Stutabaga

"Tristan" (casselts) 03/15/2018 at 23:33 • Filed to: None

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After not touching it for months, I finally decided to clear all the crap off of it and fire it up. Well, of course the battery was dead and the accelerator pump circuit in the WCFB was plugged up, but after correcting those things, it fired right up and ran beautifully. So, under cover of darkness, I ventured out to the local Safeway gas station to squirt a bit of gas into the nearly empty tank.

I was incredibly nervous, as I have never driven it further than around the block, but it got there perfectly. Then I decided to take it down a couple of back roads just outside of town. Man, it drives great for a car with no power steering and manual drum brakes (that is to say it’s a bit sketchy, but manageable).

I have renewed interest in the project. Next up: get the brake lights working, replace the crusty old rubber brake lines, and hit the road for some summer fun!

Sorry for the old pic. It does look slightly less dilapidated nowadays.

My bird IS the word > Tristan 03/15/2018 at 23:46

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I always find it weird where those old cars rust out, behind the taillights and quarters instead of around the wheel wells and rockers like most cars.

lone_liberal > Tristan 03/15/2018 at 23:50

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That is fantastic. I absolutely love it warts and all.

Nothing > Tristan 03/15/2018 at 23:52

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That thing is neat, sweet project!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > My bird IS the word 03/16/2018 at 00:05

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It’s all about drainage and what stays wet I would think, quality of metal, it probably points to a complete change in how they built cars.

My bird IS the word > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 03/16/2018 at 00:15

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even with drainage, why the top of the headlight shroud? I guess I would have to see the underbody.

shop-teacher > Tristan 03/16/2018 at 04:48

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Cool!

Tristan > My bird IS the word 03/16/2018 at 12:29

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On Studebakers, the back side of the rocker is wide open- nothing to trap dirt/salt/moisture. Up front, though- they never used inner fenders. This left the inside of the fender wide open to collect dirt/salt/moisture everywhere. The rear edge of the fender folds back on itself to create the mounting flange and this just makes a pocket for debris that even when they were new caused almost instantaneous rot. The headlight bucket it much the same story. The wheel just throws junk up there, it sits, it rots out. I have a pair of green rot-free fenders waiting to go on eventually.

My bird IS the word > Tristan 03/16/2018 at 12:41

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That makes perfect sense! I didn’t notice the lack of inner fenders. That explains everything.