Vehicle Description
1946 Studebaker Custom Pickup - Built 468ci V8 - Weiland 871
Supercharger - Dual Holley 950 Carburetors - Ceramic Coated Headers
with Borla Mufflers - Built and Modified 4L80E Transmission - Ford
9 Rear End - Ground Up Restored - Custom Built Chassis - Power Disc
Brakes The Studebaker brand though now defunct, was at one time one
of the most enduring transportation brands in automotive history.
Studebaker was the only carriage builder to successfully transition
into an automotive manufacturer in the late 1800's and produced
cars until early 1964. Always groundbreaking in design and
engineering, they produced some of the earliest electric cars at
the turn of the century. Studebaker begin building trucks in 1932
that quickly earned a reputation as a truck that offered
hard-working substance along with style. Featured here is custom
built 1946 Studebaker hot rod M-5 truck, appropriately named The
Bulldog, this build represents an amazing interpretation of the
innovative and ruggedness of this brand of classic trucks. The
paint on this truck has been professionally applied over well
executed body work. It is an older paint job that has been well
maintained but does have a few minor chips as this truck was driven
to shows, however the paint still shines with a bright luster. The
rear bed fenders have been widened 4 inches to conceal the massive
31X18.50 15 inch tires Hoosier Pro street tires mounted on Wel Pro
polished aluminum wheels. The rear bumper has been removed and a
custom roll pan completes the natural curves of this 40's era
truck. Custom bullet-style cups hold the brake lights with reverse
lights mounted below the roll pan that are subtle and stylish. A
custom roll bar ties in the frame to add the strength the custom
tube chassis needs to put down the power to the pavement. The truck
bed has been treated to a custom white oak wood floor and a hand
formed aluminum tonneau cover with an air brushed bulldog with
flamed aura painted on the cover. The gas tank has been relocated
to the rear under the bed and a custom filler cap with the
Studebaker script. The hinges on the Studebaker tailgate feature
roller bearings for smooth operation. The front bumper, grille and
related trim have all been re-chromed. The most impressive feature
on this truck is the tilt front end fabricated out of the factory
fender and hood. Inside the interior is custom built and trimmed
with black vinyl and suede. The bucket seats are reclining units
from a modern Mazda Miata, with custom door, kick panels and center
console. The dash is a custom-built steel unit featuring Auto Meter
Phantom gauges, including speedometer, tachometer, fuel, volts,
temperature, and oil pressure to monitor engine vitals. A polished
Studebaker horn ornament has been fabricated into the dash for a
custom effect. The sound system, air conditioning controls, engine
management are all housed in the one off fabricated center console.
A repurposed tilt steering column from a GM full size van and is
topped with a Colorado leather wrapped billet aluminum steering
wheel. A B&M Pro Ratchet shifter selects the gears and the
glovebox houses the engine electronics. The truck has been
completely re-wired with a Painless Wiring kit that puts the
controls to the fuel pump, cooling fans, transmission lock-up and
lighting at the fingertips of the driver. Under the hood is a built
Chevrolet big block motor. This block started as a 454 that was
bored .030 over and stuffed with Ross Pistons making the total CID
468. The bottom end has been strengthened up with Mildon gold
splayed 4 bolt main caps, Eagle H-beam connecting rods and a cross
drilled crankshaft. This combination stays well lubed with a Mildon
high volume oil pump and extra capacity oil pan feeding the
lubrication of the motor. The block is topped with a set of Brodix
3 aluminum cylinder heads with stainless steel valves with Crane
Gold roller rocker arms opened by a Comp Camshaft. This combination
is topped
