'47 Studebaker Champion: Just got this but not sure why!

I think the Original one looks better at the start of the thread ..

 

Cathcart's stuff is nice and he has a lot of knowledge. But if yer gonna spend that kind of money why not put it on the larger engine. I bet our friend member Moose could be talked into making up intakes and exhausts for the Studie like he does for mopar flat 6's

Fined heads are pretty but you can make a 9 to 1 by milling the stock head .060 and taking .010 off the block. Could even buy a cheapy adapter and run a 2bbl instead of dual 1 bbls. Cathcart can probably recommend a cam grind to pull everythig together. The upshot is the cost is the same whether is the 170 cu in champ or the 245 cu in Commander.

I had basically the same choices with my Mopar and chose to put the mods on a 230 engine rather than the 218. Glad I did, but each to his own, and no argument that Champ engine is as dependable as a rock.

 

Planar springs are not weird - they use them on the new Corvettes.
And my '49 Champion rode smooth thanks to planar front suspension.

And, as to the Turner Brake upgrade - a big thumbs up!
I have them on my '66 Wagonaire - they're great.

 

I was looking at a stocker just like that at a car show Sunday thinking I'd cruise with it just the way it was. Mild Custom would be the way to go on that one.

 

Paint it and drive it forever. Some people don't even know Studes ever had a flat nose!

A Champion 2door sedan is just a hair shy of being a Starlight Coupe anyway. Enjoy, I would.

 

damn thats a cool lil car id have grabbed it to , post some photos if you do some modifications and lay some paint on it

 

Planar front end weird as in unusual, since the only other car I can remember using it for the front ed was the Willys jeepster. Wasn't suggesting it didn't work, just that is was used by only a couple maufacturers. The corvettte mono leaf was similar but different in that it didn't have to steer also. And you just don't see tubular "I" arm frot suspensions that often.

 

I think those red hub caps just sucked you in. As was said, clean it up, drive and grin like a possum as you go down the road.

 

Paint spirals on the hubcabs like a Messerschmitt spinner- the original "spinners".

 

Great looking car. I'd just drive it for awhile. I drove my stock 50 for years but that little 6 is pretty anemic. Not that hard putting an 8 in there with a Fatman front stub.

 

Don't do this to it.

Nice stude, loose the front overriders, the red hubcaps, and have fun with it.

 

I like that over-rider!

 

Oh god don't do that to this car. Grecian was ugly no matter what version it is

 

I just replaced the fuel pump on my 49 Stude 1 ton, flat 6. Same fuel pump. Only cost $50 bucks, not too expensive. It is a regular stocking item for most auto parts stores, since it covers 1940 to 1960, or so.

 

Agreed.Something different like it.

 

looks almost like my 52' champion when I got it. I just painted it john deere satin black and installed a glasspack muffler and drove it for 4-5 years. then put in a 350 chev. and 3spd. o.d. red paint with flames. most people say they liked it better when it was black. pictures are on my profile. the six was fun to drive, only had issues with vapor lock. you've got a good car to drive and enjoy while fixing it up to suit your own taste.

 

Got the fuel pump issue resolved, the tank and lines flushed out and cruised around a bit today. Doesn't run too bad. Brakes are a little grabby but that can be dealt with this evening. Here's some more pics that I just took. I wanted to show some of the pinstriping on her. Not too bad. I kinda like the brown with the mustard and white colors of the striping against the faded (putting it mildly) paint. Also, looks about a zillion percent better minus the red clown caps!!

 

Slam it and drive it.

 

I likes!

 

I'm in love! That is cool as hell, lower it a couple inches put some Olds Fiesta or Moon flipper caps on it and cruise.

 

That's an exact twin to my first car that I bought when I was 16 in 1959. Bought it from a Studebaker dealer in Maplewood, NJ the same day it had been traded in on a new car. The ones with the wrap around rear window seem to be more popular, but I liked the smaller window design. Good luck with it no matter how you decide to use it.

 

Ditto!

 

My father talks about that dealership sometimes.