In the thread about 31streetrod's 31 street rod {http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...-31-street-rod) I said I would be seeing a custom coupe with a different engine. Well, today I did.
First, I was mistaken about the engine being a McLaren. It is a Ford 4.6 liter 32-valve engine as used in Mustangs. Anyhow, it's not your usual bow tie engine. The engine hasn't been treated yet- still has its original colors and trim, but it will look a lot different when the car rolls out, especially if he goes ahead and puts a supercharger on it as he is considering. Beyond that I'll let 31streetrod detail the engine features and the mechanics of the car. The car is sensational. It started life as an Arizona '54 Champion coupe. It now sits on a custom chassis built for the car by a shop in Bedford, PA. Power will hit the ground through a Tremec 5-speed and a 3.70 Ford 9-inch rear. The dash is a reproduction early Hawk dash done in Cumberland, MD. It was built with pads for the a/c outlets which are part of the Vintage Air/Heat system. The engine turned panel is stainless, not aluminum. The front of the top is chopped 1 3/4 inches and I can't believe how it streamlines the body with just a little more rake. The rear of the top is not chopped. There are too many things to tell about the car in a reasonable length post. Best to say, NOTHING was spared or is being spared.
Jimmy Porterfield has a man cave to seriously envy. His business is a large body shop. Behind the body shop he has a personal shop with metal working equipment, a great lift and much, much more. For example, he made his own inner fenders and console. He removed the spare tire hump in the trunk and removed the rear foot wells (which are perfect incidentally). He will have a number of '54 coupe parts for sale when the car is done.
'Nuff said. Here are some of the pictures from today.
Frenched headlights.
Jimmy didn't like the Studebaker hood hinge design so he made is own.
Love the difference the slight chop made in the rake of the windshield
First, I was mistaken about the engine being a McLaren. It is a Ford 4.6 liter 32-valve engine as used in Mustangs. Anyhow, it's not your usual bow tie engine. The engine hasn't been treated yet- still has its original colors and trim, but it will look a lot different when the car rolls out, especially if he goes ahead and puts a supercharger on it as he is considering. Beyond that I'll let 31streetrod detail the engine features and the mechanics of the car. The car is sensational. It started life as an Arizona '54 Champion coupe. It now sits on a custom chassis built for the car by a shop in Bedford, PA. Power will hit the ground through a Tremec 5-speed and a 3.70 Ford 9-inch rear. The dash is a reproduction early Hawk dash done in Cumberland, MD. It was built with pads for the a/c outlets which are part of the Vintage Air/Heat system. The engine turned panel is stainless, not aluminum. The front of the top is chopped 1 3/4 inches and I can't believe how it streamlines the body with just a little more rake. The rear of the top is not chopped. There are too many things to tell about the car in a reasonable length post. Best to say, NOTHING was spared or is being spared.
Jimmy Porterfield has a man cave to seriously envy. His business is a large body shop. Behind the body shop he has a personal shop with metal working equipment, a great lift and much, much more. For example, he made his own inner fenders and console. He removed the spare tire hump in the trunk and removed the rear foot wells (which are perfect incidentally). He will have a number of '54 coupe parts for sale when the car is done.
'Nuff said. Here are some of the pictures from today.
Frenched headlights.
Jimmy didn't like the Studebaker hood hinge design so he made is own.
Love the difference the slight chop made in the rake of the windshield
101st Airborne Div. 326 Engineers Ft Campbell Ky.
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