@bgthegreat ‘51 was the first year for the V8. It should be a ‘bolt in’ where the chassis is concerned. Will need v8 mounts and V8 transmission. Champions had lighter duty brakes, springs etc. Studebakers used the same basic chassis and suspension from 1951 onward, varying in wheelbase for various models. Some parts, including the chassis were beefed a bit about ‘53/‘54 as I recall, but lots of Champs got V8 swaps with minor changes as mentioned in above paragraph. Ray
What...V-8 ? Sure, done all the time. Need to make your own front and rear mounts, need to measure for a new driveshaft. The small Chevy is the most installed, although obviously a Stude V-8 is a bolt in with the correct mounts. The 40's are of a planar design front suspension and not very good with handling. The later 51 to 1966 chassis/frame is either identical or very similar. You cannot put a 51 up, front suspension on a 40's chassis without more work than it's worth. A non Stude engine swap wont be a simple swap for the novice. Some experience required. Mike
Thank you guys. Are the motor mounts to put a Stude V8 in a 51 Stude a hard find? How about other Studebaker parts for that year. I already have a 63 Avanti. Sees like those parts are available.
Not hard to find. http://www.studebakervendors.com/index.htm That should help. Fairborn Studebaker would be a good first call.
I don't know about 51 Studes. But I put a SBC in a 61 Lark and the 6 cylinder cars came with a different chassis than the V8 cars. Lighter and made fir the six. I beefed mine for the belly button. When I was younger and had more class, I put a hemi in a 53 Champ. It also had a lighter frame than the V8 cars. So I am not to sure about just getting factory motor mounts and slapping in a 289 or such.
Rich - Different...but the same. Dimensionally (except for the material thickness), the frames are the same, car to car. Like my 54 wagon...I pulled a flathead 6 out, turned the motor mounts around (side for side) and dropped in a 259 Stude engine, with no drilling, welding to the frame. Just two new holes in the front motor mounts. So, Lark to Lark, no matter the engine, 53 to 55, 53 to 55 (coupes to coupes, sedans to sedans), no matter the engine, the frames are the same, from the firewall forward. Material thickness makes no difference to the ability of bolting in a different Stude engine. Mike
If I remember correctly, one of the James Bond stories had either Q or Felix Leiter driving a '53 Stude, modified into a convertible with a Cadillac V8 in it
Found it- In Diamonds Are Forever, Felix Leiter picks up James Bond outside the Plaza – near the horse-cabs – in what Bond believes is a black Studebaker convertible. After Leiter gives Bond a demonstration of the abilities of the vehicle, Bond is impressed. “Well I’ll be damned,” said Bond incredulously. “But what sort of a car is this anyway? Isn’t it a Studebaker?” “Studillac,” said Leiter. “Studebaker with a Cadillac engine. Special transmission and brakes and rear axle. Conversion job. A small firm near New York turns them out. Only a few, but they’re a damn sight better sports car than those Corvettes and Thunderbirds. And you couldn’t have anything better than this body. Designed by that Frenchman, Raymond Loewy. Best designer in the world. But it’s a bit too advanced for the American market. Studebaker’s never got enough credit for this body. Too unconventional. Like the car? Bet I could give your old Bentley a licking.” And here's the link to "Studebaker with a Cadillac Engine" written by Wilbur Shaw https://flemingsbond.com/studillac/
Yep.....early V/8 motor mounts should not be hard to find - they used the same frame for years - just a little longer on the big cars and the later Factory Chevy mounts I think are still available thur Studebaker International - they have the bulk of the NOS stuff left over in South Bend.
Head over to the Studebaker Drivers Club, lots of Studebaker folks, some even like hot rods but putting a Stude in a Stude makes most of them happy. here is a link that you will find helpful. https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/tech-talk
The Jalopy Journal
