White Rocker Switches, Knobs, Etc

[Swifster]

Is there any surefire way to clean the rocker switches and knobs? I don't see anything other than the occasional wiper switch as an NOS piece.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $1755.45)

[Roscomacaw]

Clean the rockers or the internals of the switches?

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[Swifster]

Thanks for the reply guys. Bob, I'm referring to the actual plastic 'cover' of the switch. I know there is a way to clean/refurbish the contacts, but the covers are yellowing and obviously, I rather have them look new. The covers on mine are groved. Didn't Studebaker change these to a smooth piece for '65? I'll try the compound and see how it works.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $1755.45)

[Swifster]

quote:Originally posted by Swifster

Thanks for the reply guys. Bob, I'm referring to the actual plastic 'cover' of the switch. I know there is a way to clean/refurbish the contacts, but the covers are yellowing and obviously, I rather have them look new. The covers on mine are groved. Didn't Studebaker change these to a smooth piece for '65? I'll try the compound and see how it works. Thanks Mike!

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $1755.45)

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $1755.45)

[JDP]

The yellow is unlikely to clean up completely.

JDP/Maryland
63 R2 SuperHawk (Caesar)
spent to date $54664,75
64 R2 GT (Sid)
spent to date $62,439.30
63 Lark 2 door
51 Commander
39 Coupe express
39 Coupe express (rod)

[41 Frank]

I removed mine and painted them with some off white paint and it has held up well.

[monomaniac]

I don't believe Studebaker changed these dash switches in mid year.
1963 and 1964 are the same with white switches, grooved surface.
1965 had white switches, smooth surface with no grooves.
1966 came with black switches, smooth surface with no grooves.
All the above worked in the same way with only their appearance changing for the different years.

[StudeRich]

What Mike was trying to say is that many '64's have the smooth type '65 White rocker switches because Studebaker (SASCO) superseded the part number of the ribbed switch to the smooth switch because that Vendor's switch was failing, the smooth one is superior to the ribbed one, and is factory authorized to use as a replacement on '63 & '64.

quote:Originally posted by monomaniac

I don't believe Studebaker changed these dash switches in mid year.
1963 and 1964 are the same with white switches, grooved surface.
1965 had white switches, smooth surface with no grooves.

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[Frank Starr]

So my 64 Cruiser which has three ribbed switches and one smooth (headlight, of course) switch is technically correct, since the smooth one is a factory authorized replacement.

Frank Starr
Seattle

[StudeRich]

That's right Frank, but it sure would be prettier if you replaced them all!

StudeRich
Studebakers Northwest
Ferndale, WA

[JBOYLE]

Weren't Avanti switches ungrooved white?
Why would Studebaker make two types?

63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)

Washington State

[monomaniac]

Avanti switches were grooved white BUT they were narrower than the Lark switches. They cannot be interchanged.

[monomaniac]

To Frank Starr,

If I were judging 1964 Cruisers or any Lark type model of that year and it had a smooth switch, it would be docked points since no Studebaker ever left the factory that way. My personal 64 Daytona has black smooth switches. Everything works fine and fits; somebody must have replaced them at some time but the factory did not.

[Frank Starr]

Well, I spose it would be prettier, but it'd hardly be authentic. To replace all the switches, even though three out of four were still fine, would be a complete violation of the Studebaker demographic. Certainly Studebaker's existence, at least postwar, was centered on one word: frugal. Studebaker management would laugh out loud if they ever heard of someone replacing all the switches just so's they'd be purdy.

So who do we think we are, 50 years later, thunbing our nose at the factory's market demographic? If the car can't come to a meet with its history, informed by Studebaker's demographic, in place, then it's not a Studebaker.

Frank Starr
Seattle

[Swifster]

With a blue & white interior, I'd rather keep the white switches. Being as this is a 'modified' car, maybe I'll upgrade to smooth switches. All of the original switches are still in the cluster.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona - 289 4V, 4-Speed (Cost To Date: $1755.45)