1953 Studebaker Starlite Coupe - Class Act

F A C T S & F I G U R E S
Dave and Sue Ciappa
Lockport, New York
1953 Studebaker Starlite coupe
CHASSIS
Frame / Manufacturer	modified ’62 Hawk / Studebaker
Modifications	custom-fab’d 2x4 front clip
Chassis plumbing	stainless
Rearend / Ratio	9-inch Ford / 3.25:1
Rear suspension	Chassis Engineering Inc. (West Branch, IA) leaf, Air Ride Technologies (Jasper, IN) airbags, Cadillac sway bar & Pro Shocks (Lawrenceville, GA) shocks
Rear brakes	SSBC (Clarence, NY) discs
Front suspension	Heidt’s Hot Rod Shop (Wauconda, IL) IFS & dropped spindles, Air Ride airbags & Chassis Engineering Inc. sway bar
Front brakes	SSBC disc, Pro shocks
Master cylinder	dual reservoir, remote fill
Steering	r&p
Front wheel make, size	Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog, 18x7
Rear wheel make, size	Boyd Coddington Junkyard Dog, 18x8
Front tire make, size	BFGoodrich, 215/40-18
Rear tire make, size	BFGoodrich, 235/50-18
Gas tank	Studebaker, 20-gal.
Other chassis items	chassis mods by Guy Evans (Visalia, CA)

ENGINE
Make	Chevrolet
Displacement	327ci
Crankshaft	.010-.010, balanced
Rods	GM Performance Parts ARP bolts
Pistons	TRW forged
Camshaft	Isky, 201/256
Water pump	Edelbrock (Torrance, CA)
Cooling fan	Cooling Components (St. Louis, MS)
Radiator	Walker Radiator Works (Memphis TN)
Alternator	GM, 100-amp
Heads	Chevrolet, iron
Valves / Springs	Manley / COMP Cams (Memphis, TN)
Rockers	COMP Cams
Valve covers	powdercoated Billet Specialties (La Grange, IL)
Manifold / Induction	custom fabricated / custom Delco port injection
Ignition / Wires	MSD (El Paso, TX)
Headers	smoothed & coated, iron ram horns manifolds
Exhaust / Mufflers	2 1/2” coated / Flowmaster (Santa Rosa, CA)
Other engine facts	all brightwork powdercoated

TRANSMISSION
Make	GM, 700-R4
Converter	2,100-rpm stall, TCI Automotive (Ashland, MS)
Driveshaft	custom fabricated

BODY
Body style / Material	two-door coupe / steel
Body manufacturer	Studebaker
Body mods	filled & shaved
Hood	shaved
Grille	modified stock
Bodywork	Tim Fidanza, Fidanza’s Custom Paint & Body (Gasport, NY)
Paint type / Color	PPG / 9300-Black
Painter	Fidanza’s Custom Paint & Body
Headlights / Taillights	tri-bar halogen / Studebaker
Bumpers	smoothed & tucked Studebaker

INTERIOR
Dashboard	'57 Studebaker Silver Hawk
Gauges	Dakota Digital (Sioux Falls, SD)
Stereo / Speakers	Alpine / Pioneer
Air conditioning	Vintage Air (San Antonio, TX)
Wiring	Ron Francis Wire Works (Chester, PA)
Steering wheel	Billet Specialties
Steering column	ididit (Tecumseh, MI)
Interior mirror	Studebaker
Seats	T-bird
Upholsterer	Jimmy Z
Material / Color	leather / gray
Carpet	wool
Seatbelts	Juliano's Hot Rod Parts (Ellington, CT)

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