Need advice on a start-up after storage and a good radiator for a 1953 Commander

[megawatt-nrg]

I'm very new to this site but it appears that there is a lot of knowledgeable folks using it.
My story: I have a 1953 Studebaker 4 door Commander with a standard transmission and overdrive. (my first car) I just pulled it out of storage where it's been since 1974 to start a restoration on it.

I want to make sure I can get the engine running before I get started on the rest of the car. The engine is free (thank goodness) and I want to make sure I don't damage it on initial start up so I have done the following: Changed the oil and filter. Changed the Air cleaner. Remove the plugs and fogged the cylinders with fogging oil and installed new spark plugs. Tested the coil and starter relay to make sure they are in good shape. I cleaned the lubricated the distributor, cleaned and set the points, installed new cap and rotor and installed new plug wires. Took the radiator to a very good radiator shop and after repairing several of the initial leaks they found and having to close off several tubes completely they pressured it up to test and more leaks showed up. They say it is shot.

Now my 1st question: Is there an after market radiators available for this car or does anyone know where I can buy a good original?
2nd question: Is there anything else I need to do to make sure I don't damage the engine on it's initial startup after 40 years? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[BobPalma]

It would be a good idea to remove the distributor and use a drill to spin the oil pump and build up a head of oil pressure throughout the engine. Then put the distributor back in and when it fires up, it will have full oil pressure from the get-go.

Your radiator shop man should be able to find a new core for that radiator and recore it for you. BP

[megawatt-nrg]

He indicated that he could re-core it for 550 to 600 dollars. That price just sounds way out of line to me and I hate to spend that much before I even know I can get the engine to run. Thank you for the tip on pre-lubing the old engine before startup.

[warrlaw1]

Yes that sounds like a lot for a re-core. Shop it around. If it runs, you'll likely need a gas tank, too. Most rad shops do both. You can see if it runs without the rad and use gas from a bottle or a can. If it fires and doesn't knock, you're well on your way. Good luck.

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

Top of this page:
Studebaker Drivers Club Home Page
Go to:
Resources over toward the right near the top
Go to second item down:
Tech Tips, Specs and data
About halfway down the list find:
Things to do after you bought that Studebaker.
Pretty much a check list of things to look for.
You Tube and google have a lot of info on engine startup but there are an awful lot of people here who will give some great info.

[wolfie]

Dont know if this one will work for you or not. Steve http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...tor-f-s-4-rows

Just realized you had already responded in that thread. Steve

[Mrs K Corbin]

might try Champion Radiator as well.... I bought one for a 50 and it works well enough in my truck.

[rockne10]

Personally, I would go over the brakes first. Once you get it running you are going to want to put it in gear and see it move. That's GREAT ! As long as you are certain it will stop!!!

Here's a direct link to the tech tips Dan referenced.

http://studebakerdriversclub.com/TechThings2do.asp

[megawatt-nrg]

Thanks for all the great information from everyone!

Personally, I would go over the brakes first. Once you get it running you are going to want to put it in gear and see it move. That's GREAT ! As long as you are certain it will stop!!!

Here's a direct link to the tech tips Dan referenced.

http://studebakerdriversclub.com/TechThings2do.asp

Thank you to everyone that has posted and the great info. I just checked out Champion and can't seem to see that they have a radiator listed that will fit my car. They do have one for the 1953 truck but not for my commander.

[62champ]

Someone else will confirm or deny this, but I believe 53 through 55 Commander/Land Cruiser/President sedan radiators will work in the '53. The top tank might be different (55 is a rounded top tank - better design) but they should be the same dimension.

Good luck.

[sals54]

It would be a good idea to remove the distributor and use a drill to spin the oil pump and build up a head of oil pressure throughout the engine. Then put the distributor back in and when it fires up, it will have full oil pressure from the get-go.
BP

Be sure your drill is in Reverse when you spin up the oil pump. The Studebaker distrubutor spins counter clockwise.

[royvaldez]

They have one for a 1953 Chevy that will work.

[spokejr]

I just had the radiator on my Avanti rebuilt and the surge tank hot tanked as well as hot tank the water pump manifold, grand total of $425.00 including state sales tax. The guys here do great work and now I have a high efficiency core in the radiator to boot.

[Captain Billy]

Top shelf product here....just bolt it in

http://www.cgj.com/search-results?sv=studebaker

[megawatt-nrg]

What is the name of the company that does your radiator work? It didn't come through on your post. Thanks for the info.

Eh