Well I've been wanting to start a build thread for some time but like everything, i put it off. Being thats its all gross outside figure its a good day to start. A good bit of work has already been completed on the truck. I had the cab and front clip media blasted and primed a while back. Some of the other big things that have been completed would be the Mustang II IFS installed and the front of the frame boxed. I installed an engine, 96 350 Vortec and 4L60E transmission however i'm not sure if i'm going to be using it. Well I know I won't be using that ****** for sure. Lately I've been focused on body work. The door handles have been shaved, the hole for the gas cap has been plugged and I frenched in the antenna. I also welded up the seams on the bed to give it a cleaner look as well as closing in the rear of the bed where the chains normally hung and made up a roll pan. Some of the plans i have for it are too replace the rear suspension with a triangulated 4 link with bags, replace the stock axle with a ford 8.8 or 9 inch, i'm not really sure which was to go with that. I'm also kicking around the idea of chopping the top a couple inches. I got a lot to learn before i jump into that though. I'll post pictures later for some reason i keep getting a message saying i need more security tokens, not sure what that means.
thanks, Here is a better pic of the suspension and roll pan. The car gods have smiled upon me! I just sold off one of my old projects that i wasn't really into so I see a "hotrod shopping spree in my future". So I have a question. The truck is going to have power disc brakes, now I would like to go with an underfloor setup to keep the engine compartment clean. Has anyone used one of these and have you had any problems with them? Being that this is a studebaker nobody make them so i'm going to have to go the universal route and it seems they universally fit nothing. Would I be better off going with a firewall mounted ***embly?
sweet truck! i saw it in your avatar in some of your other posts and hoped you would do a build thread!
jtk, I have a under floor power brake system on my 52 chevy 1/2 ton stepside. I drove it with that setup for about five years before my current teardown to upgrade the rear suspension. I have the MII front with airbags and will be going triangulated rear also. The brake system worked flawlessly the whole time it was on the street as a daily driver. The system uses a proportioning valve for disc/drum setup I believe from a later model chevy truck, but I'm not positive about that. Good luck with your build, hope this helps. Malcolm
Turner brakes http://www.turnerbrake.com/truckkits.html makes a setup to equip your truck with disc brakes. If you want to keep the under floor setup you'll need a pair of check valves. Just installed a set on my Avanti and they are well made and well designed to bolt on directly to your spindles.
Subscribed! I am also building a Stude PU http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=804460 I have also been thinking of the turnerbrake.com kit with an upgraded disk/drum MC... Just not to that point yet, but will be soon. Any and all thoughts and tech on it would be awesome.
Thanks everyone, Melcolm, Thanks for the feedback. How do you like the placement of the pedal? Is it comfortable to drive? I'm planning on using a 95 and up ford explored rear end so i'll probable just use the proportioning valve off of it. Stude54 and Jcox68rt, I looked into the turner brake conversion but decided on going the Mustang 2 IFS route. I know the Studebaker truck talk guys love it.
So I gave a dude a jump start and scored a possible gas tank. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
After further review I don't think I'm gonna use it as a gas tank however I'm thinking it might be pretty cool to put an air tank inside for my air bags or maybe use it for storage/toolbox.
Good luck with your build. I think the tank would be better as air tank or tool container. I think it might be interesting to split it top to bottom, hinge it, add shelves and bins inside and use it as a tool barrel that way. It'd be different, take up less space in the bed and still give you that 'kegger' ambience! It might need to be seriously secured in the bed, but I still think it'd be cool looking, up on its end.
Thats what i was thinking too. I got one of those "jerry can" tool boxes on my jeep and its super useful. ohh i hate free stuff it always ends up costing me money.
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