1949 Studebaker pickup zq8 chassis, 5.3 turbo UPDATED 5/3/2013

I bought a zq8 frame from a backward hat wearing minitrucker who had ruined his truck for 200 bucks.



my pops loading one of two Stude trucks I bought to use for parts for my project. This one looked descent, but turned out to be total junk.



5.3l I got from a buddy. 80k miles, and ready to go the the engine shop for some inner goodies.


I measured out 14" to make up the difference in the Stude wheelbase. i took 4.5" out of the front of the Stude bed to get the proportions to where they looked better. Stude trucks have too much bed between the front of the fender and back of the cab.



After the removal!! You can see my hight tech frame table here! measure 100 times, cut once is my motto, and it's tought to go wrong on these trucks. The frames are perfect for putting under old trucks.


The other side right before welding it back up. I ground a nice "v" and cinched it up tight with my clamps.



Welded up with "fish plates" on the front and backsides. I also built the cab mounts to accept the s10 body mount bushings. It was easy to do, and really will help make for a descent ride.




Both sides done, and coated in por15. Don't want that fresh metal rusting!


For the front mounts, i used the frame pieces i cut out, cut them in half and layed them horizontal. Welded em to the frame  and drilled them for the body biscuits. I'll have to find the pics i took of them, they're here somewhere!

Here's the cab setting down for the first time.






removing the old paint and rust....


More to follow....

Sweet! It's nice to some one else that's doing/done an S truck chassis swap.

A quick shot of the motor in the rails.



The "hotside" for the turbo welded up. I'll have this coated and wrap it. I still have to add the wastegate and blow off valves, but I'll do that when I'm back home on leave.


I cut up a pair of '67 camaro front bumpers and made this one. It still needs finish welding, stripping and rechroming, but I like the way it came out. The factory bumper is pretty f'n ugly.


The rear only needed one bumper narrowed about 5". dresses up the rear end quite nicely I believe.

Just another shot of it. the front grille and hood arent mounted here, so thats why they look kinda off.



Just a few vents to keep the underhood temps down...



I'll post more pics as I find 'em, and as I work on it over my leave.

looking good! jealous of the expanse of room under the hood

PM me if you're interested in possibly selling those ZQ8 wheels.. if you still have them.

PM me if you're interested in possibly selling those ZQ8 wheels.. if you still have them.

Sorry bud, they are long gone....they were in really rough shape, only good for rollers

sweet build....looking forward to more updates

how did you do the louvers? or did you buy the hood aftermarket?

how did you do the louvers? or did you buy the hood aftermarket?

Louvers are punched into the metal using a press. They don't make aftermarket hoods for old studebakers!

I got the chance to work on it over a couple weeks on my last leave. I took some shots for you guys. I got most everything accomplished that I wanted to and got the motor fired up for the first time! Next leave, I'll tackle the rear end and 4 link set-up.

Some new goodies!


All installed! I have all new end links, center link and steering box too. Used the grand cherokee steering shaft to eliminate the slop in the factory slip shaft rag joint/tulip joint


Finished the hotside of the turbo set-up. Still got a ways to go on it, but I'm getting closer.

looking good!

Thats freaking awesome

Looking good!

hells ya

can't wait to see this thing running!  it's so badass!

Neat. Ever think about a 3-4" chop?