Hi HAMB! I was pointed here by the 24 hours of lemons forum. I've got a very rusty 1949 Studebaker Champion Business Coupe. I'm trying to get it ready for a 24 hours of lemons race, with the stock engine and transmission if at all possible. Here's some photos for anyone interested. It's pretty rough. https://picasaweb.google.com/107098584421702331898/Studebaker Right now, we've got the engine pulled and disassembled down to the block, but we're trying to decide what to do next. There's an engine and transmission in El Paso, Tx (posted here, and on the studebaker driver's club) that I'd just love to get my hands on. I'm trying to find a good way to get it to Atlanta! --buddy
They have races all year round. We'll be racing the Studebaker whenever it's done. I'd like to run one race this year, in Charlotte in September, but I doubt the stude will be ready by then.
Welcome from Indy. Thats gonna' be cool. Looks like they had potting soil in the trunk of that Stude!
I wrote an article on those engines. I set land speed records on the salt with one. Check out these two spots: http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/documents/TurbochargingtheChampflatheadsix.pdf http://turbostude.com
Welcome from huntsville alabama.. The big problem of trying to race a old stude will be brakes you have small drums everybody has disk.. the second will be wheel bearings.. and the last and the worst is the rear axel is tapered and will break after it is hit several times.. I have owned and raced studes in the mid 60's.. Good Luck I have a 75 impala, 76 chevelle and a 76 elcimino and a crown vic cop car{all are POS] that I am thinking about using one of them in the lemons race.. good luck Bobby..
Wow, that's a great build. You clearly know what you're doing, far more than anyone on our team! --buddy
Hey, buddy; Greg is a good resource for info. Use him. Also, see if you can find some old publications by Dick Datson. He wrote extensively on Studes, including the Champ 6. He had a couple of booklets on the Stude 6, & how to keep your Stude alive. Not "show quality" stuff, but hardcore use-it type info. & a lot of his techniques aren't too popular here on the hamb, but they work. Unfortunately, he doesn't publish anymore, so used is only way to go. For now. Marcus...
Welcome from Detroit Nullset! Amazing to hear you're taking on a 24hr of Lemons project, please post pics as your build progresses. It's not traditional, but thread relevant... here's some pics of the lemons car my buddies and I have run for the past 2 years... and yes we did race them exactly as you see them, and we ran upper mid-pack. We don't have a theme thought up of yet for this year, but plan to run it at the Lemons race in Illinois this fall. You will have the absolute best time in this event, the people are so cool, helpful, and most don't take it too seriously. It's more about comradery than all out competition.
Wow, that's only the second Studebaker business coupe I've ever seen. The other one was in and auction on TV.
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