My 1949 Studebaker project

[negativematt]

Hi all,

I posted this in the projects section, but figured it would be at home here as well.


I've been lurking on the site for a bit and figured I'd done enough on my last leave to be worthy of posting. I've been messing with my Studebaker for a couple years but working overseas can make it difficult sometimes. I bought this truck without a frame a few years back and have been gathering pieces to put it together. It's rough, but will make a nice fun driver when I'm done...or at least a decent truck to haul trash to the dump in!


I bought a zq8 frame from a backward hat wearing minitrucker who had ruined his truck for 200 bucks. I scrapped the cab and sold the wheels for more than I paid for the whole mess.

my pops loading one of two Stude trucks I bought to use for parts for my project. This one looked decent, but turned out to be total junk.

5.3l I got from a buddy. 80k miles, and ready to go the the engine shop for some inner goodies.

I took out 14" of the s10 frame to make up the difference in the Stude wheelbase. I took 4.5" out of the front of the Stude bed to get the proportions to where they looked better. Stude trucks have too much bed between the front of the fender and back of the cab.

After the removal!! You can see my high tech frame table here! measure 100 times, cut once is my motto, and it's tough to go wrong on these trucks. The frames are perfect for putting under old trucks.

The other side right before welding it back up. I ground a nice "v" and cinched it up tight with my clamps.

Welded up with "fish plates" on the front and backsides. I also built the cab mounts to accept the s10 body mount bushings. It was easy to do, and really will help make for a descent ride.



Both sides done, and coated in por15. Don't want that fresh metal rusting!

For the front mounts, i used the frame pieces i cut out, cut them in half and layed them horizontal. Welded em to the frame and drilled them for the body biscuits. I'll have to find the pics i took of them, they're here somewhere!
Here's the cab setting down for the first time.




removing the old paint and rust....







A quick shot of the motor in the rails.



The "hotside" for the turbo almost welded up. I'll have this coated and wrap it. I still have to add the wastegate and blow off valves, but I'll do that when I'm back home on leave.

I cut up a pair of '67 camaro front bumpers and made this one. It still needs finish welding, stripping and rechroming, but I like the way it came out. The factory bumper is pretty f'n ugly.

The rear only needed one bumper narrowed about 5". dresses up the rear end quite nicely I believe.

Just another shot of it. the front grille and hood arent mounted here, so thats why they look kinda off.

Just a few vents to keep the underhood temps down... ;D









I got the chance to work on it over a couple weeks on my last leave. I took some shots for you guys. I got most everything accomplished that I wanted to and got the motor fired up for the first time! Next leave, I'll tackle the rear end and 4 link set-up.
Some new goodies!


All installed! I have all new end links, center link and steering box too. Used the grand cherokee steering shaft to eliminate the slop in the factory slip shaft rag joint/tulip joint


Finished the hotside of the turbo set-up. Still got a ways to go on it, but I'm getting closer.








And thats where I am so far. I plan to lower the rear another few inches when I do the four link and coil overs. I'm gonna have a second set of wheels/tires for the occasional track day if I ever decide to take it. I'll move the computer and clean up the wiring when I get things dialed in. I'm going to use a 54 Pontiac dash and will hide the computer behind it, and dress out all the wiring. I really just want a fun truck to beat around in and use as my daily.


I'll post more pics as I get more done in August.


Hope you guys like it.

[negativematt]

I finished all the turbo piping and exhaust, got the brakes bled, driveshaft installed and fired the engine during my last r&r....gotta due some tuning and I'll be ready to drive. I still have a lot of body work to do, but I'm happy to be able to drive it!

I bought a 3 link setup and had it powder coated and chromed...well, a 5 link actually, but the rear bars will have airbags for when I haul stuff. I'm gonna order the ridetech coil overs for it when I'm home again in February....doing a blazer rear swap and adding ZO6 rear calipers and rotors too.

[negativematt]

A couple quick shots I took before putting it back into the garage before heading back overseas.

[TheJakeLSX]

This project is awesome and looks awesome! Nice work and project, can't wait to see more!

[wfo guy]

Looks good. I'm a Stude fan. Everyone I've found has been to rusty for me. The top of the fenders was rusted through on the last one i saw.

[negativematt]

I'll be home in 3 weeks and will update the progress....I also will post some pics of my 59 Safari wagon I'm doing. 5.3 turbo, 18/20's new stock interior, spindles, springs..etc...

[Guyt699]

That thing looks mean! Good job!

[bovey]

Big fan of this thing. Keep it up. Have loved these Studebaker since that late 70s movie called Hot Rod. Neat.

[bhcustomdesigns]

This is awesome I love those body styles!!!!!

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Coming along nicely! Keep it goin'.

[driveit]

Absolutely love the truck. Makes me want one!

[linkstar69]

Great project. I've got long range plans for something similar once a few projects I've already got on the go reach completion.

[ONDSKAN]

love this build!!!

[negativematt]

Thanks everybody!! I'm really looking forward to driving this thing! I was home on leave a month ago for a quick one but got a few things done! I went with the dual adjustable Viking coil overs cause the guys at UMI were cool and great to deal with. I got them installed on the front and buttoned up the front end! Next I tore out the rearend and swapped it with a blazer rear with discs and 3:73's and posi. I put in the 3 link and am super happy with it. I need to build an upper shock mount bar and then I'll order the rear coil overs. Over all I think it's gonna work out great and I only lost about 3" of bed floor height. This truck will be worked so I needed to be able to use the bed!

I also installed a 5.3/4l60 in my 1959 safari wagon while I was home. It's got CPP dropped spindles with slotted discs. I have to figure out springs for it as Pontiacs are different than Chevy's underneath. We're installing a new Ciadella's interior and a set of 18s/20s on it. It'll be turbocharged too! I'll make a thread on it once I get some real progress done....

anyway...here's a few pics!!







The Safari







My son checking out the wheels for the wagon..

[Stealth 69]

Lovin where you're going with the Stude - what a weapon!!