New Old Guy

[lstude]

Studebaker made a lot of changes during the 55 model year, I think around January 1. The early V8 engine was 224 cu.in (for the Commander) and the late was 259 cu.in. They also changed the way the car was painted if it was a two tone. Here is what the early two tone looked like. I used the president because they used the same colors in the brochure, but Commanders and Champions were painted the same way.



And here is what the late two tone looked like.



Of course, it is your car so you can do anything you want with it, but if you want to put it back original this will help.

Leonard Shepherd

http://leonardshepherd.com/

[Hippie]

Great info!

I'm a long time member over at Chevy Talk and several other boards and have never found any place that could compare to Chevy Talk for people that knew the cars inside and out and were so ready to help out until now. And in scanning through some of the older posts I was pleased to see the "it's your car do as you please" attitude when it comes to modifications. I'm relieved to see that, some people get really upset when you deviate from original.

If the 224 and 3 Spd. OD can deliver a decent balance of power and economy I'll definitely keep them, the 224 is cool looking beyond words. However I don't intend to let this car sit idle, we bought it to enjoy so if it doesn't meet my needs and I don't fall heir to a good 259 or 289 I will have to go the SBC and 200-4R route. I have a garage full of parts and a fresh 200-4R built to take some serious TQ so it is the obvious choice for me and I have a small army of experienced engine swappers chomping at the bit to lay hands on her.

As much of a Chevy man as I am I too am tired of seeing 350 crate engines in everything so I will go to great pains to make it visually interesting, period correct in appearance and I will do my best to camouflage it so at a casual glance it will not look like a SBC. My buddies own a rod shop and said we can hook the original 3 speed column shifter up to the 200-4R. I love the dash and steering wheel in it so I don't want to mess with those either. It has a radio delete plate which I like so I will run a hidden MP3 player with a remote. One thing that helps the camouflaging is that the Stude and late model Chevy Vortec heads use center bolt valve covers with 4 bolts/studs so I can at least maintain the flavor of the Studebaker engine. I'm thinking a set of those Fauxsmobile valve covers from Technostalgia with "STUDEBAKER" lettering on them and a repop Cadillac "bat wing" air cleaner would throw most people off scent for at least a few seconds.

I plan to do some subtle "customizing" on the body but nothing immediately obvious to the general population and nothing that I can't easily put back to factory original, It will also wear factory colors or something very close, I prefer factory style paint jobs. Ol' Raymond did a heck of a job and there's not much you can do to improve on his work. I have always loved the look of the '53 and '54 salt flat cars so any exterior modifications will carry that influence. It will be lowered slightly with shorter tires up front on stock style rims covered with the Moon screw on wheel discs. My car comes with two complete grilles, one set is pitted badly and has some cracks so that one will get patched, stripped and painted body color with the grille center bar recessed deeper into the opening, a pitted set of headlight and tail light bezels will also be painted body color and I plan to remove the bumper guards and fill the holes then have the bumpers rechromed. Other than that and the new interior that is already in it it will look pretty much like the day it rolled off the assembly line.

Once again thank you all for the warm welcome and all the great info on my car![8D][8D][8D]

Analog man in a digital world.

[Hippie]

Great info!

I'm a long time member over at Chevy Talk and several other boards and have never found any place that could compare to Chevy Talk for people that knew the cars inside and out and were so ready to help out until now. And in scanning through some of the older posts I was pleased to see the "it's your car do as you please" attitude when it comes to modifications. I'm relieved to see that, some people get really upset when you deviate from original.

If the 224 and 3 Spd. OD can deliver a decent balance of power and economy I'll definitely keep them, the 224 is cool looking beyond words. However I don't intend to let this car sit idle, we bought it to enjoy so if it doesn't meet my needs and I don't fall heir to a good 259 or 289 I will have to go the SBC and 200-4R route. I have a garage full of parts and a fresh 200-4R built to take some serious TQ so it is the obvious choice for me and I have a small army of experienced engine swappers chomping at the bit to lay hands on her.

As much of a Chevy man as I am I too am tired of seeing 350 crate engines in everything so I will go to great pains to make it visually interesting, period correct in appearance and I will do my best to camouflage it so at a casual glance it will not look like a SBC. My buddies own a rod shop and said we can hook the original 3 speed column shifter up to the 200-4R. I love the dash and steering wheel in it so I don't want to mess with those either. It has a radio delete plate which I like so I will run a hidden MP3 player with a remote. One thing that helps the camouflaging is that the Stude and late model Chevy Vortec heads use center bolt valve covers with 4 bolts/studs so I can at least maintain the flavor of the Studebaker engine. I'm thinking a set of those Fauxsmobile valve covers from Technostalgia with "STUDEBAKER" lettering on them and a repop Cadillac "bat wing" air cleaner would throw most people off scent for at least a few seconds.

I plan to do some subtle "customizing" on the body but nothing immediately obvious to the general population and nothing that I can't easily put back to factory original, It will also wear factory colors or something very close, I prefer factory style paint jobs. Ol' Raymond did a heck of a job and there's not much you can do to improve on his work. I have always loved the look of the '53 and '54 salt flat cars so any exterior modifications will carry that influence. It will be lowered slightly with shorter tires up front on stock style rims covered with the Moon screw on wheel discs. My car comes with two complete grilles, one set is pitted badly and has some cracks so that one will get patched, stripped and painted body color with the grille center bar recessed deeper into the opening, a pitted set of headlight and tail light bezels will also be painted body color and I plan to remove the bumper guards and fill the holes then have the bumpers rechromed. Other than that and the new interior that is already in it it will look pretty much like the day it rolled off the assembly line.

