Projects Another one, yea I know...'60 Studebaker Lark Wagon

I said I had no more room or I was up to my eye balls in projects.......but who needs sanity.
I found a 1960 Studebaker Lark Wagon for the girlfriend, 259 V8, Flight-o-Matic a/t, Power steering on Ebay of all places. Won it cheap, went to pick it up in Arizona, drives good, runs good, power steering leaks and interior is mint. It's on it's second paint job, it's well optioned and I pulled it apart . It's getting a disc brake kit, a dual master, mustang 8", reseal power steering system, new front end bushings, new rear leaf bushings and shocks......then drive the hell out of it.

 

The trip, borrowed moms truck as my panel doesn't have a trailer hitch yet.....which was a good thing because it was HOT.

 

That thing reminds me of a boston terrier dog we used to have, so ugly it`s cute LOL.
I would like to have that car myself, I like studes and I love wagons. Great find (IMHO).

 

Yea, she wanted something small and a wagon (she had a '61 Bel Air 2dr last old car). We looked into 50's-60's euro wagons (Anglia, Hillman, Morris, Cortina, Austin.....even Crosley), but all were to hard to find and get parts for. Went to USA small wagons (Nash, Studebaker, Rambler), Studebaker already had a V8 and she liked them.

 

Great car, had them before, drove the snot out of it with no problems...
Just curious as to why you want to change out the rear?

 

The drums comes with hubs and at $200 each + shoes and seals. We plan on driving this far and daily, the 8" is easier to get parts for (and cheaper).....plus going from a 3.07 to a 2.79 will help with mpg.

 

Very nice Dan, hope to see it soon, Congrats on the deal...

 

That is a nice wagon. I'd be happy with that!

 

It's a little sad, I took the driveshaft in to be lengthened 2" and noticed that it had the original u joints on it.......and they were still good. I'm starting to think that 82k on the clock is the original miles. That's all the updating I'm doing, the rest is rebuilding or resealing what's there.

To be honest I was a little leery about the tapered axle, I know the Dana 44 is strong but the early Ford banjos didn't have the best track record for shearing the key or damaging the keyway. I know the key is bigger, but the Stude 259 is torquey. Also if it needs bearings in the future I can take out the center chunk and do it on the bench VS. in the car with the Dana. I didn't modify the car or original parts, so they can go back on with no ill effect.

 

Looks great. I always like the distinctive style of the Studes. Are you going to add air? that is a must for my wife. I am doing a 66 Bird conv. for her now.

 

Going off the smog grid and getting rid of her newer car with a/c, so I might need to later. I do have some pieces from a friends flathead wagon that I took the a/c off of, some of it will work.

 

Looks like a good solid wagon,have fun with it. HRP

 

Front bushings in, master in, front disc kit in and Mustang rear in. Have a few small leaks at the res valves and waiting for the wheels. Still have to make the parking brake work with the 8", reseal p/s system, adjust valves and make a new floor cover for the master.

It's been HOT, so I'm going as fast as my sweaty ass can get parts.......or make parts......or afford parts .

 

Made some stands to paint the wheels.......WAY too hot this weekend . I couldn't find stock style wheels with the backspace I needed. I ended up buying some new ones 15x5 with a 3 1/4" back space. 3 1/2" slightly hit the caliper (the stock was 3 1/2").


The parking brake is hooked up, I swapped out the res valves and adj prop valve from the kit.....couldn't get them to stop leaking even with teflon paste. I replaced them with SSBC units and everything is good. More pics to come.

 

Looking good

 

Hey Scott, how's work.

 

LOL the signs are confused the picture is urinating, defecating is the other end and hopefully not a liquid.

neat little hooptie. Bet the lady likes it real well.

 

She loves it. It's a mid size as the wheel base is about 2" longer then her Altima......a little tight for me inside, but she can reach the pedals easy now.

 

Let's make a pickup !!!

 

If its a station wagon .I love it .Good luck with it.Bruce.

 

Here's a shot of the front with the chrome rings on it now, just primed the wheels.......now need to make time to paint them.

Front brakes done


Kinda fun running between both houses (car is at my moms) lugging tools. When it gets colder I'll be back on the '28 hopefully .

 

Funny the things that ladies like isn't it.

mine likes trucks and wagons, vans in a pinch. LOL

Looks like your movin' right along. It is going to be one sweet driver.

 

Found some acrylic enamel in the garage.......back to work. A good paint gun helps the lame .

 

Holy CRAP, every weekend was dealing with wheels. The new ones rubbed on the rear outer fender and the tires rubbed on front when turning (even with the old rims). I went to Collins custom wheel in Bellflower (great guys, always helped me out), they gave me hoops and centers to try out. After many attempts to get a wheel to fit front and rear so I can rotate, I ended up with a 4" wide hoop with a modern offset center........not big enough for a good tire.

I gave up and went with different sizes front and rear, modern mini van wheels on the rear (15x6 with 5" backspace), disc brake hoops and shoebox centers in the front (15x5) with the cheap (only brand that had matching sizes 225/60 and 205/65) Americas tire had. Collins also had a temp spare tire that would fit front and rear plus fit in the spare well. Did some Por 15 on the floor also and finished the alt brackets. It's almost on the road (maybe tomorrow), the power steering reseal will happen over new years eve and day.

 

I needed to find hubcaps that would work also, Collins has a whole massive used (and new) hubcaps section. Found 4 1971 Impala hubcaps that would fit (caps needed to be flat) and a place online that will make a custom center cap....we'll see how it looks on there when I get them.

If anyone is local and needs wheels, Collins has loads of used wheels (steel and aluminum) and hubcaps. They will make custom steel wheels with used parts to keep costs down (mine where $45 a wheel) and they know their stuff (knew the stock wheels with the offset I needed off the top of their head and cost $25 each). Super helpful (let me take home wheel pieces to measure and let me walk around the hubcap section for 2 hours) and have been there since the 50's.

Collins Custom Wheels & Wheelcovers
8836 Alondra Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706
(562) 630-6546

 

Its funny what other people likes.

Im not at van guy pursay, but I like the room in the back ;-)

The three things I always wish for at every Christmas is;
That my wife starts to love cars
That I can get more shop time
And the thing you are not surpose to get before marrige and thatt you most likely dont get anymore after you get kids.

You Guys are living the life!

 

Looking good!

 

What you need is a '59 Thames Freighter, with a small block chevy right behind the seat, you still got room to haul stuff and with the small block it will haul and the missus will think its cute and begin to like cars. Hell if you dress it right you may even *get what you were not supposed to have before marriage that immediately went away after marriage. LOL

There is a down side to having a lady that is into things with wheels. I can count on getting something for Christmas that has to do with cars or bikes, tools, parts or the like. Then even if its cold out there or I don't feel good she expects me to get right out there and play with that stuff.

*isn't it funny how that works they tell you don't do it before you are married and you don't get to after you are.

 

That's why a panel truck fits the bill....... or just go full in and go for the 70's style vans (underground comeback for some years over here).

PB- I had to look the Thames Freighter up, those are really cool.

 

I just looked at the Thames freighter. There is a couple of euro versions og them but I would still go for a sedan delivery, panel van or just a truck, any day of the week.

Try looking up Fordson Van, volvo 445, volvo 210 or ford escort 1954.
Of I could cram a modern mill, better brakes or and trans in them, and get my girl to sit in and drive, and see out the window at the same time.

But I'm not that much a van guy. But there is exceptions