Studebaker 2R11 Restoration

The Devil is in the Details

2011-12-15T15:38:00.001-05:00

All of these little details take time. When I took the window tracks apart last year, I found that leather grommets were used in 1953 in the window track slides to hold the window arms and guide the windows up and down. 58 years later, leather grommets are not quite the same. The windows would not roll up and down without trying to veer off a true movement.

Guster fabricated some new neoprene grommets, and with a few tweaks, these windows go up and down smoothly and true. Very nice work.

We need to install the oil pan, a list of trim items, but she sure is coming together. I don't think we'll put the baby moon hubcaps on. The less, the better - it will be the rugged truck it was meant to be

Under the Hood

2011-12-02T10:33:00.001-05:00

The old straight six, oil bath filter, all as it was in 1953.

... Progress every day. Could be done by 12/10/2011.

What hangs better than a side of beef?

2011-10-18T15:26:00.002-04:00

Go Guster

2011-10-04T16:43:00.002-04:00

We are on the home stretch. Rear fenders are on

Big Springs

2011-09-24T09:13:00.003-04:00

Going back a few weeks, Guster, who is doing the restoration, pointed out that this truck has oversized springs - a 3/4 ton truck with one-ton springs.

This truck had taken a beating, and the shackles that held the body to the frame were twisted. Guster fabricated new shackles. We rebuilt the bed because it had been hammered and dented from whatever had been carried by this truck.

Back in the 50's, trucks were not passenger vehicles, for sure. They were meant to work.

Here are the old Shackles that held the body to the frame:

And of course, credit to Guster for the new shackles:

She's a Roller

2011-09-23T13:56:00.003-04:00

Wheels now on the truck. Coming together nicely. She needed a clutch rebuild and that delayed us just a little. The fenders go on in a day or so.

2011-08-23T22:20:00.000-04:00

Guster is at it again! Check out these pictures of the new bed buildout.
Here is the bed start:

Mounting and Balancing the Doors

2011-06-22T07:33:00.000-04:00

We have the doors mounted. Now for the engine....
I wonder what color for the seat? Basic tan, I think.

Cab is UP and ON the Frame!

2011-06-10T15:58:00.000-04:00

Guster (Guy Coville) has the cab up onto the frame.
Now, what color for the seat? Pearl White? Tan? Hmmm.

Here is the Flat Head Six!

2011-05-18T20:26:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Gary Ash, Studebaker Driver's Club, for giving me motivation. He helped me find the right paint for this truck. It's rather a military flat green, but once again, we are making progress

Sanded Like Butter

2011-05-17T17:11:00.005-04:00

Guy Coville (Guster's Autobody, Ballston Spa, NY)has stripped, welded, and patched this cab up beautifully. He removed the fenders, seam sealed, wet sanded with 600 grit. The texture/smoothness of the finished metal and the first coats of primer make it feel as smooth as a baby's bottom!

Just compare to the last picture posted. The pictures don't do it justice, but this is just like finishing a piece of furniture.

Guster can Weld!

2011-02-21T19:56:00.001-05:00

Guy found me a front right fender from a 1950 2-ton Stude. The wheel well was bigger, but the back curve of the 2-ton Stude fender cut nicely, and he welded it into place to fix the rust!

2011-02-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

Guster's Auto Body in Ballston Spa is helping me out. Nice job, Guy!

Door Window Replacement

2010-04-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

I removed the door window, following the instructions in the Shop Manual. A shop manual can be purchased from the Studebaker National Museum - http://www.studebakermuseum.org/ - for about $40. First, you remove the vent window, which is held in place with five screws. Three screws are found on the outside edge of the inner door hinge end, and two screws are under the clasp that holds the vent window closed. Again, follow the manual instructions. These pictures show that I drove the window hardware channels off the window pane with a hammer and cold chisel. The windows can handle the hammering. Lots of rust in the channels. I'll need to remove the rust and fill the pits in with welding.

Tires Redone

2010-04-15T20:14:00.000-04:00

This is one of the rims as purchased. Lots of RUST! The rims are old six lug rims with lock rings. Not many tire shops work with lock rings. The original tires were bias-ply 7.00-16. I found some radial tires that fit the rims, had the rims sand-blasted and painted by Allstar Chevrolet on rte 50, between Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs. They did a great job, and the tires and rims are now remounted. The sand-blast and paint job for all five rims (spare included) was about $600. The tires, tubes and mounting were another $800. Nothing like nice wheels!

A Truck to Replicate

2010-01-23T20:04:00.000-05:00

Here is the original truck, lettering that I will replicate. I am not sure how exact that I'll be, but we will see how it goes.

I bought my truck from Minolta, Minnesota at www.dansoldcars.net. Dan was a great guy, and cut a fair deal for my truck.