Dan decided to leave nothing to imagination with this build. Not only does that mean it is profane in some purists’ eyes, but it’s a representation of what a blank check, good people, and a fantastic vision for a car results in. A ‘53 Studebaker Starliner is what it might look like to most unfamiliar with the comprehensive retrofitting under the skin, and few would realize what a monster this project has become—unless they were fortunate enough to hear the Chewbacca gurgle its new motor makes.
Thanks to Grant’s Rod and Custom Garage, Dan was able to retrofit every aspect of this vehicle. The standout item with the swap is, of course, the 8.4-liter V10. Pulled from a 4th-generation Viper ACR-X, the crate motor makes a reliable 640 horsepower and 605 lb-ft of torque—all of which is sent through a twin-disc clutch onto a Tremec TR6060 6-speed and then a Strange rear end. It’s a potent combination which helps modernize the vintage Starliner, but the slightly clunky gearchange and ferocious power delivery keep it from feeling too refined.
With that much grunt, it wouldn’t be remotely friendly if it weren’t for a complete chassis putting that power to the pavement. A custom Art Morrison frame did that by stiffening everything up and giving Dan a chance to mount the V10 in the location best for handling. Funnily enough, in its current position, the V10 sits much further back than the factory V8 ever did—much further. Now behind the front axle and the original firewall, the V10, nearly 100 pounds lighter than the original engine, aids the rotational ability of this surprisingly agile Studebaker.
It’s easy to imagine that traction was a concern. In addition to a massive fuel cell and a full cage doing their part to weigh the driven axle, Dan decided to mount the radiator in the rear to put just a little more weight in the right place.
With most of the major items in place, Dan and his friends began chopping at the body. They moved the roof forward 4 inches and lowered it 4 inches. They also removed 3 inches from the cowl and lowered the windshield down into the cowl to keep it as close to the angle of the stock window. Along with all that trimming, they scrapped the drip rails and the wipers. For all the weight added by the chromoly cage, they’ve managed to keep the Stude’s heft down to something reasonable.
As stunning as that package was, it actually wasn’t up to Dan’s standards. Fearing an imbalance from the added weight and power of the Viper’s engine as compared to the LS3, which the Morrison frame was intended for, Dan took an odd step late in the game.
The replacement: a C5 Corvette chassis lengthened to match the Studebaker’s 114” wheelbase. Once you’ve gone to such lengths getting all the right parts, it wouldn’t make sense to shortchange yourself knowing there’s a better option within reach.
To make this powerplant as manageable as possible, Dan decided to modernize the car with a few aids. Thanks to a Motec management system for the Viper engine, he’ll be able to use launch control, traction control, ABS as well that he’ll integrate these into the C5/C6 chassis.
With the artist’s rendering below as a tease, you know that this comprehensive build with all the boxes ticked. Power, traction, style, and presence—all in spades. To keep tabs on this uncompromising creation, follow Dan’s thread here.
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