Bill Pugnetti
Federal Way, Wash.
'61 Lark w/ '63 Frontend Sheetmetal
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Rear Airbags, 9" Ford, 4 Bar Link and Panhard Bar Installed.
Exhaust Pipes run through cut outs in the transmission and frame crossmembers, very nice.
Gas Tank mounted. Pic 1 -
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28 Gallon Tank's average weight when full, 6.1 / 6.5 lbs per gallon, 168 / 182 lbs.
Bill's 460/466 cu. in. Big Block Ford mounted in the frame.
Lark frame on The Jig. Outstanding.
Bill's Low Lark frame on it's Wheels. Outrageous.
Low Rider Grill Sheet Metal
Strengthening the frame with X Members
The new
TRUNK FLOOR reinforced and raised to clear the fuel tank.
The trunk components are visible in the photo.
The Heater / AC unit and Air Compressor behind the rear seat.
The Air Tank on left and Battery on the right.
Trap Door to Fuel Shut Off in the middle of the floor and the repositioned fuel filler behind the licence plate bracket.
May 15th '06
Bill's recent updates to his Lark include BBF Eagle SIR connecting rods,
Crane roller cam part # 359341, and exhaust system is ceramic coated in titanium color.
Compression is 9.9 and has a Dutchman 35 spline axle connected to a 3.25 Ford 9 inch with Detroit Locker.
Bill also added a Serpentine Kit to the front of the motor.
The frame and motor have been Powder Coated '62 Studebaker Blaze Red
to match the already finished and mildly modified '62 Lark.
The '61 will also be Blaze Red and eventually they'll go to shows together, both have 62 grills.
Aug. 21st '06
Recent photos of Bill's assembled frame with running gear, air ride suspension, wheels, lines, etc.
The 28 gallon fuel tank with dual fuel filters and Holley electric pump.
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Big Block 460 Ford with Air Ride Shockwaves in front and Air Bags in rear.
Also note home made anti-sway bar in front and frame stiffening to the driveshaft loop crossmember.
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Bill has added an Overdrive Unit to the tail shaft of his tranny
and ran the e-brake cables down the drivers side of the frame.
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Tim McElmeel
Detroit, Mich.
1950 2dr. Champion
Tim found his car in an Arkansas GraveYard.
Chopped 3 inches with a Fatman Mustang II
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Rear window frame removed before chopping the top.
Rear window frame welded in after the chop.
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Lining up the A Pillars.
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351 Windsor between the rails.
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Tim hard at work on the 351 Windsor Power Plant
Here's a shot of the Cylinders and Painted Block
Finished Engine on the stand waiting for the intake and carb.
Tim chose Boyd Coddington's Smoothies to accent his car.
Tim Faulkner from Discount Tire in Fenton Michigan measured Tim's car
and placed the biggest set of skins he could muster in the wells without tubbing.
Tim went with a set of
BF Goodrich G-Force KDW 245/40/ZR18 for the front
BF Goodrich G-Force KDW 295/40/ZR20 for the rear.
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Dec. 04
Tim has informed me that the chopping of the top went well.
Tim celebrated with a bottle of champagne he's been saving just for this occasion.
NOTE: Tim also shaved the rain gutters.
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Well done Tim.
Here's Tim's photoshop rendition of his finished COPPER STUDE.
July '05
Tim's been away from his project for a few months.
Upon returning Tim removed the body and started strengthening the stock frame with a
Mid-Section of 2 x 3 steel.
Aug.'05
The mid-section is tacked in placed along with an Art Morrison driveshaft loop and a drop out transmission mount.
Tim also tri-angulated and air bagged the 9" Ford, 3:55 gear, 31 spline rear-end.
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Dec.'05
Tim's frame nears completion.
Here's a shot of the Tranny Crossmember and the through frame exhaust rings.
The frame was C Notched to allow maximum air bag deflation.
Tim's trusty Lab is keeping close tabs on how LOW the car will sit.
The huge 20" Boyd Coddington wheels posed a Clearance problem, so Tim added small 2" mini tubs to remedy the inner fender clearance.
Feb '07
Tim realized, to get his car into the weeds he needed to raise the upper shock mount and crossmember.
Here you can see the raised crossmember and the axle at it's lowest point.
C Notch
By raising the shock mount the Trunk Pan over the axle had to be raised also.
Tim feels the frame is ready for paint and the body is coming off. The final push to completion is now at hand.
