64 Studebaker Lark Daytona

[MonzaRacer]

HOLLY SHNIKIES Look at those tires under a stock car!!!!!!

[Ratty 46]

Very interesting ...... I like it.

Keep it going .......

Ratty 46

[PhillipM]

Update:

Well over this past weekend we got our friend Bart Spivey's chassis jig set up and the chassis removed from the car. We are now able to place items that we want to use like our LS7 stainless exhaust manifolds and Corvette engine mounts. We also took measurements to order our new frame rails from Autoweld. Below are a few pictures of our handy work.

Here we are finishing up the mounts off the jig that will hold the body and engine/trans where we want it at ride height.


After we got all of the mounts done and took measurements for the wheel base we were able to remove the body and roll the chassis and engine/trans combo out from underneath.




Below we had the jig outside and we were able to use the fork lift to remove the frame.





Once the engine/trans combo was remounted on the jig we were able to roll it back in and begin placing items back on board so that we can begin mocking up for the frame to be measured out.











Below is Bart measuring the frame so he could draw it in CAD.



That is everything for now. Tomorrow we will print out a full scale model of the frame rails so that we can slide them up in there and check the fit before emailing off the CAD files to Autoweld.

[CruizinKev]

cool looks good!

[T_Raven]

I don't know anything about Studebakers but I worked on a 4 door lark a few years ago. I thought it would've looked really cool in a 2 door, nice to know they made one, it's a good looking unique little car

[TGVettes]

This is going to be way cool. I like it a lot so far.
I always wanted to build a 71 Javelin pro-touring
car I just have to many projects that needs to be done before that one.

Tonny

[DaviRotten]

Id love to c any year Jav in PT trim^.

As for the studdy awesome build.

[PhillipM]

Well over the past few weeks we have been working on designing the new frame rails for the Studebaker. So far we are on revision 3 and will probably need one more round of changes. At the moment the only thing that I know I need moved is the lower rail. It can come up about 3/4" so that it meets the body tighter. All the test fitting now will make fitting the 2x4 steel rails much easier later. The material that we are using for mock up is .5" Gator board, kind of a stout foamcore. Below are the pics, enjoy.

[sik68]

Philip, this car is going to turn out fantastic! It's always really cool to me when the stance is nailed on these true "3 box" shaped cars like a Studebaker, Datsun510, BMW 2002, etc. You can't go wrong with a bunch of rubber underneath them .

PS you have too many projects going...you're making the rest of us look bad. ;)

[bonecrrusher]

Do I spy LS7 manifolds???

[PhillipM]

Haha yeah, they were left over from the LS7 install in my Dad's Camaro. Regular LS manifolds would fit easier but they don't flow like these do. Plus we think these manifolds have a unique and bit of "cool" factor about them.

[garner67]

I love the idea of a PT Stude.

Here's a cool shot of a Pan American Studebaker racer.



Just picture this car with a slick wet modern paint job!

[PhillipM]

I love the cars from the Pan America, they always have a rough but finished racecar attitude about them. We actually looked at a Hawk before we purchased this car.

[thetoystore]

well i know what i'm getting next

[41565 chevelle]

Man, I dig this project! I was just in Mesa for a week at the MD factory, had I know I would have stopped by.. I will be back again in the spring, hope you don't mind a fellow pro-tourer visitor???

[PhillipM]

Well I have good news and bad news today. A bunch of cool stuff showed up but not all of it correct. First we'll start with the right stuff. These are some axle brackets and neat polly bushing that I plan to use in random spots. I got them from Paul Hortons...









And now on to my front wheels. Damn AR built them with polished centers and not painted centers. I haven't talked to them yet but I sure hope I don't have to wait another 5-8 weeks on their screw up!! Although, I'm sure I will

[PhillipM]

We got a few minutes to work on the Studebaker today. So Paul and I thought that we would start removing all of the trim from the car to prepare to get the car blasted. After that I started to remove the right side rear quater panel. I also got all of the windows in the car rolling again which is a major plus. In the attached photos you can see how much of the rear comes apart on these Studebakers. I also included a picture of the 2002 LS1 T/A brakes that we plan to use on the car which are a super tight fit in the American Salt Flats, the clearance from the caliper face to the back of the wheel face is .188 wich should work perfect.

[OLDFLM]

My dad always said Studebaker was way ahead of their time with every panel being bolted on and easily removed/replaced! LOVE the build! Subscribed!!

[Bryce]

How the hell did i miss this thread. This is awesome. I love the look in flat black.

[PhillipM]

Hey thanks for the good words guys. We are getting closer to ordering our frame rails and Bart was over again tonight taking the final measurement for the front suspension design. For a little background on Bart Spivey, I have included a link to an older Mustang 5.0 article that covered the install of an "A" arm kit that he used to develop for the Fox body Mustangs.

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/how...des/index.html

Tonight I also removed the Driver's side quater panel. I am surprised at how much strength these panels provide to the back half of the car. Even with an identical panel runnuning on the inside of the car. I think that before we lift the car up off of the suspension jig to have it blasted I will pick up some small square tube to run some extra bracing on the body. I don't think things will move around but hey, you can't be too careful.