Any one interested in swapping a Ford Toploader in to a Studebaker? I am in the process of doing this and will supply any information you need. Parts, mods, etc... The Studebaker and Ford transmission bolt patterns are the same so why not use them? A few mods and it's yours.
A guy down the road machined the flywheel and bearing retainer for a reasonable price and that was the most expensive part.
I have a few more things to set up and will take photos for better understanding of this simple swap. You can have the strongest 4speed transmission from an OEM and an overdrive if you want. You will have to use a floor shift and I will have the dimensions for a Lark and this can be modified for a Hawk if needed.
I am working on a bracket for an easy bolt on clutch mechanism. This will be some fun and I will have it worked out soon. When it's done it will be so much fun to drive. I had one back in Australia, so it was a little different, if you know what I mean, but to drive a Stude V8 with a great hard shifting transmission is what driving is all about. Slam it, punch it, and give it what you want and it is not the engine or transmission that will let you down. Add a 44 and you have to find the next thing. If you like to drive your Stude then eliminating the weak points is a natural process.
I am trying to use all easy to obtain parts so I'm sorry to the Studebaker vendors that want to make a living from genuine parts. I'm not tring to rob you. I'm trying to give Stude owners who want more than what the factory offered. If Studebaker still owed my car then it would be up to them but they don't. I wanted to drive my Lark and shift at speed and know that I was the weakest link, not the drive train.
A guy down the road machined the flywheel and bearing retainer for a reasonable price and that was the most expensive part.
I have a few more things to set up and will take photos for better understanding of this simple swap. You can have the strongest 4speed transmission from an OEM and an overdrive if you want. You will have to use a floor shift and I will have the dimensions for a Lark and this can be modified for a Hawk if needed.
I am working on a bracket for an easy bolt on clutch mechanism. This will be some fun and I will have it worked out soon. When it's done it will be so much fun to drive. I had one back in Australia, so it was a little different, if you know what I mean, but to drive a Stude V8 with a great hard shifting transmission is what driving is all about. Slam it, punch it, and give it what you want and it is not the engine or transmission that will let you down. Add a 44 and you have to find the next thing. If you like to drive your Stude then eliminating the weak points is a natural process.
I am trying to use all easy to obtain parts so I'm sorry to the Studebaker vendors that want to make a living from genuine parts. I'm not tring to rob you. I'm trying to give Stude owners who want more than what the factory offered. If Studebaker still owed my car then it would be up to them but they don't. I wanted to drive my Lark and shift at speed and know that I was the weakest link, not the drive train.
Comment