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Pics of the body in the rotisserie, scraping the underside. The trunk pan cut out waiting for the Summit Fuel Cell.
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Trunk placement of Summit Fuel Cell
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Tom Spika 'The STUDESTER'
Moccasin, Montana
1946 M15A with Custom Removeable HardTop,
Sweeeeeeeet
Check out Tom's complete Studester Project
Don and Robin Watenpaugh's
1950 4dr Sedan
Edgewood, New Mexico
Don writes ...........
I've been working on our 1950 4 door Champion my father bought in 1969 for $50.
I drove it to high school in the early 70s up to 1982 when it was parked.
I've always wanted to streetrod the Stude and now I am fulfilling the dream.
I'll leave the exterior stock but update the running gear and put in a real plush interior.
Here's a photo of the stock Flattie 6 still in the frame.
I’ve installed a Fatman front sub with Mustang II suspension,
2003 Chevy S-10 rear with Chassis Engineering drop leaf springs.
A SBC
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and a 700R4 overdrive transmission has replaced the original mode of propulsion.
UPDATE: Feb. 18th, '06
I've fabricated and welded in a Driveshaft Tunnel, Transmission Hump and replaced the Driver's Floor.
I've set the Firewall back 3 inches and painted the Engine.
I've mocked up a '76 Trans Am Steering Column, brake pedal and added grey leather seats from a Chevy Blazer
UPDATE: Sept. '08
Widening the dash.
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UPDATE: Nov. '09
Body off, start cleaning up the frame.
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Lennie & Linda Broich
1950 2dr Sedan
Pine Island, Minn.
Lennie found his Stude in a Missouri Field
and brought it home to begin a build
for his wife Linda.
The car was sent out and Media Blasted to start it's long journey to rebirth.
Once the body was back and On The Table, the frame was modified using
Corvette Suspension and Running Gear.
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Followed by the arduous task of rebuilding the floors,
fabricating the firewall, transmission and driveshaft humps.
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The rear fenders were widened starting at the back and tapering forward, fashioned after my example.
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Nice looking shop Lennie.
Lennie is using a set of Solara Leather Seats for his project.
NOTE: the IDIDIT Steering Column.
Here's the car sitting on the ground with Lennie behind the wheel.
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Finished car.
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Tom Mills
1951 Starlite Commander
South Bend, In.
Body & Paint:
By Jefferson Auto Collision Service, Mishawaka, IN.
Body Off Frame, Completely Reconditioned on Rotisserie
Body Shaved and Filled
Remote Power Windows and Entry
Modified Bullet Nose Front End
( '52 Head lights bezels, '50 Bullet and '51 Grilles. )
Modified Rear Bumper and Valance Panel
Glasurit Urethane, Base Clear, Torch Red Paint
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Wheels & Tires:
American Racing Chrome Five Spoke Wheels
16 inch Front and 17 inch Rear
Kumho 2:35X55R16 and 235X55R17 Tires
Chassis and Drive Train:
ZZ4-355 HP GM Crate Engine
Custom Aluminum Radiator and Shroud
Edlebrock 600CFM Carburator
Sanderson Cast Headers
Modified Studebaker Frame
Front Tubular Style Control Arms and Coil Springs
Power Rack and Pinion Steering
K-Member Added
Additional Bracing for Added Rigidity
Power Brakes, Front Disc and Rear Finned Drum
Cruise Control
GM 2004R O.D. Transmission
Dana 44 Twin Traction Rear Axel with Traction Bars
Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
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Interior:
Full Custom Leather & Cloth Interior
Lincoln Mark VII power bucket seats
Modified Lincoln Rear Seat
Custom Built Front and Rear Air Conditioning/Heating
Tilt Telescopic Cadillac Steering Column in Studebaker Housing
Seat Belts, Custom 3 Point
Custom Autosound Radio with 10 Disc CD Changer
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Dean Pearson's
'52 Commander Hardtop
Calif.
Dean sent me photos of his '52 Commander and '50 front clip he recently purchased.
He plans on building himself a custom resto-rod with some potent HP for the street.
Go for it Dean, we'll be anticipating updates as the project moves forward.
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Update on Deans '52
Apr. 2010
Upgraded front brakes to rotors & calipers.
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Body in primer.
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Chris Robb's
1950 Starlite
Chopped roof.
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Left rear wheelwell before and after.
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Fuel tank and fuel line placement.
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Floors.
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Firewall removed.
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Front suspension.
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