I would like to start off by introducing myself, I am new here and I just picked up a 1955 E series truck. So it looks like I will be hanging around here for a good while as I don't know jack about Studebakers.
I got it from a friend of my granddads, whos friend is the one that owned it since new, and started a frame off resto on it back in the 90's, and got pretty much done with it, just needs finishing the body. The old man died, and then my grandaddy's friend got it from his widow with the intentions to finish it, but never did. He didn't want to sell it to just anyone, but since he knew my grandad all his life he sold it to me for $2,000. I thought that was a pretty good deal for a complete, and rust-free truck.
It is a 55 E series truck. I found two little tags in the pile of parts, one says model E- C2, the other says E7-12. ??? I don't know. It is in pretty good shape, there is basically no rust. Only exception being that in some point in the past someone tack welded in flat sheetmetal in the bed to cover the original corrugated bed floor. But looking up from the bottom it has some small rust holes. The old man that started it did a good job with the metal, there looks to be no bondo on it. He also had already replaced all the brake stuff and rebuilt the engine. When I first saw it I was worried because all the trim and stuff was stripped. But then found it all piled in the inside. I have pretty much every last piece of the truck, except the windshield. It even came with original Studebaker parts manuals, service manuals, transmission repair manual, and 1956 repair manual. I am not 100% sure by reading the engine number (V 335,550) but it looks like it has the 1955 larger 259'' V8 which is surprising as I would have thought it would be a 224". I was able to turn it over, but I can't get any fire. It ran when parked in a shed about 8 years ago. I am also unsure whether it is converted over to 12v, the old man that had it said it was, but it all looks original and when I pulled the cap off the distributor, the points were so hot they took the skin off my finger I read that the Studes were originally 6v with a positive ground, so I am really unsure what to do at this point. I can't tell what the truck is set up for. I really don't want to hook up anything wrong and burn something up. I am not ready to start work on the body on it, I have a 73 convertible Blazer that I am frame-offing right now that I have to complete and get out of the way. But I would like to get it running well, so I can move it around and maybe run to town on it or what-not. Here are a few pics. Judging by the original color choice thing that was with the paperwork, it was originally "clover green". Not my favorite choice. I know basically nothing about Studebakers, so I am learning a good deal about them. The manuals are great, and full of tons of info. Now if I could only take those part #s out of my manuals and run up to the dealer and buy parts.
Do you guys think it is worth what I paid for it? I don't think it will need very much to get it in good shape.
I am 25 years old, and before I bought this one, I have never even seen a Studebaker truck in person.
Also, ANY info you guys have for me will help, and in the mean time I am going to do some searching around the forum.
Adam
I got it from a friend of my granddads, whos friend is the one that owned it since new, and started a frame off resto on it back in the 90's, and got pretty much done with it, just needs finishing the body. The old man died, and then my grandaddy's friend got it from his widow with the intentions to finish it, but never did. He didn't want to sell it to just anyone, but since he knew my grandad all his life he sold it to me for $2,000. I thought that was a pretty good deal for a complete, and rust-free truck.
It is a 55 E series truck. I found two little tags in the pile of parts, one says model E- C2, the other says E7-12. ??? I don't know. It is in pretty good shape, there is basically no rust. Only exception being that in some point in the past someone tack welded in flat sheetmetal in the bed to cover the original corrugated bed floor. But looking up from the bottom it has some small rust holes. The old man that started it did a good job with the metal, there looks to be no bondo on it. He also had already replaced all the brake stuff and rebuilt the engine. When I first saw it I was worried because all the trim and stuff was stripped. But then found it all piled in the inside. I have pretty much every last piece of the truck, except the windshield. It even came with original Studebaker parts manuals, service manuals, transmission repair manual, and 1956 repair manual. I am not 100% sure by reading the engine number (V 335,550) but it looks like it has the 1955 larger 259'' V8 which is surprising as I would have thought it would be a 224". I was able to turn it over, but I can't get any fire. It ran when parked in a shed about 8 years ago. I am also unsure whether it is converted over to 12v, the old man that had it said it was, but it all looks original and when I pulled the cap off the distributor, the points were so hot they took the skin off my finger I read that the Studes were originally 6v with a positive ground, so I am really unsure what to do at this point. I can't tell what the truck is set up for. I really don't want to hook up anything wrong and burn something up. I am not ready to start work on the body on it, I have a 73 convertible Blazer that I am frame-offing right now that I have to complete and get out of the way. But I would like to get it running well, so I can move it around and maybe run to town on it or what-not. Here are a few pics. Judging by the original color choice thing that was with the paperwork, it was originally "clover green". Not my favorite choice. I know basically nothing about Studebakers, so I am learning a good deal about them. The manuals are great, and full of tons of info. Now if I could only take those part #s out of my manuals and run up to the dealer and buy parts.
Do you guys think it is worth what I paid for it? I don't think it will need very much to get it in good shape.
I am 25 years old, and before I bought this one, I have never even seen a Studebaker truck in person.
Also, ANY info you guys have for me will help, and in the mean time I am going to do some searching around the forum.
Adam
We've got to quit saying, 
Looks like 
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