Thread: Information -392 Chry In 56 Stude

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HI : I GUESS IM A NEWBY HERE BUT NOT TO RODDING. I AM
BUILDING A "56" STUDE HAWK AND WANT TO PUT A 354 OR
392 CHRYSLER IN IT. WONDERING IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS
CROSSED THIS BRIDGE?

WILL HAVE POWER STEARING , BRAKES AND TH400.
9 INCH FORD IN THE REAR AND MODEST TUB.

Welcome to the group...

I am about to do a similar project with a non-hemi in a 51 stude so I will be anxious to see what type of replys you get... Weeg is our resident Stude expert so I would be willing to bet he can help or send you in the right direction for answers...

Good luck with your project...

Dave Brisco

Ed, I know it's been done and the engine compartment is good sized, but I haven't been able to find a ready reference yet. Dean (Weeg) probably has it cataloged for an easy find.

Dave, I think you should reconsider putting a hemi in you Steadybraker. In fact, to give you inspiration, here's a pic of what it should look like. Perfect for an old Hot Wheels collector like you!

Ed, I've not run across a Studebaker C/K with a Hemi shoehorned in. I have seen a number with big block cadilacs installed without any really big problems. Nice 53 C/K here with a 500 c.i. caddy in it:http://home.houston.rr.com/baker53/

With the Hawk hood you should have a little extra head room in the engine compartment also. Unless you are one of the "hole in the hood" gang, like Bob's pic there.

I stayed with the chevy small block in my project. I am looking more for handling, moved engine back 8" and down 3" deeper in the chassis to balance it more.

Dean

Ahhh!! The memories and the reason I fell in love with 53 & 54 Stude coupes. These are memories from high school in the mid 60's. A guy put a 392 Hemi in a 53 stude. I dont know too many of the details but at that time. I remember it had to have a remote oil filter. Stock front Studebaker suspension ( no Mustang 2 's at that time ) The car also had a Ford 3 speed std. transmission. Either he bought the adapter plate or had it made? Used a certain Ford std. trans. something about a spline difference in Ford stds. around that time? Also. a 57 or 59 Ford rear end was a bolt in job! No moving the spring perches! Ran like hell in a straight line but would not hold a curve at all. The car had a tendancy to run hot, so he got 6 Buick port holes from a 55 or 56 Buick and put them in the hood in a "V" shape ( cool )
There is an article in Turning Wheels Magazine about a Hemi in a 53 Stude...Ill look for it in my pile.
I have a 53 with a GM clip and a Ford 351 -W...Yes, its different.
Hope this helps

ED CHECKING IN:
THIS SITE WAS REALLLLY A FIND!
THE COMENT ON THE 57-59 FORD REAR AXEL HOUSING FOR
WIDTH AND SPRING PERCH LOCATION WAS GREAT. I HAVE
THREE ENGINES COMPLETED: A BLOWN 392. 2-4 /354 AND
A 401 NAILHEAD WITH 2-4'S AND A SWITCH-PITCH TURBO 400.

I GUESS ILL JUST REMOVE THE STUDE 259 AND AUTO THEN SEE
WHAT WILL "SLIP " IN.

THE "354 HEMI IS FIRST CHOICE, BUT THE "401 WOULDNT LOOK
TOO SHABBY EITHER.

QUESTION? ANYBODY KNOW OF A INTREGAL POWERSTEARING
THAT WORKS IN THE HAWK?

THANKS ED.

ed,
there is a place in knoxville tn called phantom auto works that has a bolt on front suspension kit for your stude. power disc and rack pinion steering. phone # 865-525-6025. no matter which engine you decide on you will need to have your radiator changed to a 4 core,but you can still use your stude upper & lower radiator tanks.
hope that helps some
studebakerclyde

Ed,

What a great project! The good news is the old 259 Studebaker V-8 is one heavy dude at 600+ lbs, so the suspension and frame should be able to support the Hemi, Studebaker also put the big Packard V-8 in the Golden Hawks in 56. Study the links that Weeg and Clyde gave you as they both offer ways to do it using Studebaker's original suspension design. That really makes things easier.

I spoke with a fellow at a Show&Shine last week that has two '53s with hemis in them. I am not sure if they are early or late models. I have not seen the cars yet so I don't know what they look like. He said he may bring one to an event this week-end, if he does I will take some photos and either post them or send them to you.

One of your biggest challenges will be cooling, you need to figure out ways to vent hot air out of the engine compartment. That's why you see a lot of these cars with louvered hoods. My '53 has vent holes cut in the inner fender aprons. I think Weeg is designing his inner fenders with vents that will pull air out and flow through his trans and oil coolers with fan assists.

How about posting some pictures as you work through the project?

Pat

ed,
i have a big block chevy in my 55 and haven't had any cooling problems since i had the radiator reworked with a 4 core and two electric fans installed. since i use the stude for a daily driver it has never gotten hot even in traffic. the mopar should not require any more then that to cool it either. keep us posted on your progress studebakerclyde

Ed,
I had a '62 GT Hawk that I put a 401 Buick in with 2x4's. Fit like a glove except for the passenger side exhaust manifold. It hit the frame rail, but that was with the original Buick manifolds. Still to this day one of the best sounding engines I have ever heard. Someone made engine mounts that allowed it to bolt right in with the original mounts, I can't remember who right now but I will rack my brain for awhile and see if I can come up with a name.

Hey Ed,
Where you at with this project?? There are a few of us on the board that would be interested in this project. I have a two 53 coupes. One,with a chevy 355 roller engine with a ZF 6 speed. The other has a 351-W Ford, AOD trans. If I could find a complete 392 hemi with trans I would jerk the ford engine in a heartbeat.
Read my earlier post, of what I remember of a guy in high school who did this samething.
Anyway, keep us posted.

P.S: Pat,did you get my pictures??

hey ed,
i just came back from the studebaker meet in charlotte nc today and somebody had a hemi in a stude. i took some engine pictures. i'll post as soon as i can.
studebakerclyde

hey ed,
here's some pictures that i took at the studebaker meet in charlotte
studebakerclyde

hey ed,
here's another picture

ed,
more pictures