Return of Moira

[J_Cole]

In December of 2019, I bought this 54 Commander having been lead fo believe it was ready to be driven and didn’t need anything. After I got it, I quickly realized it wasn’t “ready” and was actually quite dangerous. A few members here provided great insight to include Dick Steinkamp and Tim Carlig and the amazing parts vendors with Matt’s expert guidance. After getting advise from Dick, I quickly realized the car needed a bit more work than I had thought and instead of doing one thing at a time, I kind of blew it up and did it all at once. I feared growing frustrated with the car as it just needed too much cosmetically to drive.

so over the last year and a half, I spent approximately $15k to include labor making it drivable. All new wiring. Rebuilt starter, generator, distributor, carb, heater core, gas tank, radiator, the list goes on and on. Every time I thought it was getting close, “Moira” would throw a fit and need something else. Or the mail service would severely delay part deliveries. Or a rebuilt part would need rebuilt again. The doors and rear windows got new rubber. The passenger door window was fixed so it actually now works. The front suspension was rebuilt and the car got 4 new shocks. Gaskets all around were replaced. New gas lines. So many parts were replaced or fixed it’s exhausting to think about. The steering wheel was fixed and cracks removed and it was repainted along with the instrument cluster. Defroster motor and gauges were replaced.

I last drove it in January of 2020 and it was scary. Dangerous. Slow. Wanted to kill me. Today, I picked it up from my mechanic who finished the work my friend and I had started. And it was the coolest day I’ve had in quite some time. Although not the most mechanically savvy, I learned a lot and my mechanic was always willing to show me what he was doing or how it was going. Answer questions. Make recommendations.

and driving it the 35 miles home was the best 35 miles I think I’ve driven in a long time. Still fantastically slow. But no longer acted like it wanted to kill me. The 232 sounded like a sewing machine. The brakes worked great. It was a seriously amazing experience. There were several moments where I thought the car was going to win and I was about to lose hope. From struggling to get the front suspension back together to trying to replace the oil pan gasket with the engine in the car to realizing I had damaged the carb when I installed the fuel lines and finally the massive issues with getting parts due to covid mail delays. There were so many instances where I thought hope was ending. But Moira being Moira... she overcame and the car is done (for now 😀)

it’s a “survivor”, sure it’s been repainted but it’s still around and never been taken apart. And I survived bringing it back to life. Some guy pulled up next to me today to ask if I was interested in selling and I had to laugh. Not a chance bud, not a chance. This and S2D have been a dream come true. And after this experience, there’s nothing that could make me sell either.

next up? Debating fixing the rocker panel by itself or a full repaint. I’m not sure yet. Maybe a turner disc brake conversion? Or a GM transmission to help make the most of the 127 HP. This project was so fun and rewarding I’m already thinking about my next project. Maybe a 90s/00’s car from my childhood. Or building the 200 MPH Avanti of mph dreams. But whatever happens, Moira and S2D are here to stay.

thanks to everyone along the way who’s helped me achieve this dream!

[J_Cole]

And just when the car was almost finished, I was waiting on one part that was critical to making it drive. And the mail service seemed to have lost the box. Out of the blue, and with timing so perfect you’d think there is a higher being, Tim called me to say he’s sold his 53 and the new buyer was replacing the engine. Did I need anything?!? Yes! Yes I did. Totally saved the project.

to me, that’s the best part about the car hobby. The people you meet and stories you can share. Dick had no idea I’d bought S2D when he offered advice on Moira. Tim thought of me at the perfect moment. My buddy spent hundreds of hours helping me work on the car in the cold and wind and sun and heat over the last year and a half. It’s truly been a great experience.

[Silverplate]

Absolutely gorgeous. Love the wheels and tires...Mike

[Andy R.]

From one Moira to another:

[Dick Steinkamp]

Justin,
The car is beautiful...but is it actually named after Moira Rose?

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Moira is a good name for a Studebaker. Ava Gardner played "Moira Davidson" in the 1959 movie On the Beach, one of my favorite films. When I hear the name Moira I visualize both Ava and On the Beach, a good mental image.
-Dwight

[J_Cole]

Haha it is. It started as a joke and then it stuck. A former star, had seen better days and was feeling neglected (living in Schitts Creek / years of deferred maintenance), a little cantankerous, but eventually finding their own way and living to see their day in the sun again. Seemed pretty fitting. I thought about changing the name after getting it back from the mechanic to not jinx the car but Moira did grow a lot on the show.

[Lark Hunter]

Gorgeous car! Love the color combination!

Asking for opinions can be a ruh roh proposition, as we all have different ideas as to what we want from our vintage vehicles. I almost always swing hard toward keeping it stock and period correct. Part of that is that I have always had access to more modern vehicles for daily driver duty; most of the vehicles that I've owned, including what I'm driving now, have been GM vehicles with the exact powertrain combinations that are commonly swapped into Studebakers. The second part is that I've always been one to take a different route, avoiding things that are common, popular, or trendy... to the point of being (more than) a bit stubborn. Since it's very common and often advised to do disc brake swaps, electronic ignition and fuel pump, 12 volt conversions and alternators, different transmissions, and adding modern amenities, etc. etc.- I am of course going to roll the opposite way. In fact, I get a lot of satisfaction out of making the old tech work in today's conditions. My Lark's drum brakes are actually quite good . The only thing I really don't like about the car is the goofy 2nd gear start automatic, especially with 3.07 gears. Yeah, something like a 700R4 would make a sense for practicality and drivability, but I couldn't get past the dissonance created by having a transmission that feels and performs exactly like the one in my newer truck. Manually selecting Low in the Flight-O-Matic is pretty okay with me. But if it ever bugs me too much, a 3-O/D will go in.

