Projects Any Hamb Studebaker Forums?

Hi, I am in the 52 to 59 Ford Social Forum and have a lot of respect for the people there and the knowledge that they have. I was just wondering if there was a Studebaker Forum here I could join, I just acquired a very nice 1960 Lark wagon. Right now it is so stock it hurts and would like to do a couple of things to make it mine and enjoy seeing what others have done. Thanks, Mark

 

There’s isn’t a special spot for Studebaker guys on the hamb but there are plenty of Studebaker guys that you’ll eventually come to recognize on all the same threads you visit

 

I've got four Studebakers, if that counts !

- The blue one just below, is the only one that runs right now.
-The second blue one needs wiring, and and an exhaust system. Have the parts, just need to finish.
-The white 60 below, has a C4 Corvette front suspension, a full roll cage, a Ford rear axle hanging on a four-link. It's set up for a small Chevy. I hope...one day I finish it. I have two other cars in front of it to finish.





View attachment 6025491

And a beat up 54 4dr. with no pictures !

Mike

 

Had a 62 Lark that I put a 327/th350 combo in that was quite quick…

 

Well if we are sharing pictures here’s my stude powered A sedan project

 

Thanks everybody! This is actually my 4th Studebaker, have had a 49 Starlight coupe, a 1960 Lark coupe, a 57 Transtar 1/2 ton, and a 1963 Daytona. I had pared down the fleet and sold all my Studes some time ago then this one came available from an old friend I was in the Studebaker club with. I have known this car since 1995 and it was VERY low miles, 259 V8 auto, and a super nice driver at a price I couldn't refuse. At this point it had been sitting in a nice dry garage for 5 years when he sold it to me. Put some oil in the cylinders, cranked it till it had oil pressure, cleaned the plugs and fresh non ethanol gas in tank. Fired right up and idled. Never had a car that sat this long come to life so easy. Tires were bought in 1999 so I replaced those with new blackwall radials (too cheap to spring for wide whites right now) and driving it. Want to do a dual exhaust system, getting quotes of around $1000 for 2 inch pipe with generic mufflers. That sound normal now to you all? I know Biden bucks aren't worth what they used to be but DAMN! Any thoughts on wheels, there is not much room in the rear on the outside, stock Stude wheels are 4.5 inches wide. Everything else I own has Torq thrust wheels, my wife says I would put them on my lawn mower if I could. Thanks for reading, Mark

 

Cool wagon!
1K sounds stupid expensive for a dual exhaust system, but then I think Everything is stupid expensive.
Seems like shops charge whatever they can get away with!
Last couple cars I made my own exhaust systems with straight pipe and J bends. Takes some time but at least I get it done the way I want it.

 

If I had a lift that I could put the car on I would be all over making my own. It is getting pretty hard for me to be getting up and down over and over with my knees being what they aren't! I am not trying to get max horsepower from a 259 Studebaker, just would like it to sound like a V8. Maybe $1000 is a fair price today but I might just have to leave it alone for a while...... Mark

 

Join the Studebaker Driver's Club, ASAP.

There are a couple of Studebaker exhaust vendors who'll do what you want in stainless for less than $1,000.

FWIW, 2" is large for a 259", but hey, your car.

jack vines

 

Good info from PackardV8, and they sound great with Turbo mufflers and duals. I had one just like yours, that I wish I had not gotten rid of, and am looking for another 59-61 wagon now...

 

Might try another shop, I’ve seen it more than once that they see an old car and assume you want full stainless tig welded fancy pants exhaust and so that’s the sticker the price you at

 

Start your own thread about it with lots of pictures and others will chime in and keep it going. Studebaker people will come out of the shadows.

Nice to see another Lark floating around here. My Girls '60 is fairly stock.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/another-one-yea-i-know-60-studebaker-lark-wagon.991847/

 

I'd second Jack Vine's suggestion to join the Studebaker Drivers Club, a plethora of Studebaker specific info and it isn't all "restored to stock" I've personally benefited from their expertise!!
https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/tech-talk

 

I have belonged to the National Studebaker club for years, have more turning wheels than I can store. I called and talked to Don at Silvertone that advertises in Turning wheels and you are right, he has Stainless exhaust systems at a good price. However The $425 shipping to Oregon from Canada was a deal breaker. He said that the stock Studebaker left side head pipe was 1 7/8" from the factory so it would slip into a 2" pipe downstream but he makes everything from 2" all the way back. I have found a quote for less at a shop I am unsure about, the shop I have used before is the shop I got the big quote from as well as another shop that was recommended from a friend. I guess that's the going rate now. Thanks for the replies. Mark

 

N O S 4 carb intake.

