Posting #6 - Time for a "Driver Studebaker"

During the last year or so I decided that I would like to buy a "Driver Studebaker", to drive around to local events and club meetings. (truth is I realized it will be many moons before I will be driving "my project car").  I started searching and I found some that I just "had to have" almost right away. But of course they were always a few thousand miles away and it meant a long road trip to get them or have them shipped out.

I just about bought a couple, but it was always the same. When I checked into them they weren't as nice as they were advertised to be.... you know the story! Finally found one that was relatively close and in pretty nice condition. Introducing my new Studebaker.....!!

1964 Studebaker Daytona Wagonaire with sliding roof

I received this Wagonaire at the end of August, just in time to take it down to the International Studebaker 2018 Meet that was in Tacoma, Washington this year, on the Labour Day weekend. I am glad to report that the wagon made it there and back with no problems at all. Needless to say when you have an old car that is new to you and you aren't familiar with all its "finer points" it can be a bit unnerving.  However I am glad to say that by the end of the trip, I was very happy with the outcome. (Don't tell the wrong people, but I have a picture of the speedometer reading 75 MPH!!)

I hadn't planned on this, but I am now moving my  "Daytona Project" out of the garage for a couple of months and going to do a few things on the Wagonaire that I figure need doing. Not going to get too carried away.... I have enough to do on the other Studebaker in my life as it is!

Here are a couple of other pictures of her. Click here to be sent to Ron's Wagonaire Photo Album

Studebaker 289 cubic inch/4 brl carb

Mags were already on the car

I will be building on the photo album as I go along if you want to check in once in awhile.

Posting #5 - Making things fit properly

This posting should bring you up to date with some of the fun I have had with my project. There have been a couple of trips to Hawaii and a trip to Italy and Greece that have taken me away from the garage for quite a bit of the time. I have also been active with the Studebaker Club and went to the International Meet that was held in Tacoma this year. Ahhh...retirement is great!  Rusty Ronnie

My camper jacks were handy again.

Jacks made it easy to make adjustments

Now tried fitting doors. They weren't as good as I hoped. Washers for temp spacers. Will make proper ones after final fit is achieved.

Cut out some rusty sections.

Formed new pieces and welded in.

Here is an example of rusted areas being replaced with some new metal.
Many little sections like this were done and them primed.

The holes are for spot welding.

This filled space as needed.

 Fenders had large gaps when trial mounted so I cut off and replaced some of the metal. After fillers fitted the fenders fit much better

Adapted to fit 4 dr. wheel well.

Now welded to floor.

 Rear quarter door panels eventually fit pretty well and were then welded in place. Rebuilt rusty bottoms of quarter panels.

 After a lot of playing around, most of the body seems to fit as it should.
I have been using the old fenders for trial fit but in the end they will be replaced with the NOS fenders that I got with the car.

I still have lots more to improve on when I get back to it in the spring.

Remember you can click on these pictures to make them larger.

My intentions after I get these little things done to my satisfaction are to replace the interior bracing similar to what I had previously and then get the car body onto a rotisserie that is anxiously waiting to be used. Then I will properly clean and sandblast the entire body in preparation for some primer.

I still will have to fit new rocker panels and replace a few rusty sections in the trunk and the cab floor.

I will be interrupting this work now for a couple of months because I have decided to do some work on my new Wagonaire before next spring. Haven't told you about the Wagonaire yet but you will be told all about in my next post which should hit the press in the next week or so.

There are also new photos posted to the Project Album. Click on the sentence at the top of page.