OK, you guys have me all pumped up now! I bought another part on e-bay and it arrived today... a correct gas cap for my wagon! It's had an ugly locking gas cap on it (with writing on it) since I bought it. As you can see, I went out in the garage and installed it just now. Now we're rollin'!!!
jmt455, that's a great question! Our winter is proving to be pretty mild but I don't think I want to launch into pulling the drivetrain to seal it up. I have a garage to work in, but it is not long enough to pull an engine with the door closed... So I think it will more than likely be the brakes. Everything needs to be done, front and rear, so that should be more than enough work for a weekend, right? I need to go purchase a hub puller today, Studebakers have a tapered rear axle with a keyway, so you have to pull the hub from the axle according to the shop manual. This will be something new for me, but I have friends from the local club that can help me out if I get into a problem area. I'll post some pics for those who've never seen this setup. I guess the only other manufacturer who used a tapered axle was Rambler/AMC. Mike
Dogfather, I meant to tell you, I love your Fairlane wagon! As a boy growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we were friends with the neighbors across the street, and their family had a copper '57 Chevy Bel Air wagon, and a Fairlane wagon just like yours, including the color. I remember riding down to the park and to the DQ and other places in that wagon. My Mom and Dad had a '66 Country Sedan, light blue, with the 390 4V, 3rd row seat, luggage rack, the fake mag wheel covers, it was pretty cool for a wagon back then!
Mike, didn't Studebaker start using some GM brakes, when they brought in Disc brakes? I vaguely recall reading something about that, but can't recall the year. Anyway, what I do recall is that some were a straight bolt-on to the Stude hubs. maybe it was the later models (63 and up).
Stormin' Norman, I can't answer that. It is entirely possible though, since Studebaker became quite despirate in it's final days sourcing parts and they did some odd things. Mating GM "McKinnon" aka SBC and I-6 engines to Studebaker transmissions is the obvious one that comes to mind. Mine is old school drums all the way around. There's some disc conversion kits available, from the source where I got the parts to convert my single master cylinder to dual system. I've decided to leave mine all original other than the dual master cylinder. The brakes seem quite adequate already for a weekend driver. Like I tell my teenage son when he drives our old rides... you just drive differently! No speeding, tailgating, increase your following distance, and you're safe! Mike
No worries- I'm here to help. I can get you just about anything you need- my Family sells StudeParts. They're known as Studebakers NorthWest. Yes- I also dealt with SA a time or more when I was stationed in Florida. It was sad to see him leave the biz, but his parts all found new homes. The NOS stuff went to California, and the re-popped stuff went to Indiana. Careful talkin' 'bout those '65s and '66s- I have one as my daily driver. She's a sweetheart of a ride~ and has been for 20+ years!!! Studebaker had front disc brakes before GM. They started offering them in 1963. They were from Dunlop, and have more in common with that little Datsun sports car or a Jaguar of the same vintage. My '65 Cruiser has them. The 'new' disc brakes Mike is talking about do use GM calipers in the kit, but the rotor is Ford. It is a very good upgrade- we put a kit on Dad's '64 Daytona hardtop last Summer.
Yes- be very very careful pulling those drums!!! Use the right tool, and follow the book. Pull up that SDC Forum I mentioned above and search "hub pulling" or something to that effect to see/read some stories of the 'fun' that can be had. The last one I did took a day or two under tension before it came loose. They aren't always a pain, but most times they don't just pull right off- even with the tool. Your results may vary. Good luck!!!
I knew Studebaker offered disc brakes in 63 (I was even thinking it might have been '62). If I recall correctly, GM didn't offer disc brakes till '67. I believe Chrysler also offered them as a regular option starting in '67. I don't know when Ford and AMC started offering disc brakes. (of course it was only front disc brakes in those years, as drums remained at the rear) Nice to know we have a Studebaker parts guru on board here.
NICE! Across the street; from where I grew up in Portland Oregon, was on of these Studebakers. Yours looks like a worthwhile; if not long, project. Did some of these wagons have a sliding roof? How about the engine; is it stock? I had a friend with a Studebaker pick-up truck. Although; he dropped a 327 in to it. It looked funky; and was fast. Good Luck; keep up the project.
Studebaker first offered a sliding roof in 1963. It remained an option all the way to the end in 1966. The 'Wagonaire' nameplate (on the tailgate) was used only on the cars ordered with the sliding roof. Non sliders are just plain wagons.
StudeDave '57 3rd Generation StudeDriver Have you heard of Richard Cade, son of Gatoraide inventor in Gainesville, Fl. ? Dad passed away but son has/had a place in Newberry, Florida where his crew restored Studebakers. Had a Studie junkyard plus parts shop. Went for a Studebaker show and cruise but haven't been back. He was very fair and fun to talk to.
