1961 Champ 3/4-ton parked for over 30 years, got it running tonight! Video

[Milaca]

I brought home a 1961 Champ last month that I had purchased from a friend whom purchased it back in 1985 (according to the title card). I believe it was parked soon after that in the cattle pasture, where it was sitting when I got it. I put a battery in it tonight, ran a hose from a gas can to the fuel pump, cleaned the ignition points & rotor, put some fuel down the carburetor and it fired up! One rear tire loses air quickly and the other rear brake is nearly frozen, but after a few attempts, I got it to move under its' own power. Very gratifying.

[gordr]

Woo-Hoo! Congratulations.

[StudeRich]

So are you going to overhaul that engine and put it in something else? It looks like it will have plenty of other Studebaker Truck Company!

[junior]

Very gratifying ...Indeed! Hearing an engine bark to life after sitting so long is just as much fun as getting a rebuilt to fire for the first time, it never gets old for me. My daughter's boyfriend just picked up a new 52 project and was hoping to keep the original drivetrain for at least a while. Things did not go so well for him last night...he sent me photos of the engine...its frozen, so he lifted the head and besides being absolutely disgusting inside, one of the valve heads was sitting loose on top of the stem...his night did not end so well. cheers, junior

[RadioRoy]

It's alive! It's alive!!!

Hearing an engine fire up for the first time is a big thrill for me. I love it.

[studeclunker]

Congrats! I see you have several other Stude-pickups as well!

[Milaca]

So are you going to overhaul that engine and put it in something else? It looks like it will have plenty of other Studebaker Truck Company!

I am leaning towards overhauling and installing the engine and transmission into the blue 1963 Champ shown below. The previous owner of the blue Champ told me that the engine seized while it was sitting in his driveway while idling, with very low oil pressure. I assume that the seized engine may need a lot of machining, whereas the running engine may just need rings, bearings and a valve job. The blue Champ also has a V8 with 3-speed manual so I assume that it will be a direct swap.



And here is some more Champ yard art:

[StudeRich]

Good choice! The '61 Champ with the Good Engine and poor Body has through the floor Pedals, the Blue Truck is a 8E7 '63 so you might switch the Pedal System of your choice over to the other. Looks like '63 Blue Mist Metallic.

Been there done that, trust me; the Firewall Mounted M/C is Great, but certainly NOT the Clutch Linkage System. .. ..