Looking at buying a 1955 Champion !

[COJones48]

I spotted this long parked car and am very interested and the owner gave me a price that I like. He told me that it ran but that it never ran very well and he thought it had to do with timing. It has the flathead 6 cylinder. I am looking for any educated thoughts on this motor and its timing before taking the plunge. Thanks, Ron

[StudeRich]

The FIRST thing to do (after checking if it Turns) with a questionable running Engine, is a Compression Test.

Many long parked Flatheads have rusted Open or Closed or Burned Valves, if the compression is low, below 100 PSI, soak the Rings with Oil and see if it improves.

YES, = Bad Rings
NO, = Bad Valves

Either way, it doesn't mean it is a Bad Car or poor buy, it's just about the PRICE!
Also, a Coupe, "C" Body or a Hardtop, "K" Body Champion Six will be worth over Twice as much as a 2 or 4 Door Sedan!


Hardtop......................................................................... ...........Coupe

'53 Champion 4 door Sedan

[556063]

Owned a 1955 Champion since 1979. When I bought it back then, it needed a valve job. The engine was a 1970's NOS replacement, but it missed and sputtered because of bad valves (unleaded fuel was taking center stage). Luckily, an old mechanic was still in business, and he removed the head and had it planed, and then also advised me of the tube toward the rear of the head that passes coolant up into it. He made sure that tube was not compromised. I haven't had any issues since then, and I've put only about 12K miles since. Updated the carb recently. The old Champion Sixes are pretty hearty souls. The '55 is a 185 CID, and the final year flathead six in my wife's '60 Lark Convertible is 170 CID. They tried to get better economy by changing to the 170 for the Lark, but it didn't pan out, as the V8 Larks did as good on fuel as the sixes. Still, depending on the history of this '55 you are looking at, you can't get much more strightforward and simple. No drag racing, though.

[COJones48]

Well ... this is it! It last ran 3 years ago. It is quite solid with no obvious rust and everything seems to be there. The cool airplane hood ornament is in the trunk! Any ideas on a fair price for this baby. I am interested in using it for a bit of driving and want an older car with ZERO computer chips. I have a 1953 M 37 that runs great ... but very slow. Many thanks!

[COJones48]

Also ... interested on thoughts regarding the 6 volt system. Do people tend to stick with that or convert to 12 volt? Tks.

[StudeRich]

People clean poor grounds and replace Poor Cables with 000 Welding Cable, Battery Cables and just motor on!

Looks like an older Paint Job, a missing Windshield Wiper, and a painted over Chrome Grille, THAT should help keep the Price Down!

It is very hard to guess a Price from just an outside Photo, I put a very High value on Interiors, but I have to Say with a Six, around 4 to $5000.00 possibly more, depending on How much it impresses YOU.

[COJones48]

Very much appreciated. I think I will buy it! I will ask to see it turn over. Should be okay to crank by pumping it with 12 volt ... tight? My dad used to have the larger model two door in the early 50's that was his 'work car' he called it 'sputnik' ! I'll keep you posted.

[6hk71400]

You can burn out a starter that is 6 volt with continued 12 volt power. A properly adjusted with 0 gauge battery cable works great and I have a great system working on my 41 Commander. There are on Ebay 0 gauge cables that you can order by length. The only concern maybe is if 6 volt batteries are available. 2 of my local FLAPS carry then although get someone with gray hair to wait on you. They know what you are talking about whereas the grandchildren working there don't know where to look for a 6 volt non motorcycle battery.

Bob Miles
Positive Ground works great on pre 1955 Studebakers

[jcharlestc]

Also ... interested on thoughts regarding the 6 volt system. Do people tend to stick with that or convert to 12 volt? Tks.

This question comes up a lot, even in my pea-brain.
The answer (1) very much depends on the car; (2) how bad a case of OCD you have; but mainly, (3) whatever makes YOU happy.

The main driver of this answer hinges, for the most part, on motors: how many motors you'd have to replace, and how hard finding 12v replacements would be. If you think replacing the starter motor with an absolute drop-in-replacement 12v starter is hard (replacing the generator is only marginally easier), you "...ain't seen nothin' yet..." until you get around to trying to find drop-in replacements for all the small, buried types of motors ("de-fog"; heater blower, etc). Got an electric 6-v wiper motor? Good luck with that, and it's not even 'buried' (if you're lucky).
Finding exact drop-in replacement motors is usually, as the British would say, a 'fool's errand'.
Replacing light bulbs is easy; an absolute 'no-brainer'. Replacing motors usually requires an unbelievably inordinate amount of time dedicated strictly to "re-work", and comes right before "total restoration" on the Agony Scale.

Keep it like it is.
Spend your valuable time locating and laying-in valuable replacement parts such as brushes and bearings for the generator and starter; buying 'brand-new', 'genuine' replacement units wouldn't be a bad strategy either.
Be sure and keep the old units.
Just because...

[and don't forget: this is strictly one guy's opinion.
"Advice is oftentimes worth exactly what it costs."--anon]

[Hallabutt]

Give the 6V a chance before you consider a switch to 12V. I have eleven cars going back to 1931 still operating on their original 6V systems. I might look at the conversion differently if I lived in a place that AC was an essential add on but the choice is yours to make. The conversion is a matter of choice and not a necessity for dependability.

[COJones48]

I like that idea. I have a 47 Farmall Cub that was a pain .... until I ran a heavy cable straight to the starter from the battery. ....... All the information is very much appreciated .

[Commander Eddie]

You may be able to find a 6V battery from Batteries +. Some time in the past someone changed the 6V system in my '55 President to 8V. Why? Who knows. I get my 8V batteries from B+ and they are decent quality. You may also find 6V batteries at your local farm equipment dealer.

[COJones48]

We brought it home!

[COJones48]

Tomorrow I'll get the old gas out of it and put in some new before cranking it over! ..... any tips? The oil is clean . It has coolant. It has some brake pedal and 4 brand new wheel cylinders in a box in the back seat .... and quite a bunch of stuff to explore in the back seat and full trunk.

[COJones48]

It appears to have an electric fuel pump ... is that standard?

[StudeRich]

No, Those started somewhere in the 1990's on Other makes.