 

Looks like this may be turning into a Studebaker, HAMB forum ?!

Mike

 

Yes, Definitely!

I just got my Turning Wheels Mag for this month! I have been transporting a bunch of Studes for the gentlemen over there.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Just grabbed this from storage this morning to hopefully actually get it on the road this year.

Should look good next to my '54 Commander.

More Studes on the H.A.M.B is what we need!

 

My '64 Avanti R1, 16,000 miles from new.
KK

 

Just an update on my dual exhaust post from a while ago, I got a dual exhaust system installed on the wagon yesterday. Used 2 inch pipe all the way back and 28 inch long glass packs, sounds awesome just like I remembered from the 60's. I asked around to everyone I knew at the hot rod club, car shows, speed shops, etc. Got a half dozen quotes from local shops that went as high as $1530 for two inch pipe with glass packs. One shop when I said I wanted dual exhaust put the car on a lift and the kid said he would split the single exhaust pipe behind the transmission crossmember and run duals from there. I told him that's not a dual exhaust system to which he replied yes it is! Then he showed me a late model pickup that had just that system from the factory (and he quoted me $1250 by the way) and I said put my car down, I am leaving. Finally talked to a local hotrodder at a car show who said he had a guy and after looking at this hotrodders cars I figured this exhaust guy must be good. WINNER!!!! Great guy, good price, and ran a extremely clean system tucked up nicely inside the frame. The moral of the story is keep trying! There are good people out there, they are just hard to find. Just a follow up on the stock single exhaust system, the pipe looked like it was from generator on a motorhome. The exhaust guy couldn't believe how small it was, looked like 1 3/4" pipe and necked down to less than 1 1/2" in some of the bends. Car really seems much happier now, I think it really runs better but could be my wishful thinking. Mark

 

Okay, I didn't want to add this to my last post because it was getting long and I talk too much. While the car was on the lift at the muffler shop he noticed the steering bell crank was loose, had up and down movement. Looks like that is fairly common and can be rebuilt if the center pin is good, any advise on pitfalls to avoid? I assume being a 1960 it has the needle bearing setup. BUT while researching this on line a car popped up that was for sale (long since sold) that said it had a Toyota power steering, steering gear conversion. Looked around for that and couldn't find any information, anyone heard of that? Thanks, Mark

 

@nosford any chance you can get us a video of the exhaust? I’d love to hear it

 

Commonly, the center pivot has never been greased, as the zerk is hidden in a hole in the front crossmember. Grease it well and tighten the pinch bolt clamp on the center pivot; they've always worn loose.

But yes, the center pivot can be rebuilt. The early cars have needle bearings and the later have bushings.

jack vines

 

I will try later but I am an old fart and I have problems with posting videos for some reason!

 

Don't forget the Racing Studebakers Forum..
ANY/ALL STUDEBAKER VEHICLES & PARTS - WANTED / SALE / SWAP / FREE - RACING STUDEBAKERS

 

The trick is to post them on YouTube and then copy the link into a thread. If you don’t have a YouTube account you could email it to me and I can upload it to my account and share it here

 

Beautiful Lark wagon! Been a Stude guy for 26 years. A wagon is high on my want list.

 

Agree, Stude wagons are rare cool.

FWIW, and from experience, if you do build a wagon, spend the time and money to undercoat it with bed liner and Dynamat the interior. Otherwise it's pretty noisy going down the road.

jack vines

 

I was wondering on the width and offset on those wheels on your convertible, I really would like to find something that would fit under the back of my wagon. I have 15 x 6 torque thrust on my 55 Ford avatar with 205 75R 15 tires, I tried one of those on the back of the wagon and would need quite a bit more offset to the inside (wheel moved in) to clear the outer fender lip. It almost seems like a front wheel drive current wheel would work but a little hard to find in a 15 inch size. Also the original 6.70 x 15 Firestones were really tall, I like the way it RPM's at 60mph with the tall tires. Still working on the video of the exhaust sound Tim. Mark

 

That might work Tim, by the way, I just sold my 46 Ford tudor sedan last year. Love the way your Avatar looks.