Any advice?

[Magnum]

Hello, everyone.

I am about to be a new Studebaker owner on Saturday. Tomorrow we head out to Wisconsin to pick up a 1949 Studebaker 1/2 ton truck to drive back to Kansas (about 500 miles). The truck is reported to be in good driving condition, with everything working, etc. It has modern rims and tires, but appears to be original everything else, to include the column-shifting 3-speed.

I plan to drive the side roads and keep off the interstates after determining that these old Studes weren't geared for modern highway speeds. I'll also have a support vehicle with me capable of towing it in a pinch.

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can offer for my maiden voyage.

A little background on me: I'm an old car nut from a very early age. I also own a 1960 Chevy Bel Air 4-dr that I restored, daily drove, and took on the 2005 Hot Rod Power Tour.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[JDP]

Having driven a ton and half Studebaker truck 800 miles, I know it can be done, but you won't stop vibrating for a few days after the trip. Even with overdrive 50 MPH is about all you'll be comfortable with the factory brakes.

64 Commander 2 dr.
64 GT Hawk R2 clone
64 Daytona HT
63 Cruiser
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

Having driven a ton and half Studebaker truck 800 miles, I know it can be done, but you won't stop vibrating for a few days after the trip. Even with overdrive 50 MPH is about all you'll be comfortable with the factory brakes.

64 Commander 2 dr.
64 GT Hawk R2 clone
64 Daytona HT
63 Cruiser
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[Swifster]

Keep Mr. MasterCard and Mrs. Visa close by...just in case.

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Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[Swifster]

Keep Mr. MasterCard and Mrs. Visa close by...just in case.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom - Valrico, FL

1964 Studebaker Daytona

[Lark Parker]

Don't worry, Mike. Your plan sounds good.
With overdrive, you can even do some dual lane stuff after the merging challenge. Without overdrive you will just have time to enjoy the "side road" scenery.
Of course, there is a ton of difference between traveling in the 1/2 ton and a 1 1/2 ton.

Lark Parker aka Trim Trader

[Lark Parker]

Don't worry, Mike. Your plan sounds good.
With overdrive, you can even do some dual lane stuff after the merging challenge. Without overdrive you will just have time to enjoy the "side road" scenery.
Of course, there is a ton of difference between traveling in the 1/2 ton and a 1 1/2 ton.

Lark Parker aka Trim Trader

[Lenny R2]

Welcome to the forum Mike.I dont know a lot about studebaker trucks
but some of others do and i am sure they will help you.Try this
i think its the studebaker truck site.

https://www.network54.com/forum/23881/

Lenny

[Lenny R2]

Welcome to the forum Mike.I dont know a lot about studebaker trucks
but some of others do and i am sure they will help you.Try this
i think its the studebaker truck site.

https://www.network54.com/forum/23881/

Lenny

[dpson]

My advice would be to rent a trailer and bring it home that way. Get to know the truck before you attempt to drive it that far. No need to start out your new relationship on the wrong foot. The 2R5 I owned (3spd without od) was pushing the little six (rpms)at speeds over 45 mph. That makes a 500 mile trip on back roads a 12 hour venture.

Dan Peterson
Montpelier, VT
1960 Lark V-8 Convertible
1960 Lark V-8 Convertible (parts car)
1962 Lark V-8 Regal Convertible

[dpson]

My advice would be to rent a trailer and bring it home that way. Get to know the truck before you attempt to drive it that far. No need to start out your new relationship on the wrong foot. The 2R5 I owned (3spd without od) was pushing the little six (rpms)at speeds over 45 mph. That makes a 500 mile trip on back roads a 12 hour venture.

Dan Peterson
Montpelier, VT
1960 Lark V-8 Convertible
1960 Lark V-8 Convertible (parts car)
1962 Lark V-8 Regal Convertible

[BRUCESTUDE]

I owned a '53 1/2 ton for several years starting in about '92. I rebuilt everything, rewired for 12 volts, installed an OD, redid the interior, and drove the heck out of it! It was excellent around town as you sit up high, and contrary to popular belief, the brakes are excellent! I even took it on a 500 mile trip, mostly on 2-lane roads, with OD it topped out at about 65. The seats are a little upright, so you need a lot of rest stops.
These trucks are easy to work on, and they made quite a few of them, so parts trucks are still out there.
I hauled a lot of stuff; lumber, cabinets, dump runs, new lawn tractor, etc. with no problem (which is why trucks are geared lower and have oversized brake drums).
Anyway, good luck and have fun![]

[BRUCESTUDE]

I owned a '53 1/2 ton for several years starting in about '92. I rebuilt everything, rewired for 12 volts, installed an OD, redid the interior, and drove the heck out of it! It was excellent around town as you sit up high, and contrary to popular belief, the brakes are excellent! I even took it on a 500 mile trip, mostly on 2-lane roads, with OD it topped out at about 65. The seats are a little upright, so you need a lot of rest stops.
These trucks are easy to work on, and they made quite a few of them, so parts trucks are still out there.
I hauled a lot of stuff; lumber, cabinets, dump runs, new lawn tractor, etc. with no problem (which is why trucks are geared lower and have oversized brake drums).
Anyway, good luck and have fun![]

[JDP]

Those that think the brakes are excellent are much younger them I am. Since they are not self energizing, they take a lot more pedal pressure then I'm comfortable with. At 70 MPH if a BMW with four wheel disks stands on the brakes in front of me, I would not be able to stop a C cab in time, but that may just be me. I found until I upgraded to disks, I was not comfortable in bumper to bumper beltway traffic.

64 Commander 2 dr.
64 GT Hawk R2 clone
64 Daytona HT
63 Cruiser
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander

[JDP]

Those that think the brakes are excellent are much younger them I am. Since they are not self energizing, they take a lot more pedal pressure then I'm comfortable with. At 70 MPH if a BMW with four wheel disks stands on the brakes in front of me, I would not be able to stop a C cab in time, but that may just be me. I found until I upgraded to disks, I was not comfortable in bumper to bumper beltway traffic.

64 Commander 2 dr.
64 GT Hawk R2 clone
64 Daytona HT
63 Cruiser
63 R2 4 speed GT Hawk (Black)
63 Avanti R1
63 Daytona convert
63 Lark 2 door
63 Lark 2 door #2
62 Daytona HT/ 4 speed
62 Lark 2 door
60 Lark HT
60 Hawk
59 3E truck
52 Starliner
51 Commander