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Car Forum / Antique and Collectibles / Studebaker / October 2004T-cab discouragement
I'm beginning to think the only way I'm going to have an interstate-drivable pickup is to replace my rebuilt 289 & clunky T-98 with a brand x engine, due to the unavailability of 5-speed trannys or 3/ODs to fit my application. I hate the way my engine strains at 50 mph. What the heck were these guys thinkin' when they built these things? We had interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? Lou Fencl put a 3:31 behind his 56 transtar with overdrive and the truck drives and pulls just fine. I think at 55 he is turning over about 1700 rpms. Studebaker during the 40's 50's and early 60's marketed the trucks and cars to the farmers that just used them to go to town. The idea of a pleasure truck came on in the 70's and 80's and trucks changed accordingly. Your early big three were just like Studebaker with the stump puller rear ends. That's my two cents. Bob Miles Tucson AZ Bob Miles Tucson AZ On my 56 I had a 3:31 Transtar with the 224 V8 and at the time I had clutch chatter on starting out. Slight, but it was there. Calvin suggested that I go with a 3:73 rearend. So, when the 224 Block was removed (I don't want to go into this area) and a full flow 259 was installed Jeff talked me into changing over to a 3:73 POS rearend and the chatter went away. I been driving it everywhere with the 3 speed overdrive and it's great. 70-75 is no problem and faster if you mind speeding tickets. Rick Courtier > Lou Fencl put a 3:31 behind his 56 transtar with overdrive and the truck > drives [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Bob Miles > Tucson AZ I think that the 4.09 with OD would be ideal for a 259/289. If the rear ratio is taller than 3.73, the need for OD starts to go away. An Automatic tranny works real well with a 3.31. TT is a BIG plus on pickups! JT > On my 56 I had a 3:31 Transtar with the 224 V8 and at the time I had clutch > chatter on starting out. Slight, but it was there. Calvin suggested that I [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Bob Miles > > Tucson AZ - Tom, Theres got to be somebody in Washington State/Oregon that has a 3 spd OD from a V8 Champ truck . Two or three years ago, there was a guy selling Champs and he had three or four 5 spd OD Champs. BTW, I drive my 64 8E12 all the time at 3250 rpms on the Interstate. 70-75mph. With a T-98 and 4.11 rear. > I'm beginning to think the only way I'm going to have an > interstate-drivable pickup is to replace my rebuilt 289 & clunky T-98 with > a brand x engine, due to the unavailability of 5-speed trannys or 3/ODs to > fit my application. I hate the way my engine strains at 50 mph. What the > heck were these guys thinkin' when they built these things? We had > interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? drove a Champ home from Mesa, Az. to Amarillo, Tx. yesterday....never under 65mph except for traffic...289/automatic > drove a Champ home from Mesa, Az. to Amarillo, Tx. yesterday....never under > 65mph except for traffic...289/automatic What rear axle ratio?  SignatureJT (289/PowerShift/3.07) << We had interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? >> 'cause in the 50s and 60s- trucks were just trucks- utility vhicles and not much else. it all depended on the gearing My Champ has a 289 w/3spd overdrive. I drove it up I-95 to a local Stude meet a couple of weeks ago. Had no trouble keeping up with most traffic. The tranny is a truck tranny T-90. Joe Roberts My OHV 6 powered 3/OD with 15" wheels and a 4.27 rear will go 70-75 before it runs out of juice, but the revs are still pretty acceptable. There has to a be a few T90 ODs out there somewhere. >My Champ has a 289 w/3spd overdrive. I drove it up I-95 to a local Stude meet a >couple of weeks ago. Had no trouble keeping up with most traffic. The tranny is >a truck tranny T-90. >Joe Roberts Ron/Champ 6 1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6) 1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang) 1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk) 1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley) 1973 Volvo 1800 ES (An Clar) Are ya sure it's a T-90 Joe?? The factory only used the T-85c/T-89C behind V8's. T90B's were used with The Champ sixes. The t-85c/T-89c has the side cover bolts. > My Champ has a 289 w/3spd overdrive. I drove it up I-95 to a local Stude meet a > couple of weeks ago. Had no trouble keeping up with most traffic. The tranny is > a truck tranny T-90. > Joe Roberts >The factory only used the T-85c/T-89C >behind V8's. The '55 V8 pickups used the T90, maybe the '56s also. That is what I have in my '55, actually