Champ 3/4 Ton Specs

[riversidevw]

Even though I should know better (garage already full), I am thinking of taking a look at a '64 Champ offered for sale locally. It's a V8 short wheelbase with full-width cargo box. My knowledge of this thing is negligible. I don't know yet whether it has slider rear window. A single photo shows chrome grille and front bumper.

It apparently has an original five speed manual gearbox. I vaguely recall that the one-ton Stude my dad bought 60 years ago had a very low "extra" ratio... something similar here? Did the 3/4 ton '64 come with 15" or 16" wheels?

I'm guessing that a half ton with Flightomatic would be more car-like and probably better suited to our urban and surburban driving.

Thanks from a Stude truck novice!

Gil Zimmerman

[2R5]

You may get a response if you post these questions on the Truck Farmers page .

http://www.network54.com/Forum/23885/

[Skip Lackie]

64 Champ 3/4-ton V8 trucks were available with 5-speed transmissions, both direct and overdrive. In the direct, the extra gear was low; in the OD, the extra gear was overdrive. Standard tire size was 7.00 x 16 with both 7.5 x 16 and 8.00 x 17.5 optional.

[Mark57]

SWB and 5 spd.

It's a V8 short wheelbase with full-width cargo box.
Gil Zimmerman

I don't have my books in front of me to check, but was there such an animal in the 8E series as a 3/4 ton with a 112" wheelbase (6.5 foot bed)? I know they did not exist in C-Cabs - all 3/4 tonners were 122" wheelbase (8 foot bed).

Skip - I also thought that the 5 spd. DD trannies were only available on one ton and over units?

[StudeRich]

64 Champ 3/4-ton V8 trucks were available with 5-speed transmissions, both direct and overdrive. In the direct, the extra gear was low; in the OD, the extra gear was overdrive. Standard tire size was 7.00 x 16 with both 7.5 x 16 and 8.00 x 17.5 optional.

Both the DD and OD New process Transmissions are H.D. Truck type floor shifts, with Compound LOW not usually used unless loaded or equipped with a 4.09 Axle Ratio, (most are 4.56 or 4.88) so the "extra gear" is a mid range gear not "Low" because 5th. is Direct in the DD.
And 5th. in the Overdrive of course is O.D.

The 112 WB was not advertized as available on 3/4 Tons, but a fleet was special ordered by the Los Angeles Water and Power Co. and all I saw when I delivered one new, were Dark Brown, with Low Gear Start Automatic and Std. Cab W/fixed rear window.

Maybe the subject Truck was modified?

[riversidevw]

My reference to "short wheelbase" may well an error on my part, only photo I've seen is a frontal shot. I may have misread one of the few tables of specs that I could find.

http://studetrucks.tripod.com/eid6063.htm

Seller tells me the truck is an 8E 12 model, I believe that should be a 3/4 ton. I have no clue about the transmission options for '64.

Gil

[62champ]

Mark,

Think you are correct on both points. Do not think Studebaker ever made a 3/4 ton truck with less than the 8 foot bed.

And although the xtra gear on the 5th/OD was the OD - first was pretty darn low. A cousin had an 8E 1/2 ton with the 5th over and red lining it in first would probably get you up to 7 or 8 mph.

Here is an International meet photo of a Champ 3/4 ton.

[Skip Lackie]

Agree with the corrections above. I was trying to be brief in my initial response, as I was in a hurry, so may not have crafted my answers very carefully. Both the 7E-8E parts book and the 8E spec book list the both the 112" and 122" wheelbases as being available for the 8E10 and 8E12.

Mark- the books show both 5-spd direct and 5-spd OD as available in all V8-powered trucks, but not with the six.

[Mark57]

Thanks Skip

Agree with the corrections above. I was trying to be brief in my initial response, as I was in a hurry, so may not have crafted my answers very carefully. Both the 7E-8E parts book and the 8E spec book list the both the 112" and 122" wheelbases as being available for the 8E10 and 8E12.

Mark- the books show both 5-spd direct and 5-spd OD as available in all V8-powered trucks, but not with the six.

Always learning something new... 'course as StudeRich pointed out in his post, even if it was not a factory offering, Studebaker would likely have built it if asked by a customer!

[riversidevw]

A quick follow-up question... did these HD truck transmissions have synchromesh on all forward speeds? I recall a fair number of 50's and early 60's era manual boxes (especially imports) that still used non-synchro first gear, including an oval window VW out in the garage.

Thanks.

Gil

[Skip Lackie]

No sychro in first gear. But you won't ever use first anyway -- as noted above, it's way too low.