Once again thank you all for the warm welcome and all the great info on my car![8D][8D][8D]

Analog man in a digital world.

[BobPalma]

Don't worry. Glenn; we've got our share of unyielding purists...especially those among us who prefer that the Studebaker V-8 be given a chance to prove itself before being summarily dismissed from the engine bay. [:0] Nonetheless, I believe your overall impression, here, of "your car, do what you want" is accurate.

To that end, I hope you'll get the 224 running and driving and I bet you'll enjoy its unique sound through a set of glass-pack duals, and its ability to wind fast. Many performance items are available for that engine, and it is among the sturdiest V-8s ever built, espcially in the short-stroke 224 configuration. [}]

It does sound like you have some cute, unique plans for the car, so keep the forum posted. [8D] BP

[BobPalma]

Don't worry. Glenn; we've got our share of unyielding purists...especially those among us who prefer that the Studebaker V-8 be given a chance to prove itself before being summarily dismissed from the engine bay. [:0] Nonetheless, I believe your overall impression, here, of "your car, do what you want" is accurate.

To that end, I hope you'll get the 224 running and driving and I bet you'll enjoy its unique sound through a set of glass-pack duals, and its ability to wind fast. Many performance items are available for that engine, and it is among the sturdiest V-8s ever built, espcially in the short-stroke 224 configuration. [}]

It does sound like you have some cute, unique plans for the car, so keep the forum posted. [8D] BP

[Hippie]

quote:Originally posted by BobPalma

Don't worry. Glenn; we've got our share of unyielding purists...especially those among us who prefer that the Studebaker V-8 be given a chance to prove itself before being summarily dismissed from the engine bay. [:0] Nonetheless, I believe your overall impression, here, of "your car, do what you want" is accurate.

To that end, I hope you'll get the 224 running and driving and I bet you'll enjoy its unique sound through a set of glass-pack duals, and its ability to wind fast. Many performance items are available for that engine, and it is among the sturdiest V-8s ever built, espcially in the short-stroke 224 configuration. [}]

It does sound like you have some cute, unique plans for the car, so keep the forum posted. [8D] BP

Rest assured the 224 will be given it's chance, I'm not looking for a race car just something with enough power to get in and out of traffic safely without having to have a tanker follow me everywhere I go. If the 224 can deliver then it will most certainly stay right where it is, I like the way it looks in there so I'm really hoping it measures up to the old "seat of the pants". An engine swap is last on my list and it won't break my heart to scratch it off the list. Those Chevy parts aren't eating anything, they can stay right where they are too, I'm sure the Commander will get a stablemate somewhere down the road that can use them.

Analog man in a digital world.

[Hippie]

quote:Originally posted by BobPalma

Don't worry. Glenn; we've got our share of unyielding purists...especially those among us who prefer that the Studebaker V-8 be given a chance to prove itself before being summarily dismissed from the engine bay. [:0] Nonetheless, I believe your overall impression, here, of "your car, do what you want" is accurate.

To that end, I hope you'll get the 224 running and driving and I bet you'll enjoy its unique sound through a set of glass-pack duals, and its ability to wind fast. Many performance items are available for that engine, and it is among the sturdiest V-8s ever built, espcially in the short-stroke 224 configuration. [}]

It does sound like you have some cute, unique plans for the car, so keep the forum posted. [8D] BP

Rest assured the 224 will be given it's chance, I'm not looking for a race car just something with enough power to get in and out of traffic safely without having to have a tanker follow me everywhere I go. If the 224 can deliver then it will most certainly stay right where it is, I like the way it looks in there so I'm really hoping it measures up to the old "seat of the pants". An engine swap is last on my list and it won't break my heart to scratch it off the list. Those Chevy parts aren't eating anything, they can stay right where they are too, I'm sure the Commander will get a stablemate somewhere down the road that can use them.

Analog man in a digital world.

[mbstude]

You might be suprised with that 224. Those little Stude V8's are pretty high revvers and can scoot right on down the road just fine, especially with overdrive... [^]

And I promise you, you'll love the sound out the tailpipes. [8D]

Matthew Burnette
'59 Scotsman
'63 Daytona
Hazlehurst, GA

Cruising the Proving Ground Test Track

[mbstude]

You might be suprised with that 224. Those little Stude V8's are pretty high revvers and can scoot right on down the road just fine, especially with overdrive... [^]

And I promise you, you'll love the sound out the tailpipes. [8D]

Matthew Burnette
'59 Scotsman
'63 Daytona
Hazlehurst, GA

Cruising the Proving Ground Test Track

[sumf]

[quote]Originally posted by mbstude

The '55 coupes have always been a favorite of mine.
[b]Matthew Burnette

Hey, Matt. Take it easy with this "have always been" stuff around us old farts. <g>

Karl H

[sumf]

[quote]Originally posted by mbstude

The '55 coupes have always been a favorite of mine.
[b]Matthew Burnette

Hey, Matt. Take it easy with this "have always been" stuff around us old farts. <g>

Karl H