Help me with 51 Commander Convertible

[GeneJensen]

I acquired a 1951 Commander State Convertible 20 years ago in restorable condition. Unfortunately, it was taken to Florida and there while dismantled, suffered a Hurricane and many parts were lost. I did bring home to TX the body parts done up through primer, the frame restored, and the V-8 engine that is not restored. For the past 10 years I have been looking for a "parts car" as an alternative to burying the parts I got back from FL.

My objective was to restore to very good driving condition a bullet nose convertible, or a glass backwards Coupe as a distant second choice.

Recently, I acquired a 1951 Commander 5 passenger Coupe that is complete, except the body is rough. I think that many of the missing parts on the Convertible are useable from the Coupe. The major items I am missing are the whole convertible top assembly and lifting mechanism, the door and quarter windows for the convertible.

Does anyone know where I can obtain parts to overhaul the engine and powertrain? Trans is a 3 speed with overdrive. (lost is the original automatic transmission in the convertible).

Is it adviseable to convert to 12 volt electrical system. Does anyone know how to and the adviseability of converting to more modern (safer) disc brakes?

Since all the convertible interior parts were lost, can I use the coupe interior/seats in the convertible.

Where do I get a parts manual and maintenance manuals? All my chrome parts/trim/bumpers need refurbishing or replacing. Any reccomendations? Both of my steering wheels are history.

I am stumbling on where to even start this time around.

[woodysrods]

Save yourself a pile of time and money and buy a finished one. You have already waited 20 years. Do you honestly think you will finish this project in the near future?
Get one that you will enjoy driving and drive the wheels off of it while you are gathering parts for the one you might do someday!!! Sorry to sound a little harsh here, but I have seen far to many project cars that just never see the road. I just baought one that the owner acquired and started on 33 years ago , but never really got to it. Sold it to me, never having driven his dream car because now he is to old to do the work required to get it back on the road. "Missed 33 years of pleasure"
Good Luck with whatever you choose!
Good Roads
Brian

[ddub]

Well you have come to right place. I am sure you will get many suggestions. The parts to rebuild the engine are readily available from our friendly Studebaker vendors. I think the hardest parts to find will be the top parts. First stop might be Studebaker International. You can get the manuals there. On this site you can join the Studebaker Drivers Club and start receiving Turning Wheels magazine where many vendors advertise and mechanical advice is available. A 51 Commander convert is a highly desirable car. Welcome aboard.

[TX Rebel]

Can't fault Woody's logic. You will be scouring the country a while just finding the parts you need, and they won't be cheep. The stuff you have can be used to offset the price of a good driver or easier builder. You may eventually find a clapped out 47-52 rag top to cannibalize for parts, and I can provide many missing parts, engine rebuild parts & chrome plated items. Roy Valdez is also a good reasonable source for 50-51 parts.

[royvaldez]

Can you post pictures. My brother has an extra top for a convertible. I have an extra automatic transmission which is a first gear start for your car. Also, lots of parts for your car. Let me know. 530-320-6299

[Jim B PEI]

All good points (and especially Woody's, but if you want to do up THIS car....) and many of the parts can be obtained through vendors or from suggestions from Forum posters. Roy is one good source for 50-51 cars. The manuals are all available, as are all the engine parts. My take on this is that you should get the engine running, restored or not, (get a transmission in it if the 3 speed doesn't work, with OR without overdrive), go through the brakes, wiring and other perishable parts, install the front seats from the coupe and drive it for a while, as a parade car if you will, without worrying for the moment about the top, paint, chrome and stainless, side windows, door panels and seats. You can get a quite different perspective on having a running if incomplete car, rather than the forever project of the perfect car. Then, once the car is running and you have some experience, you can probably make prioritize what needs to be done next, instead of the just "everything". There are posters on the Forum who have the Turner Disk Brake conversions in pre-53 bodies (including a very nice 52 Commander convertible, I believe), and while that is a good AND desirable eventual goal, if you have "good for 1951" brakes in it, use them in your parade car, since you aren't going to be going all that fast without a top, or without the 232 being rebuilt, either as a 232 or something else like a 259, 289, R1 etc. Joining the SDC and introducing yourself to the local SDC chapter, and hanging around with other like minded Studebaker folk is also another good thing to do--there are likely quite a few Studebakers in the region around San Antonio, and you never know what someone local just happens to have spare that you can use until you ask around. There might even be some convertible owners who have BTDT and can give you advice if you need some, or examples of what to do/not to do, and it certainly doesn't hurt to have cars you can take pictures of, or notes about.

Good luck with your project!

[studegary]

A 1951 Commander Convertible is a desireable car, but also a hard car to obtain some parts for. I have a friend that restored one. The last that I knew, he still had a convertible parts car that he purchased in the same deal. It was a complete car and he did not use the top assembly or the interior. Contact me off the Forum ad I will provide his information. I do not want to post it here.

[royvaldez]

You can get the doors off a 1952 Starliner. I think thats what its called. It will work.