Lost & Found - Dad's '59 Studebaker Truck

Very cool story and a cool truck too.

 

Been chuggin' away on the ol' truck. Got the cab's exterior 95% stripped...

And tonight I got the hood, grille, and passenger side fender pulled...


...just gotta get the driver's side fender off, clean up a few missed areas on the cab, clean up the firewall, tidy the engine and surroundings, strip the interior, and get the cab's rust tackled. Then its off for primer and paint.

Well, when I put it that way, that sounds like a lot more work than was in my head. Guess I'll be staying busy.

 

And on tonight's program: Engine-Bay clean-up...



Apparently the valley of a Stude 259 is the perfect place for all you squirrels to hide yer nuts...




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What a cool truck and a great story. You're a lucky man.

 

Just found your story,and what a great one. Congrats on bringing the trucks home. Keep up the good work,and keep us posted.

 

Thanks all.

I've really got momentum going on this thing. While I'm not gonna kid myself and make lofty goals for when it'll be done, I hope to be at least driving this thing by the time winter rolls around.


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It took me about a year and a half getting my "garage find" on the road. It was unlike any other project I've done. I enjoyed working on it so much I was afraid to finish it. It sounds stupid, but working on a car with so much history, I constantly felt the presence of the past owner. Your truck is 10 times more special. Never mind a deadline, spend the time and enjoy it. It's a second chance to spend time with your Dad.

 

Well as a brief diversion from body work, I pulled these off the shelf:



I need to decide what to do to top the factory 4-barrel manifold. I've got three options as I see it:

1. Rochester 4-Jet, no tag, but supposedly pulled off of a 1962 Chevy 327. At least that's what the paper tag on it said. Needs a rebuild and a manifold spacer to clear linkage.

2. Holley 4160, 600 CFM, pulled off the 327 motor from my family's '60 Chevy station wagon of my childhood. Also needs a rebuild, and an adaptor plate to mount the large base carb to the small-base manifold.

3. Buy something else...



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Be careful not to over-carb it. I believe that a stock Stude V8 carb is somewhere around 400-450 cfm.

 

I hear you, I want to avoid any such problems. I've heard and read that many folks have had luck with new Edelbrock 500 and 600 CFM carbs on these motors. If I do end up buying an off-the-shelf option, I would plan on the 500 CFM one. But I've got these on hand, collecting dust, and the cost of a rebuild kit is far better than the cost of a new carburetor.

In any case, anything should be better than the completely wrong Rochester 2-Jet that's on the motor now...

 

Based on my measurements and searching around on the HAMB, my 4-Jet is a 486 CFM type. Should be right on the money for the 259. Guess I'll start it a soaking...

 

That's awesome. My dad has had a bunch of cars over his life time, although I'm sure I've gotten close or surpassed his number, so I can't even begin to think about to start tracking down the oldies. I'd love to have his or really any similar looking '59 El Camino. This thread also reminds me of my '50 Stude 3/4 which I miss as well.

 

Not much to report on, been trying to unload another car, but I'm still trying to do at least one thing on the truck per day. Still rolling on the engine bay...

 

Did a quick Rustoleum refinish of the wheels. Keeping up my bargain of at least one thing a night...



I'm thinking of hitting them with purple flake, while I wait to get a set of chrome reverses. Or maybe just leave them black...


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Engine is pretty much back together...



So, do I polish the aluminum 'air cleaner cover', or paint it to match the valve covers and oil filter lid?


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Looking good.

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Paint to match. I like the idea of doing at least "one" thing a day.

 

What carb did you use? The 4-jet? Looks good. I saw you have new tires, but I kinda liked the big off-road tires in some of the first pics you posted with the stake bed.

 

When I get back to town give me a shout. I have a Carter AFB off a Studebaker sitting in the garage. Looks to be in fair shape. Probably just needs a gasket kit if you are interested.

 

Polish it, if you don't like it you still can paint it afterwards.
Very nice story, it makes working on it more fun.
Congrats- Fernando

 

You have a very cool, unusual truck with a most interesting story. The truck finding you, and running across the intake your dad bought years ago. V8 automatic no less. Your dad is smiling down on you!

 

Sure thing, I'd love to have a proper AFB for the truck. While I can make what I have work for now, I'd much rather get rid of spacers and adaptors and just run what's supposed to be there...


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Awesome man! Gonna be watching along on this one...

 

a month late, but I vote paint the air cleaner to match the valve covers, and get some Bearcat 259 stickers for the valve covers. My .02 worth.

 

Good for you on finding your dad's old truck! That's great!

 

this is actually the coolest vehicle you own.

 

I'll second that ! LOL...

 

Thanks @Hitchhiker and @rob-redm as much as I want to thrash on the tub when I get back to the states, this is going to be the first one out the door. The wife really wants to drive this thing.

Patch panels should be waiting for me in the garage and I've been keeping an eye out around the web for the few small things I need for it. Heck, I even found NOS trim for the hood that was missing.

Should be an easy up, but I've said that before...

 

Just a few pics of what when on with the truck from the point of my last update and when I left to go overseas a few months back...

Found some more pics of the truck from back when Dad owned it:






Pretty much buttoned up the engine bay (in this pic I still need to clean-up and remount the voltage reg):


And since I was metal-flaking some other stuff, I decided to give a go to some small pieces and parts that will end op on the truck. Here's the speaker cover that will end up in the center dash where a previous owner butchered the panel behind the 'wood' sheet seen in earlier pics:

 

Plans are pretty strait forward, and in line with what was previously determined.

Mechanically, I just need to do a quick poking around in the tranny (I have a pump and gasket kit standing by), a small amount of rewiring, and a tune on the motor.

I've got to repair the cab corners, door bottoms, and front fenders, and some other cab areas before painting with white epoxy primer, a state that it will probably stay in for a while, or at least until I get ambitious enough to do pearl over white.

The wheels, glovebox door, instrument panel, and door panels will get metal-flaked with purple. and the seat will need reupholstery in a similar hue.

Then, rebuild the bed, assemble, and drive. Sounds easy right?
(anyone who wants to assist, will be rewarded in greasy food and adult beverages)