Our '55 Pro Street Studebaker Commander
This is about our 1955 Studebaker Pro Street drag car! This car was taken from a junk yard where it had been sitting under a pine tree for over 12 years! (It was half full of pine needles!) My husband completely rebuilt this car! He "transformed" it into a Pro Street drag car! I can remember when it was just in parts all over the garage (and living room)! The only thing "original" on this this car is the metal body...and the top has been chopped on that (roof lowered). He did most of the work on rebuilding the car with the help of some friends. The interior and paint were done by others.
He drag raced the car for several years in the Pro Street bracket at tracks in Virginia and North Carolina. We also always attended the Super Chevy Show at Virginia Motorsports Park and sometimes at Rockingham Dragway, NC.
We still own this car, but it was "retired" from racing when he bought a Boulton Dragster. Now he is racing a 1976 Camaro Super Gas. You can read about all of his race cars HERE.
He drag raced the car for several years in the Pro Street bracket at tracks in Virginia and North Carolina. We also always attended the Super Chevy Show at Virginia Motorsports Park and sometimes at Rockingham Dragway, NC.
We still own this car, but it was "retired" from racing when he bought a Boulton Dragster. Now he is racing a 1976 Camaro Super Gas. You can read about all of his race cars HERE.
Contents at a Glance
From Humble Beginnings...
To a Pro Street Drag Car...
HOW IT WAS DONE...Read all about it below, as written by my husband.
The Chassis
The chassis for this car came from Chassisworks on the West Coast. It was a "kit" that they pre bent all the tubes for, etc so when I went to assemble it most of that work was already done. With a friends help, we had a rolling frame in less than 15 hours! That was pretty good since the Camaro I built took me about 6 months to get to that point. The front has tubular A arms from Chassisworks with their Econo Coil overs all around. Spindles are Mustang II with an Wilwood Pinto clone rack for steering. The wheel base on the car was shortened 10 inches and the engine was set back 10 inches also. When the car was finished, 54% of the total weight was on the rear tires.
Engine
Small Block Chevy
The engine started out as a 400 GM block with all 5 main caps replaced with steel ones and the three in the center are 4 bolt. A NASCAR shop out in Western North Carolina did that work. Crank is a Cola 4" stroke along with a set of Carrillo rods. BME pistons with a full .100 DISH make the compression low enough to run pump gas. The cam is a Comp 268*/272* with .660 lift in at 106*. Heads are Brodix Track 1s with a mild port job. Intake is a Holley Pro Dominator with dual alky 750s by George Rupert or either a pair of out of the box 750 HPs, depending on what I want to run. An 8 quart Milodon pan, BBC oil pump and pickup along with a remote dual oil filter setup complete the oiling system. Hooker headers with 3 inch Super Trapp mufflers complete the exhaust.The second and most reliable of the engines built for this car is a Bowtie block built very much as the original 400 GM block. I used the same heads, cam, intake and carbs, etc on the Bowtie and ran that in the car until I stopped racing it about 7 years ago. That engine was the quicker of the two.
Transmission
Power Glide
The tranny is a PowerGlide I built myself with a TCI 1:96 low and a GER converter. That converter only lasted about 15 miles and took another transmission with it when it went south. I was not a happy camper. So, I then went to TCI and bought a 9 inch nitrous converter. Yeah, it has a NOS Cheater system on it but it wasn't used with that GER junk. Anyway, the tranny has a TCI/Perry shifter with a Dixie Air Shifter that is RPM activated by the MSD ignition
NOS in the Trunk...
A Need for Speed!
In the trunk is a NOS Cheater system! It was never used with that GER junk converter, but I have used it with the TCI 9 inch nitrous converter. I never used it on a regular basis, just occasionally to see what it would do! Rear End
Out back there was another Herb McCandless Dana 60 rear with a ¾ ton posi and a 5:13 Richmond gear. Moser axles finished that end out. The driveshaft was fitted with 1350 Spicer joints and NONE have been replaced to date. I broke the spider gears in the posi unit back in 1998 and replaced it with a spool. Yes, the car is street driven and the addition of the spool didn't have that much of an effect on drivability.
The Dash
You won't find this in your ordinary race car!
The car has a full set of Autometer gauges including in dash speedometer and tach. Right now it has just a little over 6k miles on it.Also in the dash is a Craig Pioneer tape deck that feeds two amps, one in the trunk and another under the dash for 300 watts of stereo power. 6 speakers, including two Bose in the rear make up the sound system.
The car has heat and A/C also but I did leave the cruise control off. Yeah, I did buy one for it, just never installed it!!
The last item on the dash is a Dedenbear Reaction Time Delay box that is used for racing.
Ignition System
The ignition system is all MSD with a 7AL-2 with a Pro Power coil, MSD Crank Trigger, MSD Billet distributor, an RPM activated shift, two setp and also a timing retard for the NOS system. There is an overhead Switch panel from Chassisworks.
The Interior
The interior has full carpet along with sound deadening insulation all around. Both the race seats have custom seat covers with the Studebaker name embroidered in the head rest area.Oh, and there is NO back seat! No room for it with the engine setback and the shorter wheel base!
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: Weld Pro Stars all around with 15x3.5s up front and 15x15s out back.Street tires: M/T 21.50s on the rear and Michelin 165 SRx15 Z rated up front.
Rear Race Tires: Over the years I" ve="ve" run="run" m="m" />Ts and Goodyears on the rear with not much difference except the M/T DOT streets, which were crap. They worked well on the street but not at the track.
The Finished Car
Ready to ride or race!
I completed this car and first drove it in January of 1992. I didn't start racing it until several years later after I got tired of the show circuit stuff.
