Pulling Champion engine with automatic.

[52-fan]

After much too long, I am preparing to pull the engine out of my 53 parts car. I have pulled a number of Studebaker engines with standard transmissions, but never an automatic. Since I don't need the transmission, do I need to pull the transmission too? I wondered if the bell housing could just be unbolted from the engine and the engine pulled away. Will the torque converter cause interference? I hate to spend a lot of time on this if I don't have to.

[Tom Bredehoft]

If you read the manual concerning reassembly of the automatic transmission to the bell housing, you will find that there are pieces that have to be aligned before reassembly. I found it much easier to do this out of the car. It's not just concentric realignment, but rotational, also.

[jclary]

By the time you have stretched and stressed your lower back reaching the bellhousing bolts, I don't know what you would gain by doing it that way. You will probably have to go under the car anyway, so why not disconnect the transmission linkage, drive shaft, rear motor mount, and remove it as a unit.

Depending on your plans for the engine, and because of the factory "dial indicating" the bellhousings, I would always encourage keeping the power train intact unless you are changing from an automatic to manual set up.

[StudeRich]

After much too long, I am preparing to pull the engine out of my 53 parts car. I have pulled a number of Studebaker engines with standard transmissions, but never an automatic. Since I don't need the transmission, do I need to pull the transmission too?/Cut/

Since we don't know your plans for this Engine/Trans. combo or the '53 it is hard to advise on the Converter Housing &Trans. BUT: as Tom is saying, if you EVER expect to sell this engine and it were to be used with a 3 band Detroit Gear Studebaker Automatic Drive, the Engine MUST stay with it's factory matched Converter Housing so you may need it, it is more useful and valuable that way!

[52-fan]

The engine is going to be converted to use with an overdrive tranny in my 52 so I don't need the automatic parts. Someone has expressed an interest in buying the remains so I have to get the engine out. If he doesn't actually buy the whole car (53 4 door) I will part it out. Too many cars in the back yard.
BTW Anybody here need a 53 Studebaker automatic from a rusty 39,000 mile car?