Has Anybody installed the replacement front suspension systemfor C-K body Stude from Sick Street Stuff?? It's supposed to be a straight bolt in, sure like to know A, if this is true? B how you like it THX gbgh
There have been several threads over at the SDC Forum about this kit. Take a look. http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13484&SearchTerms=ball,joints I really don't understand why anyone would want to make this change. Replacing the beautiful heavy-duty Stude king pins with cheap-o brand X ball joints seems like a big step backward to me. I have been messing with Studebakers for 25 years and I have to tell you one thing--if all of the front end parts are up to snuff, that "funky" bell-crank steering system is FANTASTIC--much more responsive than just about anything out of Detroit in the 50's-60's era. The problem is that there about a zillion zerks and once the cars were more than 5-6 years old and were no longer cared for by a dealer, garage monkeys missed alot of the lube points and the front end would wear out. My advice? Restore the original front end/steering--you'll LOVE the way your '54 handles!
I like the way my '53 handles just fine (needs a bigger sway bar, but that's easily remedied). But the steering is just too damn slow - about 7 turns lock-to-lock...
I've got a friend that rebuilt the front suspension on his 57 Hawk and added disc brakes from Turner. He removed the bell crankand steering box and replaced it with a cavalier power rack. He also removed the steering arms from the spindles and shortened them about 1" to 1½'" to regain turning radius . He is running a big block chevy and the rack handles the load great, no problems. and steering response is great. I don't know if the Street Sick stuff you refer to is the same as Phantom kit that was being talked about in the link that Allen posted but sounds like you would be money ahead to avoid using that kit for sure !! Richard
Sounds like I'm being a little hard on the old system. Always good to ask. BTW, I have a stash of NOS Kingpins , have't catalogued them but if yer lookin' send me a part # might be have it You're right about the Zerk Jerks...about 12 years ago I pulled into a JohnnyJiffyJerko Lube, and the kid flat told me he had never been trained to use the grease gun THX Mark mark
NOS King Pins, eh? Well, the ones in the '56 are decent enough, but if you have NOS ones that will work, you're on! Let me pull out the book and get you a part number. Message to follow. By the way, you can get "quick steering arms" from a 80's Avanti II that will bolt on any late model Stude. I had them on my '61 Hawk back in the late 80's and they made a dramatic difference. But if you aren't going to add power steering, be aware that you better start weight training right now if you're gonna be doing lots of low-speed maneuvering!! My wife REFUSED to drive the Hawk once I slapped on those quick arms.
No plans for power steering, so concern about the quick steering arms increasing the effort are very real & why I haven't gone that route already. I don't have anything to compare to as I've never driven one w/quick steering arms. Is it any worse than trying to wrestle an early Ford (Model-A through '34) around? As long as you're rolling, you can turn, but sitting still, they're a bear?? Think I have the Ross box - is the Saginaw a better choice? Sorry for the Hijack.
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Parallel Parking is what did it for my wife, trying to park the Hawk on Sunset Blvd. on a Saturday night circa 1988 when I was already inside drinking and eating tapas. Pissed her off ROYALLY and I ended up adding power steering I salvaged from a rusted out Lark wagon (the R1 motor from that parted out rarity is now going in my '56 Champion hot rod). If you arent' doing lots of low speed parking maneuvers, then you're probably man enough for the quick steering arms. I am sticking with the Ross box on the '56, mostly because I want to keep the stock steering column--I have a perfect NOS steering wheel and horn ****on and they just look WAY too cool to replace with a Lark or Hawk or aftermarket wheel. Most of the Saginaw boxes you'll find are from '57-up and won't work with the early column. You can find some '52-'53 Champions with the Saginaw, but they're pretty scarce. Again, if you go with a Lark/Hawk steering wheel, finding a later Saginaw set-up won't be all that tough to do. The Saginaw is a recirculating ball type box and is much easier to steer the car with the Saginaw. I had a '63 Lark that I put a Saginaw in and it was the nicest driving Studebaker I have ever owned. If I ever come across one of those early Saginaws at a decent price I would pop it in my '56 in a heartbeat!
I wouldn't mind a later box anyway - simply because I'm doing a T5 conversion so will need to eliminate the column shift...although I would like to keep my steering wheel...
I thought about a modern transmission, but decided that NOTHING would be better in the long run both in terms of strength and feeling "right" than a T-85 OD with a Hurst shifter. With the T85 I can run 4.27 gears and actually be able to drive on the freeway. I know a T-5 will dothe same thing, but something about those T-85 gearboxes just does it for me. They are BULLETPROOF and with those straight-cut gears in 1st you get that REAL old-time feel!! And with OD, you have SIX gears, right? As far as the column shifter goes, I'm just gonna remove handle from the steering column jacket and pop in a small chrome ****on over the hole. I will have a column mounth SW greenline tach in a chrome cup, so you wont even NOTICE the missing column gearshift! Boy, we've REALLY hijacked this thread now!
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