Engine Change Option Questions; & Stdi Heroes

[texastalking]

The 169 cu in '51 bullet nose suicide door manual trany "beauty" (without OD) that so many gave me very good advice on still has me concerned.

After research, your advice, & reading a lot of forums, I realize that my goal of a retirement car with good cross country travel may be better with a hp boost, & an OD addition. Can OD be added?? Saw a real bargain on a '49 6 with trany & OD; can I drop it all in, or need major mods?? Is floor stick trany adaptable to wheel column shifter if I find 1?? Retirement, even before the "Socialism" crisis, inferred keeping cost down. In fact lowering tag & insurance cost, & doing my own work help justify a classic. I'd like to do my own work. But cost could be much lower if the engine is like airplane engines usually are; OK to just replace out of spec parts. If engine just needs cleaning up inside & out, how cheaply could I clean & reassemble it?? How much if it has a lot of wear, but nothing catastrophic?? How much for a good shop overhaul?? Is it practical to replace 85 hp with 100 or 102 hp 245 cube 6 cyl engines?? How practical (& reliable) is it to "hop" an 85 hp 6 up to 100 hp or so? I want to cruise 70 & be able to climb some New Mexico mountains.

The bullet nose, along with the rest of the Studi lines top most everytihng else. Gorgeous !!!!

Studi Drivers are actually Heroes !!!

Undesputable, Unambiguous FACTS:
If all of America totally stopped all forms of "manufacturing" we'd be forced to import cars, planes, guns, food, pharmacuticals, etc; we'd all starve.
If we instead just buy *** cars & Chinese tools, considering the serious trade inbalance, the same thing will happen; it will just take longer.
Buy American; even 60 year old American Studis !!!!!!!

Thanks for the great responses, Ed

[gordr]

I'll attempt to answer some of the questions.

1. Forget about putting the 245 six in a Champion body. There is not enough room for such a long engine. Commanders had a longer nose, up to 1950, because they had to make room for that long block. '51 and newer Commanders used the same body as the Champion because the 245 six was superseded by the 232 V8.

2. You cannot add overdrive to an existing 3-speed manual tranny. The case is different. The gearset is the same, that's all. The mainshaft is different, too. If you found an overdrive tranny with a bad second gear or bad cluster gear, you could use the gears from old straight 3-speed box to overhaul the OD box.

3. I think the overdrive from a '49 Champion would work in a '51, but I'm not 100% certain. I do know the engines differ in the oil pan and motor mount departments.

4. There is no true floor-shift transmission to fit a Champion. Champions use a T96 transmission, and it was never made in a form with a top-cover shifter, as far as I know. Commanders use a T86, which is a larger unit, and top-cover shifters from Jeeps and older Studebaker trucks with T90 transmissions can be adapted. Installing a T86 tranny in a Champion would be a real chore. I believe someone has a kit to install a late-model T5 5-speed to a champion engine, which might be the way to go for a modified car.

5. If your Champion engine is a high miler, you can expect it will need a rebore and oversize pistons and rings. Cylinder wear is a known problem on long-stroke engines like this. Champions also have a known problem with wear on the valve lifters and their bores, which leads to excessive oil consumption. The factory used to sell .002" oversize valve lifters, but they are NLA. I'd love to be proven wrong on that one!

6. You might get lucky on the crank, and be able to get away with standard bearings or .001" undersize cleanups. But regular undersizes are available, too.

7. Right now, I'd say that Bill Cathcart is the "go-to guy" for Champion performance engines. He runs ads in Turning Wheels all the time. I'm sure that with one of his engines, and an overdrive transmission, 70 MPH cruise on Interstates would be a cinch. 70 MPH climbing a high mountain pass? Probably not.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[vegas paul]

Yes the 49 OD tranny will work in your 51, but so will any of the later years and they are very readily available. Try to look for one of the later ones if you can, especially if you are converting to 12V (that's what I got when I replaced my 3-speed with a 3-speed OD). So, since I have done esactly what you are proposing, it is pretty easy. You will need the new drive shaft (shorter), so maybe try to get both from the same car. Replace the cross bearings and carrier (shaft support) bearing at the same time. These are readily available at any parts store or drive line shop.

Las Vegas, NV - Stop by, coffee's on!
'51 Champion Business Coupe G899965 10G-Q4-1434

[texastalking]

WOW !!! Thanks Gordr & Vegas Paul. A wealth of very valuable info !! I know I will follow it as closely as possible if I am able to buy this jewel (hope to). I read it carefully twice; plan to study it too. From what you say I can cruise well without souping it up. I had hoped to go 12 volt for several reasons. That 5 speed may be a very good option, tho I've never shifted so many gears without a floor stick.

Thanks again, Ed