a V8 T86 out of a car. It sure is nice to have that car first gear when you are not hauling big heavy loads all the time. But you are right, the later V8s used the T85/T89 style. But......if someone is not going to do much heavy duty hauling, the T86/T90 is a reasonable option for a V8 truck. Think about it, the T86 is what the V8 cars used, and if not abused they do fine. Paul I should have noted that my trucks are '62 and '64 and my references only go back to 1957(3E trucks). I also have a 224 Routestar V8 w/ 3 spd OD in a '52 2R10 parts truck but havent looked at the tranny for awhile so I dont know which it is. >>The factory only used the T-85c/T-89C >>behind V8's. [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Paul >Are ya sure it's a T-90 Joe?? The factory only used the T-85c/T-89C >behind V8's. T90B's were used with The Champ sixes. >The t-85c/T-89c has the side cover bolts. The gentleman that put the package together says it is a t90. I'll have to investigate further. Joe Roberts I fogot. I have a 3.73 rear end as well. Joe Roberts Wouldn't a rear-end swap be much easier? Dave Miller >What the >heck were these guys thinkin' when they built these things? We had >interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? In the '50s-early '60s, pick up trucks were primarily for farmers and tradesmen. Most people wouldn't consider going on a long trip in one at that time. Gary L. Studebaker Drivers Club Director - Northeast Zone 36 year member of Studebaker Drivers Club, Inc. > I'm beginning to think the only way I'm going to have an > interstate-drivable pickup is to replace my rebuilt 289 & clunky T-98 with > a brand x engine, due to the unavailability of 5-speed trannys or 3/ODs to > fit my application. I hate the way my engine strains at 50 mph. What the > heck were these guys thinkin' when they built these things? We had > interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? Tommy, Tommy, Tommy....hold your horses ! Here's what I did with my 289 and T98 4 spd Champ truck: Assuming your 289 is a strong running plant.....get a decent 3.31 (preferably TT) differential from a V8 car. Transplant the guts of the 3.31 into the 4.09 or whatever you have. Use a reputable mechanic please. That T98 is virtually indestructible, but sounds like yours is worn. The parts should be easy to come by for a rebuild, if not, I'm sure they're available from someone like Parmer's, Gay's, Naugle's, Frank, or Collins. Up here in the Northeast, Don Richards may have one too. I'll bet the Brand-X transplant you swap into the truck will cause for more fabrication, margin of error, and possibly much disappointment. Look at Jeff's truck with the simple mis-matched Stude stuff ! I can vouch for the set-up having driven my Champ for over 60K miles. You will never need 1st gear, unless you trailer or have off-road needs. You'll be very happy with the results as long as your rear tires stay in the 2.25-2.35 range. Any taller tire will strap the engine-R/A combo..... Hey Tom,take the windsheild back out,that will slow you down(G) Seriously,my 56 Transtars got the 4:09 rearend,and IF I could get the damn OD to work right it would be fine.I avoid double lane highways and much prefer the secondary roads when driving it,but even without OD it cruises fine at 55(259) > I'm beginning to think the only way I'm going to have an > interstate-drivable pickup is to replace my rebuilt 289 & clunky T-98 with > a brand x engine, due to the unavailability of 5-speed trannys or 3/ODs to > fit my application. I hate the way my engine strains at 50 mph. What the > heck were these guys thinkin' when they built these things? We had > interstates in the 60s and these engines were built to go fast..? After my whining, one of our NG members offered to sell me a T-85OD he isn't using. I've got a glimmer of light!! Too much b-s & tears went into the frame-off resto & engine rebuild to have a vehicle so limited. Besides, it's the first Stude engine I've done that doesn't leak (yet). <G> Thanks for all the ideas & I'll keep you posted. I hope that is the one I have sitting at Stephen Cades place. <G> > After my whining, one of our NG members offered to sell me a T-85OD he > isn't using. I've got a glimmer of light!! Too much b-s & tears went > into the frame-off resto & engine rebuild to have a vehicle so limited. > Besides, it's the first Stude engine I've done that doesn't leak (yet). > <G> > Thanks for all the ideas & I'll keep you posted. <<I hope that is the one I have sitting at Stephen Cades place.>> No, Rick, thanks to Chuck Collins at www.studebakerparts.com, he came thru (in the clutch!) and is sending me a T-85-OD. What a saint! |
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