Early 1920s Studebaker ?

3 minute(s) of a 173 minute read

Yippee !

Don't look now but following a visit from our son Steve and with his invaluable assistance we managed to get the engine "rocking" gently in top gear by pushing the car back and forth. Little by little it rocked a little further with each push, then suddenly the motor was free and will now turn over smoothly on the crank handle. My next task will be to remove the oil pan and throughly clean it out before replacing it and refilling with fresh oil.  My next trick will be to go over the magneto and carburettor. Then lots of degreasing and cleaning under the hood (bonnet).

Earlier today I ordered a Service Manual from Paxtons so it is all systems go.  More and more I am convinced that I would be totally wrong to even think about a ground up, bare chassis restoration and/or a bare metal re-paint. If I can, with the least amount of interference bring it back to where it was before being relegated to the Fowl-house in the 1940s that should be sufficient. 

I am increasingly confident that I will be able to establish that the milage shown on the speedo is indeed correct at 36,016 miles.  Hopefully I will be able to proceed even further without the need to remove the cylinder head. 

9-13-2017

Some progress, perhaps very minor but progress of a sort. Being one of those people who like to dot their i and cross their t I have just this morning bought 25 new 1/2 inch x 20 high tensile nuts and hardened washers to suit along with a new 1/2 inch die-nut so I can clean up the threads on the head studs and fit the new washers and nuts. Hopefully a step in the right direction. While I was doing these I notices something else that will require some attention. When I removed the spark plugs I noticed that one had some "plumber's teflon tape" wound around the thread so It looks as though at least one  cylinder will require a "heli'coil" fitted to the sparkplug hole. The next task will be to find some new spark plugs as some of the existing ones have had a hard life. I would sooner not  use adaptors & fit 14mm plugs. Perhaps some of the other early (aluminium head) Light Six owners can advise what spark plugs they are using. Brand, heat range etc. and where they buy them. One option I have used in the past was to use (in Australia) Ford Falcon 6 cylinder 18mm tapered seat plugs (NGK A6FS) after machining off the taper and fitting a suitable washer borrowed from some old 18mm plugs. or if I can find them NGK A6 which have a conventional flat seat with a standard type washer. These  are 12mm reach with a 25.4 hex. (In other vintage cars with 18mm plugs.)

Hello OnSafari

Now with the new tires on it I will be able to push it out and give it a wash then I can start to give it paint a light cut and polish. I need to remove one door so I can have the paint colour matched. I am trying to reach a balance between spending time on mechanical work and body. I would also like to make a start on restoring the interior trim but unfortunately there is only one of me.