Should I buy this car, Advice needed!!!

[Corvanti]

i have to agree with "wait on the paint". at the most, a couple of rattle cans of primer to keep anything from rusting, if needed. i learned the hard way years ago when i purchased a quality painted good looking vehicle that needed "mechanical work".

[GThawkwind]

i have to agree with "wait on the paint". at the most, a couple of rattle cans of primer to keep anything from rusting, if needed. i learned the hard way years ago when i purchased a quality painted good looking vehicle that needed "mechanical work".

I'm gonna play it by ear, we'll see how everthing goes and what my body man says. He's been though this before many times. If nothing else we'll get the engine bay, undercarriage and interior. Myabe get that and get the ball rolling on the mechanicals first. I don't want to wait till it's too late to get it done cheap. We'll see, don't want to get too far ahead of myself. Maybe at least get everything ready to go back on, or in the car, and do it all at once.

[rusty65]

@GThawkwind-I'm on your side.It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.(Yes, I'm talking about the car here.)If you really really need to put paint on this vehicle now,give it a coat of epoxy primer or maybe even a cheapie clearcoat for the time being.I'm with the other guys that say concentrate on the mechanicals first and save the pretty stuff for later.Heck, put in a Pinto drivetrain and pi$$ everybody off!!


I have had my car for about 14 years now, and it ain't no showpeice.Had I known that the 'patina' craze was going to take off, I would have left it as is.But no I had to be a butthead and rattle can the thing flat black.I do have some real paint in my basement unopened from 2 years ago.A gallon of Eastwood's rat rod flat black, and a gallon of the original color for when, you know, the time comes.I'm still waiting for a call back from Church Mice Auto Body.Guess I'll have to settle for the House of CASO look for now.


Hey bud, keep me/us posted on the progress on your vehicle, maybe on another thread, one that dosen't resemble the Gunfight at the OK Corral. [Standard disclaimer here-Your money, your ride!]

[WilburV]

GThawkwind,

I say you should go for it since you recognize that the car won't be a daily driver anytime soon and that you alternative transportation in the interim. Being the ripe age of 20, this is the opportunity for you to strap on a big project without all of the other time and money commitments you'll have later in life.

Since this is a car, not a piece of sculpture, you should attend to the mechanical aspects before thinking too hard about the aesthetics.

1. Arm yourself with knowledge. With this car in a state of disassembly, you'll need to source a chassis parts catalog, body parts catalog and, most importantly, a shop manual. Having this information will save you countless hours trying to figure out how to assemble the car, not to mention alot of money and aggravation.
2. Find local folks that know Studebakers. Get with the local SDC chapter and track down members that can help you find parts and lend you their time and expertise if you get stuck with an issue.
3. Assemble the car so that it will Run.
4. Make it Safe, meaning a brake system rebuild, new tires, seat belts, fuel system and lighting check, and replacement of any worn steering and suspension components.
5. Get it licensed and insured.
6. Drive it! The more you drive it, you'll work through fixing all of the inevitable leaks and minor mechanical and electrical shortcomings, and the car will become truly roadworthy.

Then, you'll have a great running car and can decide how much time and money you want to put into the aesthetics like bodywork, paint, interior, stereo, etc.

[Corvanti]

since we don't have a "like" or thank you" to click on the forum posts, i want to say "thank you" and i "like" WilburV's post. well said!!!

and many of the other posts as well.

[GThawkwind]

There might be a slight change in plans. I found a parts GT hawk with a good 289 4 speed and perfect interior, for a good price. If I buy the starlight, and I can figure out shipping I will buy this as well and continue the same basic theme with some much better parts, and have a real head start on the "hot rod" aspect of it. Having a good parts car will save a lot of cash in the end. Still we'll yet see.

[StudeDave57]

For the record- I'm with Bob A. on this one.
Have the means to do it right or it will be a NIGHTMARE for you.
How do I know? Well- I used to have the means to enjoy it.
But since I retired from the NAVY- this 'hobby' has been a NIGHTMARE for me!!!


('fire sale' coming soon...)





StudeDave '57

[GThawkwind]

Well bad idea or not I'm holding the title to a 1953 studebaker starlight. I started a new thread about it.
Thank you everybody for your advice and help

[DEEPNHOCK]

Man-o-man... Paint is the last thing I would think about in a build.

Get it safe first (brakes, tires, suspension, electrical, mechanical).
Then get it comfortable (seats, interior)
Then think about the body.

And think about your forum personality.
One of that hardest things in life is to get comfortable in your own skin.
Who do you want to be in real life? Is that a realistic personna?
Same thing goes on forums. Just be yourself.
Postitis (posting just for the sake of posting) is kind of wierd.
Bumps for the sake of bumps just shows impatience.
Stude's take patience. Sometimes years of patience.
Your project sounds like fun, and a lot of people here would love to read (and see) about your progress.
Be organized about your project. And share your joy, and your pain....
Your support group can be right here!
How cool is that?
'53's are cool!

But right now it's more ready for paint than it will ever be again, I can get the whole thing and do it right, but with glass, motor, and everything in there it's gonna be alot harder.

Well bad idea or not I'm holding the title to a 1953 studebaker starlight. I started a new thread about it.
Thank you everybody for your advice and help

[sweetolbob]

Well bad idea or not I'm holding the title to a 1953 studebaker starlight. I started a new thread about it.
Thank you everybody for your advice and help

Add me to the list of those that think paint should wait. My 74 Avanti is setting in prime as I rebuild the front suspension as well as other things. As careful as I try to be, there are a variety of nicks, scratches and spills on it that will need to be dealt with before it gets a final painting.

I painted the engine compartment prior to engine installation and it's a pain in the rear to work in there without scratching anything. A savings now will probably result in mucho denaro to repair it later.

BTW, congrats on your purchase. It's how most of us got started in this hobby, so forge ahead fearlessly. I figure if I do my own work and mess it up, I know the fabricator and where he lives. He'll fix it.

Good choice, Bob

[GThawkwind]

Man-o-man... Paint is the last thing I would think about in a build.

Get it safe first (brakes, tires, suspension, electrical, mechanical).
Then get it comfortable (seats, interior)
Then think about the body.

And think about your forum personality.
One of that hardest things in life is to get comfortable in your own skin.
Who do you want to be in real life? Is that a realistic personna?
Same thing goes on forums. Just be yourself.
Postitis (posting just for the sake of posting) is kind of wierd.
Bumps for the sake of bumps just shows impatience.
Stude's take patience. Sometimes years of patience.
Your project sounds like fun, and a lot of people here would love to read (and see) about your progress.
Be organized about your project. And share your joy, and your pain....
Your support group can be right here!
How cool is that?
'53's are cool!

Just to make it clear to everybody I don't post just for the sake of posting, I bump do my threads out of impatience. I have alot of posts because I stay untill 4 in the morning most nights, and I don't have anything better to do sometimes, I'm bored that's all. And I was so amped waiting get my hands on a project, this forum was kind of a way to take out my automotive agression.