hot rodded.

 

In that case, quit being a wimp and turn it into a duece roadster now!

 

I'm a serious Kustom guy at heart, but I do, on occasion, tell people to keep their car stock, or at least, don't change anything you can't return back. But that's usually on desireable, more or less rare cars. And that's only the case if i think they are not serious enough about the car to want to keep it whatever happens.
Looking at your car...Stude, 4 door, not desireable like a 20's one would be, but it does have a nice look about it, great grille! As well as being an unusual make.
I'd make it what I really want it to be. If that includes chopping it, so be it!
If it was my car, just cause it's a Stude, and Stude's are unusual, I would go a VERY different route. Keep the body almost stock, lowered, w/good suspension, and brakes, maybe some nice chrome wire wheels, dark rich color on the body, luxurious interior, and a later model Stude driveline...like a 289 or 327 with the factory supercharger, 4 speed...kind of a modern Avanti!
Keep it looking all Stude, and running all Stude!

 

I think keeping it stock with a modern dirve line would be cool. I just wish I could draw like that to come up with concepts. I know what I want to do with my '39 Chevy, but would love to be able to do a concept of it before I take the plunge. But of course it comes down to doing what you want with it.

J.

 

I always say, when in doubt, chop it. The lower to the ground, the cooler it looks. That being said, it's really hard to pull off a good looking chopped 4dr. To many vertical lines. I've only seen a few done well on late 30's / early 40's cars. The late 20's / early 30's look great because they are boxier.... jmo

 

Another vote for period lowrider bomb style custom (lowered, bubble skirts, stock looking interior, alot of period accessories). 289 Studebaker V8 for power.

 

am I the only one here who thinks driving an old stocker is fun?

the way I got it figured is if you can get it running and stopping without having to rebuild the motor then just do that and have fun.

if the motor is shot then I'd start to consider modern drivetrains.

 

Another vote for leaving it as original as possible.

 

Well Im not quite sure what a bomber is since im just getting into this kind of stuff but that seems to be popular and leaving it original.......can anyone provide a pic of what a bomber looks like? AGAIN thanks for all of the feed back this really is helping me!

 

Sorrrta like these quick examples:

 

See 'em on this thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231936

 

That red one is KILLER!!!

 

Can't beat what you want to build IMO, but then I'm biased.

 

yeah they're kinda like the gangster, cl***ier roots of lowriders.

 

e'bay, world wide, with a hefty reserve! That is if you want something else for a project.

Might surprize you what you could get, or not get.

Just an idea...GOD LUCK..

 

Mild custom...nothing that can,t be brought back to original. Make it both drivable and reliable.Don,t invest too much that you may lose if you end up not happy with it. It looks like a cool ride in the rendering.....I,d drive that!

 

Yep, the origins of the bombs lie with the Zoot Suiters and the pachucas.

 

In my opinion, since you already tried to sell it, and you don't have a vision of it that sparks you, you may need another project to start with.

 

If I were you, I would find somewhere you could store it for long term, relative, buddy, etc. Someday you will want this car back because it was a gift from your parents. I spent 6 months trying to find the car my parents gave me 20 years ago, only to find out it was totalled less than a week after I sold it. Get it running, drive it till ya get board with it, then put it away. Being new to the hobby is great. Wait till you drive that thing for the first time. Old cars are cool to drive, and you might change your opinion on what you want to do with it.

 

I say start by ***essing what you have:

• Make sure you have a way to stop it if you're going to move it on any incline
• Clean the inside and trunk out a bit
• Wash it
• Try to ***ess what it would take to get it started
• Answer my earlier questions in this thread

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Why would you not want to drive something like this?

 

that does look good doesn't? I have that pick on my background now for inspiration

 

Restoring to original could cost u plenty and i dont think you could get what it cost back. Original restorations have to be correct to every nut and bolt . I like the idea of a more modern susp mabe wheels and mild street engine. Keep the rest stock. lower it just enough to look nice not to much.this type of build won't be hard to sell latter on. A hard cut up car becomes cool mostley to the builder and it may not look as good to others

 

well I think that I have made up my mind and I will keep everyone in suspense with what is going to happen But pictures will be updated.....eventually