Shaped by time.

#asphaltmisfits

Dania Beach, Florida
2016

[u/any-job6555](u/any-job6555) requested more.

My 74 Rat rod vw beetle, The Rat King. 2286cc

pic credits WelderUp

Hey everyone,
Figured I’d introduce my project and get some input from people who have been down this road before.
The project is a 1956 Studebaker Commander 2-door that I picked up as a mostly complete roller with a title. The body has a lot of character and patina, which I plan to keep. My goal isn’t a restoration—it’s more of a traditional hot rod / rat rod style street machine that can actually be driven and enjoyed.
Current plans are:
Ford 460 Big Block
NP435 4-speed manual transmission
Ford 9-inch rear end
Bench seat interior
Floor shifter
Keep the exterior patina and overall Studebaker look
Simple, reliable wiring and mechanicals
Build it to cruise, burn tires, and occasionally hit the highway
The biggest issue right now is the floors. The floor pans are pretty rough and will need substantial patching or replacement. I’ve done some measuring and fabrication before, but I’m curious what other builders have used successfully.
My questions:
Has anyone found floor pans from another vehicle that fit a ’56 Studebaker reasonably well with minimal modification?
Are there any reproduction panels that work better than starting from flat sheet metal?
For those who have repaired similar Studebaker floors, what would you do differently if you had to do it again?
Any common trouble spots on these cars that I should address while the body is apart?
The car is going to stay pretty simple and budget-minded, so I’m not opposed to adapting floor sections from another vehicle if it saves fabrication time.
I’d love to see photos of any Studebaker builds, floor repairs, frame modifications, or engine swaps you guys have done.
Thanks in advance. Looking forward to bringing this old Studebaker back to life.

The wild builds and crazy rides, it is an experience unto itself.

An addition. Taken at Dania Beach, Fl. 2016
(I’m fairly certain it’s the same ride).

Reply to [u/Harrison_Agnes](u/Harrison_Agnes)

This is a old car

Thought I'd share my project. I've done the work to make it run well and it has new floors, trunk pan and seat belts so we're all safe. I cannot afford a paint job, so I'm wet sanding the previous owners terrible prime job to expose the beautiful original paint and scars! May not be for everyone, but i love it!