Even after I started racing it we still went to the occasional cruise-in at the local mall. One particular cruise in stands out as we were testing the car at Virginia Motorsports Park (about 2 hours from us) earlier in the day, then went to the cruise-in that night...after running 10.09 @ 137 on a 150HP high gear shot in DOT trim! I unloaded it out of the trailer and drove it to the mall that night! "That" was fun!
Later on, in 1998 the car ran 10.09 @ 134 at Super Chevy in Rockingham, NC on motor alone on alcohol.
Rockingham Dragway, NC
Super Chevy Show
10.09 @ 134 at Super Chevy Show at Rockingham Dragway, NC
Summerduck Raceway
A good shot of the front tires up when leaving.
Studebaker Street Sign
We bought this for our drive-way!
Made of aluminum and high quality vinyl lettering and graphics this sign is 4 x 18 inches. Made to last for years outdoors the sign is nice enough to display indoors. Comes with two holes pre-punched for easy installation, corners are rounded.
STUDEBAKER Street Sign ~ Personalized Family Lastname Sign ~ Gameroom, Basement, Garage Sign **
Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
Our Super Chevy Wedding!
1996 Super Chevy Show
A Day to Remember...
We were married on October 12, 1996 at the Super Chevy Show held at VA Motorsports Park. The wedding took place in the BF Goodwrench tent!! The ceremony was performed by Tom Ratliffe, the chaplin of the Super Chevy Show. A few friends and family attended. An hour after we were married, my husband was doing a timed trial for the race the next day. We even got our picture in the Super Chevy magazine!
Quarter-Finals in Race the next day!
The next day, on Sunday, October 13, 1996 we went to the Quarter-Finals in the Super Pro Bracket Race! It was a great week-end!
Studebaker Signs
For the Studebaker Lover!
STUDEBAKER PARKING ONLY classic street sign
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 12/28/2009)
STUDEBAKER PARKING ONLY, 12 x 18 sign
Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
Studebaker Authorized Service Vintage Sign
Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 12/28/2009)
About Studebakers...
Studebaker: The Complete History
Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 12/28/2009)
Studebaker Trucks 1927-1940 Photo Archive
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/28/2009)
Please leave a note...
I would love to know...are you a drag racer? Have you ever built a race car?
Any comments?
submit
-
Reply
- jmaechtlen jmaechtlen Dec 18, 2009 @ 12:09 am
- Nice machine. I have a '56 stude hawk in bad shape- but it should make a good rod some day. Right now, it is just sleeping. Too busy working on my Corvair project and other stuff.
-
Reply
- partybuzz partybuzz Dec 18, 2009 @ 7:35 am
- Thanks! Corvair? Now that car brings back memories! You should do a lens about it!
-
Reply
- blue22d blue22d Jun 10, 2009 @ 7:34 pm
- Fun lens. I love that car. It has a certain class. Yellow. Wow. What a fun time had by all. Five stars to ya.
-
Reply
- Mmfh Mmfh May 17, 2009 @ 12:49 pm
- Fun little hobby you have there! Nice ride too, kinda too bad you retired the old girl as I always like to see the old classics run down the track!!
Didn't see the Camaro though?
Nice lens!
-
Reply
- BevsPaper BevsPaper Apr 29, 2009 @ 8:08 am
- Nice lens! What a car!
- Load More
Here's more...
Lensmaster partybuzz has been a member since February 28 2009, has rated 484 lenses, favorited 20, and has created 84 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Nativity Sets for Kids". See all my lenses
Check out these great lenses...
-
- Nativity Sets for Kids
Looking for a Nativity Play Set for your child this Christmas? I've found several styles of kid's nativities, including PVC, wooden, and fabric. A Nativity Set is a fun, interactive way to teach kids about the Birth of Christ. The Tales of Gl... view lens -
- The Legend of the Candy Cane Gift Ideas
Have you ever heard the Legend of the Candy Cane? This inspiring little poem makes a unique Christmas gift, favor, or stocking stuffer. Be sure to accompany it with a candy cane. The Legend of the Candy Cane - Classic Bo... view lens -
- Christmas Movies for Kids
Need ideas for a Christmas movie for kids and family? The Christmas holidays are the perfect time to relax and spend time watching a Christmas Classic movie with your kids. They'll love watching The Original Christmas Classics DVD Set t... view lens -
- Twilight Saga: New Moon Party Supplies
Just in time for the new movie coming soon...now there's Twilight: New Moon theme party supplies, including plates, napkins, cups, and favors! Teen girls love the Twilight Saga and will love these themed party supples! Use for a girl's teen... view lens -
- Shepherd's Abiding: A Mitford Christmas Story: by Jan Karon
If you're looking for a special book to read this Christmas, I recommend Shepherd's Abiding - A Mitford Christmas Story - by Jan Karon. If you are a fan of Jan Karon's Mitford series, you will want to add this one to your collection.... view lens
by partybuzz
Hello everyone! I'm the Party Buzz bee...and I have all the buzz about planning parties of any kind! I live at PartyPantry.com!
I specialize in birth... (more)
I specialize in birth... (more)
Explore related pages
Jamis Road Bike - Jamis bikes have won many Bike of the Year awards and accolades from bicycle mag...
get your kicks on route 66- I've been greatly inspired from my travels upon the old highway...while much of...
Streetball- Streetball is an urban form of basketball, played on playgrounds and in gymnasiu...
Camaro Posters, T-Shirts, Books...- If you are a Camaro lover, this is the place for you! Camaro theme posters, tin...
1976 Camaro Super Gas Drag Car- This car is a 1976 Camaro Super Gas drag car, but my husband races it in Super P...
1968 Camaro RS - Super Pro Drag Car- The 1968 Camaro is one of the most popular muscle cars of the 60's and 70's. You...