I'll vote for rocker panel repair without complete repaint? But for sure, you need to be driving the wheels off of the car now that you've got her back on the road! I'm sure your ideas for what's next will solidify as you're out enjoying the ride... That's just my take.

[J_Cole]

Lark Hunter thanks for the comments! I have tried to keep the car as stock as possible, because like you said, i can get a newer car that drives like, well a newer car :-) And the car was already so original, i couldn't bring myself to modernize it at all. I did add a pertronix kit to the distributor and my mechanic couldn't get 2 starter switches that I bought from vendors to work right so he added a starter button hidden under the dash. But otherwise, it's totally original mechanically. I even trashed the electronic fuel pump with the original style glass bowl under the hood, it's just so cool to see! I really considered doing a 12V conversion but the car is such a survivor, i honestly couldn't bring myself to customize it at all... it's almost totally rust free since new, the only signs of rust are on the inside of the doors where it looks like water pooled for years. but otherwise, not a spec anywhere :-)

So I feel like i'd be going against my original vibe with the transmission and brake conversion... We will see, neither are musts and both work great at the moment. We'll see how I feel about it when either needs serviced. I'm more leaning towards leaving the transmission as is and Turner brakes as spelled out in the stuck drum brake conversation going on in the forum. My mechanic couldn't get the rear drums off either and said he couldn't find a shop locally who could do it . He said he could try making a tool or found one for sale for like $500... but with that kind of headache... Discs seem to make more sense to me and is the one thing I'll do to update it.

But nothing needs done in the immediate future! I'm ready to just drive it and have fun in it!!

[Dick Steinkamp]

The V8 cars from 54 to the end in 66 had excellent self energizing drum brakes. I'm far from a purist, but I see no need to change them out for discs. Disc brakes will fade less if you drive mountain roads often and perform better when submerged in water, but most of us are not driving our collector cars in those conditions. Disc brakes will not stop the car in a shorter distance. Shortest braking is just before even lock up of all 4 wheels and the stock drum brakes will definitely do this. The stock drum brakes parts and pieces are all engineered to work together. A disc conversion not so much.

The drum brakes (like any braking system) need to be in excellent condition. Parts are cheap and available for 54 and up V8 Stude brakes.

The tool to pull the rear hubs/drums is common and available

https://www.amazon.com/TruePower-20-2029-Universal-Hub-Puller/dp/B012P0QV5K/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=brake+drum+puller&qid=1622557432&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTkxVMzJVWVlXQUFQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzY5MTE3MzA5RUU0UUhBVVQySiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzM1NzE3MTQ5OVBSWTZVWkFRVCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

You (or your mechanic) can probably even rent one (free) at your FLAPS.

[J_Cole]

Dick Steinkamp Always with the good information! When Tim had his car, he said he looked all over for a rear drum puller and finally ordered one from Australia that took forever to be delivered. I figured based on his search, and what my mechanic found, it had to be a Studebaker only tool. This might change the equation quite a bit then. The drums in the car work great and my mechanic was joking that the brakes as is will put someone through the front windshield if you hit the brakes hard enough. So i think the brakes were changed sometime before I bought the car. So I'm in no hurry to make the change, I just thought it was way harder to get the parts necessary. This part changes that :-)

[candbstudebakers]

Justin, you did a picture perfect job on the 54 and with you already owning a fast Studebaker SD2 the stock fits the bill and if I remember right you have or still own a Chrysler hemi or the SRT8 that is more than faster then one needs with all the fun of driving a new style car, will you be in Indy in Sept.? if so I will see you there.......Bob

[J_Cole]

Thanks Bob! I appreciate it!! And I sold my the Hellcat then the Corvette to fund the studebaker hobby 😀. I’ll get another modern sports car in the future but no time soon. And I’m on fence about Indy. My busy time at work is September and taking vacations is a no go. But I’m hearing rumors we may not be back in the office anytime soon so I may be able to go tack fo south bend the week of and work and then drive to Indy for the day. Fingers crossed it works out!

[J_Cole]

I took Moira to its first two car shows after its completion and it’s been a huge hit. Have already been asked by 2 people if I’d be interested in selling it. My favorite car show and possibly one of the best weekly shows in the country, Katie’s Cars and Coffee in Great Falls, VA unofficially reopened last week or two weeks ago and S2D will be making its debut appearance there this weekend. Saturday can’t get here fast enough!

its been a fun experience! The two cars drive so differently from each other I think I can easily justify keeping both 😀 Moira is the daily driver, slow and comfortable Just ready to putt around time in style. S2D is the sports car, loud and obnoxious and just looking for a good time. I honestly couldn’t be happier with either car. And S2D just got new tires so it’s driving better than ever!

[Andy R.]

Justin, I am more than a bit happy to have guessed "Moira Rose" as the inspiration for your car's "nom de voiture".
It is only fitting, as you seem to be enjoying an exuberant level of "juvenescence" with these '54s.