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Studebaker flat 6 engine swap

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by jwinsley, Apr 8, 2015.

  1. Apr 8, 2015
    jwinsley

    jwinsley Windblown

    Chattanooga
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  2. Apr 8, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Think that will be listed for an extended period at that price. To me, it's a maybe $1500 driver Jeep. One that's going to be hell to find engine parts for, one that get's the same mileage as the 134, and one that certainly DOES NOT have 50% more power. Think those were rated at 85HP. Sooooo, you have a bubbaized semi-gutless Willys still using the Ross box and MAYBE a semi rust free tub. I don't doubt he spent close to $7500 having someone else do all the work but he will never get more than a third of that back.

    Back in the day, the Studes were at least a not uncommon swap because they did use the T90. I certainly would not be one spending what certainly cost probably double the expense of a sbc rebuilding one today-unless it was going into a Studebaker Champion.
     
  3. Apr 8, 2015
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Well stated John............and I could not agree more with your comments. It's almost like this guy was looking for sympathy in that entire dialog.
     
  4. Apr 8, 2015
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I was actually kind of irritated with his pontificating about "lifted v8 junk" and whatnot. The machine gun really makes his so much better....He actually states that 7500.00 is HALF of what he has in it.
     
  5. Apr 8, 2015
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Actually... I think it's kind of neat... but only from a retrospective nostalgia POV. Putting an inline 6 into a CJ can be a mess.

    There's very little practical appeal of the Studebaker engines today ... anchor heavy, expensive to rebuild, down on power ... but they are very reliable engines. And why such a naysayer about the power boost? I'd guess it's a 90-100 HP engine, which would be a significant boost over the L134, and should allow the Jeep to go highway speeds with an overdrive. Not a terrible upgrade ... clearly not the choice you'd make today, but still an upgrade.
     
  6. Apr 8, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Would rebuilding the six just because it was already there be your choice if you had purchased that Jeep? No doubt he ended up with a lot more money in that engine than would have been needed for 225/4.3L/small block Chevy install with vastly better utility in every way. I think it was a totally silly choice and now it is very likely going to cost him some big bucks. More economic Darwinism but guess he can always hope someone else managed to escape Darwin theory.
     
  7. Apr 8, 2015
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

    Bonney Lake, WA
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    Once again it is really easy to put 10 grand into a Jeep that is worth 2. Or in this case about $1500.
     
  8. Apr 8, 2015
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    I'd wheel it.
    It's different and something you won't see every day.
    It's just old iron.
     
    melvinm likes this.
  9. Apr 8, 2015
    jpflat2a

    jpflat2a what's that noise?

    Hermosa, SD
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    oh..and my 47 2A started out as a $750 Jeep....
     
  10. Apr 8, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    WAY overpriced old iron. Again, a $1500 driver to go beat on.
     
  11. Apr 8, 2015
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I think your a bit high - I 'might' give a grand depending on the details I can't see, but that would be pushing it for me.

    Most of my jeeps started at $250 - $750.
     
  12. Apr 8, 2015
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Mine was free. Get this heap of rusty junk gone ASAP. Have a title too, oh and here have this extra frame and this extra body and these extra engines and and and, just get it out of here!

    8 or 9 years later and I still am under 7 grand total.

    Can you imagine the comedy if you saw that thing rolling up with the machine gun all waggling around and smacked the guy upside the head.:rofl::rofl::rofl:
    what do they say about a fool and his money?
     
  13. Apr 8, 2015
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    Hey that fits really well for a straight six.
    Someone just commented to me the other day about dropping a 161 Super Hurricane (Willys F head straight six) into a CJ.
    The F-161 Super Hurricane is a short stroked engine
    I find the only advantage to be that inline sixes are very smooth.

    I figure the GM I-4 153 should be almost as smooth running as any of the straight sixes.
    Plus the GM 153 essentially puts out the same torque as the Studebaker 170 and will fit even better.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2015
    melvinm likes this.
  14. Apr 9, 2015
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    for ever reason . jeep and machine gun made me think of this
    TV show in the 60's
    [​IMG]
     
  15. Apr 9, 2015
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Inline 6 cyl. engines are indeed very smooth. The 226 Continental in my wagon, and the 230's in the M series are testament to that. Not power houses by any means, lower RPM's too. FWIW 85 hp would be a 42% power gain which obviously is not huge but it seems it should move that little Jeep around pretty good. I know nowadays all of the discussed engine swaps are of course more desirable.

    I won't even begin to say it's worth the asking price, however nothing in the pictures stands out as showing a real nice Jeep. I think his story is actually a turn off more than an interesting description.
     
  16. Apr 10, 2015
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    "made the classic mistake"

    Yes. The mistake of paying other people to do all the things that would have given him some pride in owning that 'old iron.'
    Probably pays someone to walk his dog, too.
     
  17. Apr 10, 2015
    47v6

    47v6 junk wrecker! 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Actually irritated me.
     
  18. Apr 10, 2015
    mikec4193

    mikec4193 1947 CJ2A

    Mechanicville ny
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    I like it except for the motor swap...and of course the price too...I lost my shirt on my last flatfender project too...put who hasn't on these things right??

    MikeC
     
  19. Apr 10, 2015
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    I don't think there are too many of us that actually believe we will not loose our shirt doing much of anything to these vehicles. An accepted, well established fact. But there are a lot of different outcomes available on how we chose to dispose of that shirt. This one wasn't a good disposal and deserves to take one in the shorts. For that kind of money you could have had a much more usable Jeep.
     
  20. Apr 10, 2015
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    How 'smart' you are on what you spend your money will maximize your 'feel good factor' (why we do this IMOP) and minimize your shirt loosing factor if you need to move said item...
     
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