Good Day For The 'Doctor's Car'!

[63t-cab]

I like the floor shift,and how it all comes together with the Speedster dash.maybe if this was an option back in the day more Speedsters would have sold ??? Ed I have to assume there's enough clearance against the seat ?

Here's a couple photos I took at home after the show. Didn't bring camera to work. What do you guys think of the 'look' of the Hurst in this car?

[warrlaw1]

My first 55 was a black coupe I bought in Elkhart. Ind in the 70s. The guy had dropped the shift to the floor, too. It was a 3 spd/OD, but there were a few problems with 1st, so I always started off in 2nd and wound out the 259. It was a fun, fun car to drive. I have a T10 4spd ready to drop in when I retire (both me and the car). They sound so nice winding out. Cheers.

[SN-60]

As for the "look", it looks like a mod that was popular in the 50s-60s, and is therefore "era correct" IMHO. My first 56J, in the late 1960s, had a floor shift. To be perfectly honest though, I'd put it back on the column. But that's just me.

I agonized on whether or not to re-locate the shifter (for years). The main problem I had with the column shift was its proximity to the overhanging Speedster dash in 2nd gear. Also, in anything like a 'fast' shift from 1st to 2nd, I never knew when the linkage would 'hang up'...resulting in more than one embarassing coasting stop between gears. I realize that so many Studebakers were converted to floor shifts years ago that it's 'neat' to see one not so modified, but really Joe, with the driveability issues this car had ...which are completely gone now...I'm glad I opted to make this change, and I doubt very much that I'll ever look back.

[sweetolbob]

Here's a couple photos I took at home after the show. Didn't bring camera to work. What do you guys think of the 'look' of the Hurst in this car?

Ed

Not only does it look good, as does the whole package, it is also the first thing that most of the young car guys added. You surely didn't want to be missing a shift during a demonstration of err! Irrational Exuberance. Back then, we'd be surprised with the engine combo if there wasn't a Hurst in the car so it's absolutely period correct also.

The only downside was the girlfriend had to contend with it but that's the price of dating a car guy. Worked OK here as Judy stuck around in spite of a Hurst shifter in my Olds 4-speed with bench seats.

I really like the total theme of the car, well we can discuss the skirts, but that's for another time.

Well done

[SN-60]

Thanks for your nice comments Bob...Those floor shifters do bring back the '60's! I get 'hot and cold' on the skirts myself...I think they look better 'in person' than looking at them in a picture. Anyway, unlike the way Studebaker fastened them with two holes drilled through the rear fenders, I made up a concealed clamp arrangement allowing them to be removed with no damage (aside from a few paint scuffs) to the car's exterior.

[Corvanti]

Looks great, Ed!!!

i went thru the "skirts" dilemma when i had the '40. after a few days looking at her with them on and off, i decided she looked better without them.

with your Speedster, i think i might leave them on if she was mine. apparently the judges didn't mind them!!!

[SN-60]

Thanks Kerry, I appreciate your comments!

[SN-60]

I like the floor shift,and how it all comes together with the Speedster dash.maybe if this was an option back in the day more Speedsters would have sold ??? Ed I have to assume there's enough clearance against the seat ?

Thanks again Joe!..The shift lever does clear the seat OK...I think it's in 2nd in the photo. In 1st, it clears the seat by about an inch, passing over it about one inch 'in'. When I started it was not like this....I had to chop the shift lever 3 3/4" and then cant it forward about 1 1/4" before final welding....trial and error...testing it for fit as I went along.

[SN-60]

The Hurst bracket that came with the Syncro-Loc shifter my friend gave me wasn't suitable for a Studebaker C/K model. I ended up fashoning my own mounting bracket (two parts) made up of five pieces of steel welded together. I just finished a second mounting bracket setup for the other Speedster we'll be converting to stick shift in the near future. This time I made up cardboard patterns, and if anyone out there is considering a Hurst floor shift conversion in their '53-'64 C/K (with a T-86 O/D transmission) I can perhaps help you fabricate a mounting bracket if you don't already have one. Feel free to contact me.

[SN-60]

The 'Doctor's Car' had another good day yesterday! Took her to a local multi-make auto show in Middleborough, Mass., and bagged Best Of Show....(The supercharger really 'draws them in'). There definitely were nicer cars there, (In my opinion).....but more and more average folks seem to sense that Studebakers are something out of the ordinary. (In other words....Not another beautiful Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro!)

[63t-cab]

Good Ed,hey when a Stude can be under the spot light among all other such well known makes.I'm sure when you see the all black sleek body,and the orange glow under the hood it draws the attention

[clonelark]

That thing looks a thousand times better than a 55-6-7 Ford or Chevrolet, Hard to beat a C-K on looks. Like the Skirts better than i thought i would. Just a beautiful car all around. As for the S/C thats what a real hot rod looks like. Love it.

[SN-60]

That thing looks a thousand times better than a 55-6-7 Ford or Chevrolet, Hard to beat a C-K on looks. Like the Skirts better than i thought i would. Just a beautiful car all around. As for the S/C thats what a real hot rod looks like. Love it.

Thank you very much for the kind words.....She's my baby!