History The "lost" pics of my Dad's '53 Studebaker

"The wagons are a little different. Even though they take the front sheet metal, the windshields are not the same. And like any Stude, parts are not easy to find. Fit and Finish is a big challenge as well."

Nope, sheetmetal only *looks* similar. 4" difference in wb, also. Only mechanical parts, n some interior pieces swap. Very few body parts swap, some trim items. Also had two different w/s. 'Flat' & wrap-around. Changed in mid-year. Pretty sure ''flat' w/s won't interchange w/cp/hrdtp, either.
Still neat cars, just be careful.
'Course, you *could* stretch the wb, add the cp/hrdtp front sheetmetal, w/a bunch of work, & get a very nicely proportioned wagon. Probably only one like it - & that'd be good, but it'd be serious fun watching the Stude folks figure it out... .
Marcus...

 

Thank you for that correction - I'm a plethora or misinformation

 

As has been stated above, be sure you find donor parts from a '53 or '54 SEDAN if you pull the trigger on that '55 wagon.

Also, the '55 grille can be painted to make it a little less visually overwhelming. With the quality of chrome they were using at the time, that could be a good stop-gap solution (and cheaper!).

 

Ok, Progress...

wiring. A lot of wiring.

I got my headlights, marker lights, grills all mounted up. Found out my horns are junk, but I did find a factory turn signal switch in my box of treasures. Score!

Spent a ton more time getting the front sheet metal to sit proper. I got the hood to latch without much effort but everything is still out of shape. I realigned my driver's door and now it doesn't latch, lol. If it's not one thing it's another, right?

I installed my new fuel sending unit and got it wired up and fixed my fuel pump wire issue while I was at it.
I did get my headlight switch wired up, Ignition switch and cig/pwr socket installed.

Tomorrow will be more panel adjustment (yay) and a attempt to hook up more under-dash stuff.

Not much to show but a neat photo...

 

Chip,
Have been enjoying your build and the search for parts and pieces towards your dads "lost" studebaker tribute car. Back in '63 my buddy told me he had found a Studebaker he wanted to buy and it was a '53 HT coupe with a tired 289/3speed. We were just out of highschool and with hand tools and a drill installed a 354 Hemi and a Packard transmision. Lots of room in that engine bay, but under the hood was a different story. The single 4bbl without an air cleaner and fullthrottle, the hood actually would **** down and flames would shoot out both tailpipes. we ended up with a small scoop to cure that, but hated to detract from the sleek looking body!
The HT frame would tweek once in a while and we would jack up the middle so both ends could drop a bit and the doors were good to open and shut better. Feel like a post coupe would be a bit more rigid body style.
Something we did learn as young ignorant kids was what a 'HILL HOLDER' was.
Before the 289 came out, we were riding along and at a bend in the road Robert slowed down and when he got off of the brake pedal...the Stude locked up and wouldn't move.
Well, what to do but get out and cut a brake hose and drive on home slowly. What had happened was the linkage between the clutch pedal and the brake master cyl had come loose and dropped, locking up the brakes. A great invention when all works as designed.
Hey Chip, Don't feel too bad about not getting the place in Reedsport , as the rust over there is definitely not friendly. Willamette Valley is bad enough !
Good luck and Keep On Keeping On

 

Too cool. My dad also had a 53 like that, but without the cool louvers and hemi.

 

OKAY!!! Where is CHIP and the rest of this build?????? C'Mon?????