Thread: 40 Studebaker street rod

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Hi, I'm Roger and just acquired a 40 Studebaker Champion 2dr Sedan to street rod. I have been in the autobody and paint industry for nearly 40 years now and am retired. I have built quite a few nice cars over the years both for myself and my customers. This will be my first street rod. I have a usable body on the original frame modified with a Mustang II front suspension and steering. Rear is simply a Chevy rear axle on the original leaf spring set up. At this point engine and trans are up in the air, the car is set up for a small block chevy, but I might like something different. I have a fresh olds 330 I'd like to use, but that remains to be seen at this point. Also considered buying a c4 Corvette and robbing the front and rear suspensions and drive train. Debating a top chop as well. Would appreciate and feedback to my plan and of course all good advice. I live in northeast florida, I have a large backyard shop with a lift so I'm gathering info to make this happen. Thanks.

Sounds like a great project!! Lots of experience and opinions here. Be patient your first few posts especially if you try to post pictures (I think the pictures need to be approved by the moderator for the first 10 posts or so) and we love pictures here

Welcome.


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Sounds like fun. It also sounds like you've got things well in hand. I look forward to the build.

Welcome. I'd say that C4 'vette idea is good, especially if you can get one of the 375 horse LT5/ZR1 models. Looking forward to your build, and like Mike advised be patient, and don't be shy about posting "stuff" to get past the ten post threshold which proves you're not a spammer, and eliminates much of the oversight from the moderator.

Welcome, a fun project indeed! Good having you on here, always good when someone comes along with a really unique project to build!

Welcome to CHR!

Love the look of the '40. That grill makes quite a statement and you just don't see to many Studebaker hot rods out there.

Sounds like the skill set is in place as well as a nice large shop - we'll look forward to pictures.

I'd second the C4 Corvette rolling chassis. It seems like there are plenty available from salvage yards.

Good luck and once again, welcome
Glenn

Lots of yak over the years about, Ford in a Ford, Chev in a Chev, and so on. With a Stude you've got a cool option. Their last couple years of production they used first gen sbc......................almost a factory swap!

Funny how life goes sometimes.

Ok, I'll admit I had to google a 40 Studebaker to get an idea of what the car looked like. Anyway a little while ago I went over to a friends speed shop because they had the mobile chassis Dyno set up today and were running a few cars across it.

As I'm standing there guess what pulls up?


39 stu by M Patterson, on Flickr




Turned out it was a 39 Studebaker instead of a 40, but there doesn't appear to be much difference. I talked to guy who owns it. It's running a 421 Pontiac TH 400 and Chevy 12 bolt.




39 stu 421 by M Patterson, on Flickr



He was on his way up to Tucson for the Nostalgia Drags so he was just there for a little bit.......I'd forgotten all about it being this weekend otherwise I'd be headed there too.



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Yep, that's it alright. Have seen pics of one with a chopped top, but will look at it after suspension mods to see if I like it. Thanks to all.

Just so you know my stand, not that it will make any difference to you, but I hate chopped tops. It's like monkey see, monkey do and the eyeball of the car is ruined forever. Only possible exception to this is a '49-'50 Mercury done in the Barris style. Just sayin'.....
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And a lot of work for sure. Not sold on the idea. Let's see what I can do with suspension. Right now it looks like an overblown version of an old London taxicab.

Thanks. ( there's one)

Welcome to the forum and I love the sound of your build, I also like the sound of using the 330 Olds for the engine. I also agree with Tech on the chop, few and far between to I like them, but that's just me.

Welcome to CHR! It definitely sounds like you are up to the task and you definitely have a car that you don't see very often.

Thanks to all for the words and advice. After inspecting the car for a while, I've decided my best route may be a frame swap using a 68-72 GM A body frame. It would need modification for sure, but many of the dimensions are very close. It would need to be shortened 1-1/2" to establish a wheelbase. The stude says 110, but looks more like 111 or so. This would give me the proper mounting for the Olds drivetrain I plan to use. The stude frame is both a perimeter and an x frame, and the x could always be grafted back on for more rigidity. I would like to find a complete junker so I can also salvage parts like brake and throttle linkages as well as some wiring and the fuel system, e brake, etc. If anyone knows of one for sale in the N Fl. or S Ga. area, let me know. Thanks, and let me know what you think. Always on the hunt for good advice and personal experience.