1963 Studebaker - SLHS auto shop 2011 class project

I don't know about US regulations, but up here in my Province, Manitoba, Canada, our old Premier (Governor) signed a deal with the Governator to adopt the California emission laws. All the Greenies were thrilled, up here! (I'm a Greenie but not an extremist!)

Well, the downside, up here is that ANY licensed car dealers (new or used) CAN'T sell cars older than 15 years old, regardless of mileage!!

Your ALUMNI are touching History on that beautiful beast. I had a 1955 Studebaker President Coupe and was so impressed with the excellent forethought and innovations with the Studes. My mother had a 1964 Daytona with that roof. Dad brought a new Fridge home, standing up in the back, with the roof open!

Great cars! Go like stink on the cheap too! My President had 22 grease nipples on the front end. Most cars have 6. Didn't need Power steering!

 

I will be following this one with great interest, pick. Those are cool wagons that don't get the accolades, or the money, that they should. But....I guarantee you that that will change in the future. That is a cool wagon, for sure. So...you cut the springs to lower the front end? What will you do with the rear stance?

 

Session 3

Nothing station wagon related to report this time.

For our third class session we took a field trip to a private car collection in the area. The owner was nice enough to open his doors to our class and entertain us with amazing racing stories. The students had a great time and got to see what some restored cars look like (as well as some big boy toys)

 

Hey Teach! Can I join your class!!!

Nothin' like adding sizzle to the steak to improve attendance.

Nice collection. Does he adopt?

 

Wow, that is some private collection. The guy must be a "kabillionaire" as I'm seeing some pretty pricey cars in there.

 

What a cool field trip Olive. Really like the big Gulf Oil sign the gent's got. I grew up working in a Gulf service station. Lots of great memories. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

Looks like I just missed turning in my permission slip to attend the field trip! RATS!!!

 

Session 4

This week we were back to work on the front suspension.

Ransom got both the front wheel cylinders rebuilt and the front brakes put back together.


Ian and Shahbaz got the front bushings pressed in the kingpins assembled and the front suspension assemblies together.




We ran out of time before we got the suspension back on the car, but we did get the top shafts bolted to the frame.

 

Session 5

It was a cold one here in Seattle yesterday. But we got a fire going in the stove and got to work - after some coffee and donuts...



The primary objective for the day was to finish up the front suspension. I love this shot of everyone under the car - there's actually another set of legs sticking out the driver's side that I couldn't get in the picture.


We had all four students this week, so lots of hands to keep busy. Kris and Ian put in some time removing the seats and grinding on the floor to get ready for patching and painting.

 

Session 6

In our sixth class, the students got the front brakes adjusted and the drums back on, started working on the patches for the floor and got the engine compartment stripped and cleaned.

Ransom worked on getting a patch panel cut and shaped for the passenger side. Not much rust there, so we're just replacing a little of the floor.


The driver side is a different story... Zack started marking out where he thinks we need to cut the patch panel.


The engine compartment was filthy, so we stripped it down to clean it.


The color combo on the engine isn't working for me. I think someone said the yellow valve covers are correct​

 

Hmm, if the valve covers were yellow from factory.......the rest of the engine was maybe black? Thanks for the update.

 

That engine looks like it should be in a clown car at the circus!

 

Session 7

We only had two students for session 7 this past Sunday. It's the start of their winter break, so I knew it might be hard to get everyone there.

After getting the sway bar installed to finally finish off the front suspension, we spent the bulk of the class working on patching the floor.

There's not as much to do to this car as there was to our Ford last year, so I'm letting the students spend more time on individual tasks so that they really own the solution.

Ian and Ransom spent some time cutting the big patch panel for the driver side floor and then Ian got to work removing the old metal on the driver side while Ransom welded in the patch he made in the previous class for the passenger floor.



My original plan was to finish up this patching on a Friday night so the students can start on something else in the next class, but now I feel like they should all get to weld and grind on the floor.

While the students were doing the hard stuff, I worked on toning down the engine colors.

 

Thanks for the update Olive.......post up the "finished" engine when you get it out of paint?

 

Session 8

This last session we worked on the rear end, continued on the floors and put the engine back together.

Over the Christmas break I put some time into the engine compartment.


Then during class, Ian and Dave got it put back together.


I got new U-bolts over break from Gitt spings in Auburn (they make them while you wait). Kris worked on getting the lowering blocks in as well as the new shocks.


We spent some more time welding on the floor and getting the driver side cut out and ready to patch.


I'm anxious to get this thing down on the wheels and driving around the block, but first we have to make the wheels look good. I got them unmounted the day before class and we got one sandblasted and painted. I found a light green that approximates the interior color.