Jan 2005 -------------- I recently was reading an article in a 1965 magazine which stated the Checker car was using the GM 230 and 283 engines, along with Borg-Warner transmissions. I'd guess finding old Checker parts would be really difficult, but it may be worth walking over to one, if one appears in a junkyard. It seems odd that both Checker (with a limited engineering dept.) and Studebaker (with a dwindling one) would be doing exactly the same thing at roughly the same time--especially when both were buying transmissions from the same source. Does anyone know of shared parts? If anyone has any Checker manuals, please dig 'em out and compare them with '65-66 Stude manuals. On a similar topic, Checkers later used the '66 (62-63?) Stude wheel cover stampings, without the Stude emblems, Some Internationals had '64-65 Stude wheel covers (without emblems), and I ran across a mid-60s Jeep pickup with a "Stude" steering column. Further off the topic, but interesting, some Internationals in the '40s or later used Packard V 12 hub cap stampings. Does anyone know any other instances of Studebaker tooling being re-used?---------- --------- The 66-70 Avanti II used Checker bellhousings to mate the 327 and 350 engines to the Powershift (FMX) transmission. In 1970, the Avanti II went from the RQA model to the RQB and changed drivetrain to all GM ( except for the rear axle) and also went to GM, self energizing, rear brakes ( without using a proportioning valve). The bellhousing allowed the used of a Delco Starter, engaging the ring gear on the flexplate, vs the converter, like Stude. The converter was still a Stude unit, but without the welded on ring gear. The flexplate was a GM hybrid with extra bolt holes for the Stude converter. BobJ ------------------------------ Chances are, the adaptation for the Warner gear transmission to the Chevy-pattern engine was worked out by Warner Gear, and offered to their customers. I'm sure they could see the handwriting on the wall, and decided to offer up a part that could help their customers keep making cars ( and buying trannies). I just cleaned off a bellhousing from a '66 Studebaker, and it has no identifiable Studebaker casting numbers on it. I'm thinking that the part was sourced from Warner Gear. Could be wrong, though. Gord Richmond ------- I was told that Checker made the bellhousings for themselves and supplied to Studebaker. I have one of these and was also told it's worth nearly what I paid for the whole car ($500) as the people who put 350 Chevs in Jaguars use them.(common mod in Oz). Jarrod. --------------- Another thought that sort of makes "things" come together. Checker used the Perkins diesel engines for export markets, so that would explain the (one?) Lark diesel and the (few?) Zip Van diesels made. With a bell housing, etc. it wouldn't have been that difficult or expensive. Also, I recall someone using rocker switches from a school bus in a '64,5, or 6 Studebaker. I think from a Superior Coach body. Alot of junk yards store parts in old busses, so take a look next time. There're alot of shared parts out there, but seldom is any money saved, I've found. We're still lucky to have pretty cheap parts. A few years back I needed Stude brake pads right away, and discovered the big Mercedes 600 used the same on the rear. The Mercedes dealer wanted nearly $100, so my customer was willing to wait.I once checked with a Jaguar dealer for automatic trans parts, and they were ten times more than South Bend. ---------- I don't know when, but Checker later changed to a Turbo-hydramatic transmission, prior to that, I think both 6 and V8 bell housings should be the same for both Checkers and Studebakers. The bolt patterns are the same. Now PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, but Studebaker used basically the same STANDARD trans on the '65-66s as the '64 and older ones, but the input shafts were different starting '65. Studebaker used a Warner transmission, where Chevy usually used a (GM)Saginaw. Someone near me once tried to install a combined engine and 3-speed from a Chevy into a '66 Cruiser, and linkage, mounts, etc. were way different. -------------- This is a small specialty yard, with about 200 of the beasts. In business since 1986. It is listed in Richard E. Osborne's "Tour Book for Antique Car Buffs, 3rd Ed.," which should be available through Amazon. Ben Merkel Twilight Taxi Parts Inc 14503 Old State Road Middlefield OH 44062 440-632-5419 fax 440-632-9128 Email address: twilitetaxiinc@netlink.net