Hot Rods HEMI powered 1939 Studebaker

Well Ive been sitting on this one for about a month now, and its just about time to get started.
Found in the swapmeet area at the 2015 Lonestar Roundup, it took me all of about 30 seconds to dig into my wallet and purchase this coupe. My amazing wife is just about as excited about this project as I am.
The plans so far are to add the 341 Desoto Hemi backed by a 700R4 into an 4x4 S-10 rearend. Still undecided on the front suspension. It depends on how much room the Hemi leaves for steering.

 

Headed to Kansas where a fellow HAMB member has agreed to part with this front clip which has some pieces this old coupe desperately needs

 

Nice ! !

 

Cool

 

Thanks! So far we have found NOS headlight lenses and some original tail lights. Ive ordered the trans adapter from hot heads. A 4 link rearend kit, motor mounts and a few other goodies are ready to go or are in the mail on the way to Texas.

 

'39s were sleek cars. I have not seen many with a hemi, I have seen a lot of them with 283s and 327s though. They were a semi popular hot rod body at one time and back then like now SBCs were popular.

The hemi swap will be tough. I like the idea.

 

How well does the s-10 rear fit ? Seems that it might be a bit narrow.

.

 

This is a 39 commander or so I believe. I had a 39 champion which was a gasser and the guy sold the Pontiac engine and hydro. He sold me the hulk with a 64 olds rear end for $200. I put a 392 hemi in it and it lasted for about 3 miles. I got T boned at an intersection! Studknokers are cool.

 

SBC's are easy, cheap and plentiful, I get why they are so popular.
I think I could have built a whole SBC for the cost of a HEMI intake and transmission adapter.

 

The original rearend is 58" WMS to WMS and the S-10 is from a 4x4 and looks to be 59" so it should be a perfect fit.
Juts now getting this old one out.

 

Oh and I think its a President but again. Im not 100% sure.

 

They only became cheap once they started putting them in a box. In the later '60s when I started building they were not cheap fords were cheap. I am talking about studes built in the later '50s and '60s that were still being driven around when I first started building. Traditional builds.

They are popular now because they are cheap they were popular then because they fit easy and were fast.

Anyway I like the idea of the Hemi, not an everyday build.

 

The Ranger 8.8 can be had at 56½" if you need to save some space. Trac-lock and disc brakes are a bonus.

.

 

Someone needs to tell me what a 58" S-10 rear comes out of I am accustomed to the 54" variety.

 

...that was my initial concern...

 

4x4 disc brake rearend is what I have. Its 59 WMS to WMS

 

Cool thanks. I have only played with the 2WD rears first gen S-10 because they are narrow and will really take a beating.

 

This one is a 2009 I think and yes I have heard they take a beating also. I opted for this one due to price and parts are everywhere.

 

We had one in an '88 S truck that we ran hard @ 11 seconds and too and from work everyday for a year. When we pulled it for a stouter unit we pulled the center out of it, the bearings were shot and the gears were chipped but that could have been from overwork as much as the abuse we gave it. We replaced the bearings and put it behind a big block in an '80s Cutlass. That was in '99 and it is still in the Cutlass.

They are like a timex watch.

 

Next up I gotta figure out what under the floor Master Cylinder to adapt. Not much Stude stuff out in the aftermarket world. 35-40 ford seems most plentiful and hopefully similar.

 

The Studebaker Drivers Club has a wealth of information on their website if you want to check them out.

 

The 40's and 50's Mopar have the same issue. Check them out while you search.
www.p15-d24.com is a good place to start.

.

 

Champion 110" WB, Commander 116" WB and President 122" WB. Only 85,834 cars were produced in 1939, not a lot when compared to other manufacturers. Should be a blast, look forward to updates.

 

If I recall correctly the front fenders/hood are where the difference in the bodies are.A President hood will be longer than a Commander and the Commander is longer than the Champion.Side panels are different per model.

 

Gonna be a cool ride for sure. Keep us in the loop!

 

I got the new front end home and was super pleased that (1) it all fit in the back of my 4runner and (2) once I removed the broken lense,the other head light was complete.

 

I can see why you jumped on it. Good luck.

 

During the Gasser wars of the early 1960s there were almost as many Stude coupes as there were Willys. If I remember correctly the engine of choice for the Willys guys were Hemis and the Stude people usually went with Olds or Pontiacs. Either way it was great fun to watch.

 

Started test fitting all my new headlight and hood parts. Wonder how many years its been without headlights??

 

Very cool!!