The myth of Engine Swaps (OT somewhat)

50C8DAN

Being both a Hudson and Studebaker owner and regular on websites forums for both the topic of engine swaps comes up often. It is also one that really can stir the pot as it as we all know. Not being a purist but one that appreciates the engineering of the independents of yesteryear I am not crazy about dumping the home grown powerplant (not upgrading from something less to more of the same make) for a SBC (which is the belly button engine dejour it seems for most swaps). Case in point is the quote below from the Studebaker Drivers Club Forum per the results of the spring Pure Muscle Car Drags. For those not familar with this, it is an event held twice a year in Michigan where cars up to (I believe) 1972 can bracket race other cars, but they must be strictly stock per the year made, so no Fuel Injection, super slicks etc. The fellow reporting in is Ted Harbit a 70 year old Studebaker drag racer of note for many years in the Midwest/Indiana who ran a 1951 Studebaker Commander bullet nose. The two cars he drove this spring (this weekend) were a 1963 R2 Lark (Stude Tomato) and a 1964 R3 Lark (Plain Brown Wrapper, PBW) Both are stock supercharged Studebaker V8s. Also to note Ted is 1/2 of the team that developed the Dana 44 axle upgrade for Studebakers and now working on a Hudson version. As you read this keep in mind those that toss the stock engine for more power! Ted has beaten GTOs, Yenko Camaros, Mercury Cyclones, Mustangs, and the list goes on!



"Boy was it HOT! Thermometer yesterday read 97.4 degrees. Cars did not run well but well enough. We won both shoot outs. The Tomato ran a 455 Pontiac Lemans. Qualified at 13.59 (best run was 13.45). Don't know what the Pontiac qualified at. They started at 2:30 Friday and took runs after that time for our qualifying. Won the first two but he missed second on the second run. Neither the Tomato or PBW could get any traction. Average sixty foot was probably around 2.3 for the Tomato and 2.2+ for the PBW.



Wrapper drew a Buick Stage One. Wrapper qualified at 13.16 and the Buick 13.17. Won first two of those but had to come from behind and passed him at about the 1000' mark or maybe a little before.



Tomato turned 108 best speed and Wrapper 109+.



The announcer really gave us some nice comments. I didn't hear them but Mary Ann, George, Bob, and both Chuck and John Kerns heard them.



There were 12 FAST cars and the rest, about ? 60 ? were the Factory (pure) stock. They want us there to pay the bills. (G)



Still trying to recuperate from the drive, heat and loss of sleep."



Mr.Biggs says.... I can see why folks replace those clunky ol' Stude engines with superior GM stuff. Who wants to win all the timeWhat fun is that





(Note Mr. Biggs is an old time Stude nut).

[Deleted User]

Anybody can build a motor which will do well on the race track. I used to watch bracket racing when I was a kid and nothing was dominate, it all depended on the individual car. Chances are, done right (and assuming other factors equal, such as weight, tires, etc.) any motor can beat another. Racing is like fighting....there is always someone out there who is going to kick your a**! You will find a SBC smoking a 308, a Flathead Ford beating a SBC, a 308 beating a Model T (oops just couldn't help with that one guys..lol), etc., etc.

But the fact remains that for those who don't want a gas guzzling carbed motor (and they certainly have their place, there are some great hot rod motors out there), or a nostalgic flathead you only drive local or on the weekends, modern EFI engines offer better fuel efficiency, and frankly require less maintenance over the long haul. My '97 5.7L Suburban ran great with 200K on the motor and NOTHING but oil changes, air filters and plugs in all those miles! I sold it because I got tired of 12 mpg. Unless you are doing 200K over a 50 year period, I doubt any flathead could boast the same maintenance record. And all the parts are readily available.

You know eveyone keeps talking about the 308. Where are all these 308 going to come from? All I keep reading is how guys are having trouble finding a 308 head without cracks! Personally for me, I plan to drive mine enough that I'm not going to run some crack repaired head! And you better get a few thousand more people into 308's before you see any company mass producing repro engines.

And say what you will.....when mine is finished, I will bet dollars that mine is the most seen Hudson "on the road" in Arizona! I will be doing my part to get Hudsons seen in the general public and promoting a do-what-you-want-with-them-just-have-fun-doing-it hobby (resto or rodded alike).

Jay :-)
"I love this website!"

[Deleted User]

Glad to hear that Mr ChickenHawk did so well once again this year. I have known Ted

for about five years now and he is one of the best wheel men I have ever seen.

My best friend and I race at the same track where Ted does and it is quite a site

to watch him run.

His red 63 Lark R2 is a regular there and a regular in kicking a$$. The funnest thing

to do is watch him in pratice out running newer Cobra Mustangs and Corvettes

in street class at Muncie when its a heads up race. There is nothing like 45 year old

technology outrunning some of the best on the market now.

You all need to read the latest issue of Hot Rod to see just what can be done with

a Studebaker. Ted's 1951 Studebaker Commander Starlight coupe is in it. After seeing

this first hand I can tell you all this thing is the real deal. Low 10's in the 130's and

quite a site to see run.

This is just one more sign that we all lost big when the Independents like Hudson and

Studebaker shut down.



PaceRacer50