jjester6000
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2019
- Posts
- 879
- Reaction score
- 2,447
- Location
- Illinois
- First Name
- Jack
- Truck Year
- 1974
- Truck Model
- C1500
- Engine Size
- 250
So as some of you my know, I just happen to own this really solid non running 1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe.
I originally bought it with the aspirations of getting it on the road while keeping it original.
Unfortunately parts are very expensive and damn near impossible to find, so I 've been considering swapping in a more modern running gear
I'm not looking to blow the tires off this thing, I want to turn it into a daily driver. At first I was thinking of a chevy 4.3 v6. They're cheap, and I wouldn't need to cut out the firewall to fit it. Then a buddy of mine told me about this low hour Mercruiser 2.5 I4 he has laying around.
It's basically a chevy inline 6 with 2 cylinders cut off, and it'll fit perfectly in the engine bay.
(This is not an Iron Duke, The Iron Duke is a completely different engine).
Anyways, this engine will mate to the th350 I already have laying around, and I he's willing to just give it to me.
My only issue is this boat style intake/exhaust manifold.
They did put these 153's in some Pontiac's so a car style manifold exists, but they seem to be extremely rare.
I'm sure I could technically use this boat manifold by routing the exhaust weirdly, and plugging off all the water passages.
What I'm worried about is heat though, as it seems to me that since they are both one casting, heat control would be an issue (Maybe I could find a way to loop the cooling system into it and have a water cooled intake?)
What do you guys think? I'm trying to do this operation as low buck as possible
You must be registered for see images attach
I originally bought it with the aspirations of getting it on the road while keeping it original.
You must be registered for see images attach
Unfortunately parts are very expensive and damn near impossible to find, so I 've been considering swapping in a more modern running gear
I'm not looking to blow the tires off this thing, I want to turn it into a daily driver. At first I was thinking of a chevy 4.3 v6. They're cheap, and I wouldn't need to cut out the firewall to fit it. Then a buddy of mine told me about this low hour Mercruiser 2.5 I4 he has laying around.
You must be registered for see images attach
It's basically a chevy inline 6 with 2 cylinders cut off, and it'll fit perfectly in the engine bay.
(This is not an Iron Duke, The Iron Duke is a completely different engine).
Anyways, this engine will mate to the th350 I already have laying around, and I he's willing to just give it to me.
My only issue is this boat style intake/exhaust manifold.
You must be registered for see images attach
They did put these 153's in some Pontiac's so a car style manifold exists, but they seem to be extremely rare.
I'm sure I could technically use this boat manifold by routing the exhaust weirdly, and plugging off all the water passages.
You must be registered for see images attach
What I'm worried about is heat though, as it seems to me that since they are both one casting, heat control would be an issue (Maybe I could find a way to loop the cooling system into it and have a water cooled intake?)
What do you guys think? I'm trying to do this operation as low buck as possible
