Special Delivery Orphan

[Bellingham Studenut]

Mike,

Saving another Orphan from the crusher, here is your challenge Hotwheels63R2:

After loading my car trailer with Zip Van bogie-cradle, engine, trans, radiator and [u]dropping it off at your shop</u>, it will need the following:

Clean & paint the tubular boogie engine cradle.
Rebuild front brakes.
Mount engine, trans & radiator on the bogie unit.
Add new, hoses, belts, fluids and parts needed (I'll pay for any new parts).
Get engine running (break-in) on the cradle ready for install.
Help me install in Zip Van at previous owners Barn.
6 bolts hold the whole cradle bogie unit in, then connect driveline and 1 steering rod.





Then I can bring the Zip Van home and work on the rest.
Hopefully, I can get it drivable and then do body and paint.
I brought a truck load of NOS Zip Van parts home along with some non zip stuff.

Let me know if you are interested and willing to take on this project.

The Reward to Hotwheels63R2 is the following vehicle:




Thanks,

James

The Bell Collection
Bellingham, WA.

[bams50]

Ohh man, to heck with Mike, pick me!!! Just kidding, I'm on the other coast

Looks like a deal! Hope Mike is in a position to do it[]

Robert (Bob) Andrews Owner- Studebakeracres- on the IoMT (Island of Misfit Toys!)
Parish, central NY 13131

"Some people live for the rules, I live for exceptions"- 311

"Do they all not, by mere virtue of having survived as relics of a bygone era, amass a level of respect perhaps not accorded to them when they were new?"

[BobGlasscock]

Aren't there laws against the public display of contract proposals which cause torture to the audience?

'50 Champion, 1 family owner

[mbstude]

Those PNW guys are havin' all the fun. [8D]

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[Dick Steinkamp]

quote:Originally posted by mbstude

Those PNW guys are havin' all the fun. [8D]

We have AT LEAST our share...and if you throw in southern British Columbia, MORE than our share for sure .

James (Bellingham Studenut) and Stephenie, OTOH, are WAAAAAYYYY over their limit . Hopefully now that they are regulars here, they will post a few "teaser" pictures of a few of the very special Studebakers in their collection. Mind boggling [:0].

Dick Steinkamp
Bellingham, WA

[fargoguy]

Dick- You mean cars like this one?



Evan Davis
Prairie Bulletin
Saskatchewan Chapter
Prince Albert, Sk

http://www.saskstudebaker.ca/Studebaker.html

[StudeRich]

Yes Evan, Mike did not do too bad of a job on that JT R1 Engine and Engine compartment, [^] I think he can handle the job!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[StudeDave57]

Uhhh, James~

I'm on my way up.

RIGHT NOW!!!!!


StudeDave '57 [8D]
San Diego, Ca. (for now...)
San Diego County SDC

https://www.studebakersandiego.com

'54 Commander Regal 4dr 'Ruby'
'57 Parkview 'Betsy' (she's a 2dr wagon...)
'57 Commander DeLuxe 2dr 'Baby'
'57 Champion Custom 2dr 'Jewel'
'58 Packard sedan 'Cleo'
'65 Cruiser 'Sweet Pea'

Part owner of the one and only
'55 PROTOTYPE panel van

[StudeRich]

Mike; I think more correctly, what that Modulator does is Vacuum control the Throttle Pressure, and electrically do the kick-down function like all the Automatic Trucks. So you need a vacuum hose to the intake manifold for Throttle Pressure control, piece-O-cake! [^]

It also has a heavy Truck Type Band Brake on the Trans. for a more secure Parking Brake, for stop and go type driving without using the Service Brakes, a good U.S. Postal service requirement.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[Bellingham Studenut]

Mike is ready to take on the challenge, so this "Orphan of Orphan's" will get restored as deserved.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor dark of night stopped these Postal vehicles from driving millions of miles delivering mail to people.

The new "Zip Code" gave it the perfect name!
At least every weekday, they served well and "delivered" for years and then continued as ice cream trucks, plumbing trucks, etc after the Post Office sold them.
Unfortunately they were used and abused closer to extinction, just like many station wagons.

How many nice Zip Vans are still running around? [?]
And how many people would want to restore them...? Unfortunately not many, so the survival rate becomes very low.
With a 427 twin traction rear axle, even the ohv 6 cyl engine could make them leap stop and go, but not something most people want if they can't cruise at freeway speeds.

The previous owner is a club member who worked as rural router for the post office and had hoped to restore and use it on his route as the last Studebaker Zip Van in service with the post office.
Unfortunately the project got stalled and needs to be removed.
After it gets restored, displayed and driven, he will be able to put on his old uniform and educate people at shows, etc.
I only know of 3 nice restored Zip Vans existing, so many generations of younger people will never get a chance to see what was once common at so many mail boxes.
Education = Appreciation

James

The Bell Collection
Bellingham, WA.

[8E45E]

quote:Originally posted by Bellingham Studenut

How many nice Zip Vans are still running around? [?]

Jeff R. asked that a little over a year ago, and got a few responses. Here is the thread on that one.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12117&SearchTerms=zip,van

Craig

[raprice]

That Zip Van looks like a great project. You won't see too many of those at a car show. It'll attract all the attention.
Your Lark's a good looking car.
Rog

'59 Lark VI Regal Hardtop
Smithtown,NY

[mbstude]

Here's the one that sat in my granddad's boneyard for years. It was restored by my SDC chapter, and donated to the SNM in '97.

http://www.georgiastudebaker.com/zip1.htm

We never touched anything mechanical on it. It was purely a cosmetic restoration. (Though a very nice, correct one. )

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[4961Studebaker]

HHmmmm, wasn't Jeff just under a ZIP in jawjah with a cutting torch? Next to a tree with a growth?

And those old posts of Zipvans from over a year ago. I think its time to spill the beans on the 2 1/2 projects thats going on at 'Deepnhock Area 51'.

Oh I have the same angle photos that Dick had of the Omaha ZIP, except for these two fellas in the photo.


ChopStu

[studegary]

That last Zip Van pictured is not totally correct. Most that I have seen in the last 20 years are painted incorrectly. Refer to an original Zip Van or pictures of a new Zip Van when restoring.

Years ago, I rebuilt (not restored) a Zip Van. I started with the best one that I could find, then changed the engine and painted the Zip Van. To me, 45 MPH was a top comfortable speed. My Zip Van went to a young lady in NJ. I have lost track of it since then.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer