'46 M5 pickup - new member

[tedtaylor]

Newbie on the forum. Just acquired my first Studebaker. A 1946 M5 pickup truck. I got it at an auction. It was sitting in a storage container for the last decade. An older restoration. It needs brake hydraulics rebuilt. I have the gas tank out for repair and sealing and a new fuel sender unit to install. I have to figure out the electrics as it had a 12 volt battery in it, but i can't tell if the system has been officially switched over from 6 volts. It still has a generator. It started right up and runs great. I hope to have it ready for the 4th of July parade. It obviously is painted right for a parade!!! These are pictures from the auction. i have since removed the red letters.
I've been in the antique car hobby for over 30 plus years and focus my attention to LOTUS and other small sports cars. I used to have Model A and T Fords that i drove everywhere. My intention is to drive this M5 as my 2nd vehicle to run errands and around town. Looking forward to meeting some other Studebaker folks in the Camden County area.

[rowan]

Nice truckie Ted. Looks complete and ready to go. I have a 48 M5 that I hope to have on the road soon.

[what huh]

Hello from as far south in Jersey as you can go, Cape May. I to just bought a new-to-me stude....1961 Lark, picking it up next week. CANT WAIT

Your truck looks like it isnt going to take much to get her running. Congrats!

[Stude Shoo-wop!]

Ahh...another convert into the Studebaker faith. Excellent! That series of truck, from what I have heard, is extremely good so you have got to promise us to take care of it to the best of your abilities. Best of luck and have fun!

[rockne10]

Ted,
Now that you've got a Studebaker and joined the forum, I certainly hope you will be joining the Studebaker Drivers Club as well. Lot's of support for you there plus, the SDC is the organization that owns and maintains this forum.

http://studebakerdriversclub.com/index.asp

[Skip Lackie]

WRT determining the electrical system: Six volt Studebakers were positive ground; 12v Studes were negative ground. If it has a Delco generator, the label will be black if 6v, red if 12v. And you should be able to read the number on the headlights and dash bulbs.

[tedtaylor]

skip, thanks for that, however my generator only has an aluminum label (not red or black) and the headlights just read "halogen" with no 6 or 12 volt determination. When i started the engine, the regulator on the firewall was clicking loudly, but dash ammeter showed a discharge? (indicator to left of center? doesn't say + or -) When i revved the engine, the clicking stopped, but ammeter was further to left (more of discharge?). The above was using the 12 volt battery with negative ground.

[Skip Lackie]

Do the lights get a little brighter when you rev the engine? If the bulbs are not burning out with a 12v battery, then you have a 12v system. Sounds like the ammeter wires weren't reversed when the conversion to negative ground was made. A 6v ammeter will handle 12v without difficulty, but will only move about halfway. Pull a lamp bulb from somewhere and Google the number on it. It's probably 12v.

[truckguy]

You got yourself a very nice truck there. It is hard to believe that someone abandoned it. I trust you have been successful in getting a title.

[52-fan]

WRT determining the electrical system: Six volt Studebakers were positive ground; 12v Studes were negative ground. If it has a Delco generator, the label will be black if 6v, red if 12v. And you should be able to read the number on the headlights and dash bulbs.

I read that info on another site also, but the 12 volt generator in my truck has a black tag.

[Skip Lackie]

If I am reading that number correctly, it is 1102115, date coded 9F4. That would be a 35 amp generator used on 1958-59 Chevys. The 9 in the date code means 1959. I cannot account for the black color of the label. There's one on ebay now with the same number and it has a red label.

[tedtaylor]

some detailing work, removed lettering, and created/installed side wood rails on the bed.

[R_David]

I like it! Looks a lot better without the lettering. Welcome to the Studebaker family

[StoneDog]

Wow! What a great looking Studebaker truck! Congratulations on your new-old truck!

[tedtaylor]

Minor set backs! It's been running and driving fine and I've been enjoying myself, getting it ready for the 4th of July parade in particular. Problem has been the brakes! I've honed and rebuilt the wheel cylinders, but unfortunately, I've got leaks. I just put the truck up on all 4 jackstands and removed the wheel cylinders again. This time I shipped them to Apple Hydraulics in New York to be re-sleeved. They claim a one week turn-around time, so hopefully they will be the proper size and the new rebuild kits will no longer leak!
Also, my newly rebuilt generator has problems of a whining noise and getting hot. I posted this to another thread in the "TECH" column. The rebuilder is making good, so I sent it back for another go-over.
Clock is running, but my truck is not. I hope I get all the parts back in time to reassemble everything in time for the Independence day parade.
I also noticed the steering box has play and worn, but i'll save that for another day....
here it sits, stripped of its feet, waiting for parts...