My 64 Commander.

[studegary]

Avoid automated, pressurized car washes. Just try to keep rain water out if you occasionally get caught in a shower.

[RyleeH]

Door Panels! Just a test fit in this pic, I know that's a window crank in place of door handle.

Local chapter member George was kind enough to show me, and honestly do a large portion of the work, to get door panels I saved from a parts car onto new backing. I just finished them both tonight, I'm so happy with the way they turned out. I just need to find fasteners to get the arm rests bolted back on and new c-clips to hold all cranks on. Huge Thank you to George.

I borrowed a polisher from a friend tonight as well so I could start shining the car up for upcoming summer.

Was having a high idle/over fueling issue. I'm super beginner with carbs so another local chapter member recommended his cousin to help me, glad he did. Gave me a short lesson on carbs, I'm hoping that stuck.

What's everyone's opinion on the rubber seal kits from Studebaker International? $486USD(full kit without front/back windshield rubber) is pretty expensive to this Canadian right now. Is there any cheaper yet equal quality products to be found? Door and windows are my major concerns for car washes.

[RyleeH]

Hi everyone! Been a little while, life gets that way. My little ranger has been my focus for most of the winter unfortunately. But I was able to get some new valve covers on the car this last month.


But as of Saturday night I believe I lost my daily driver. I was travelling home from work and a truck turned left into my door. Having a fun time with insurance at the moment. Scrambling to get my truck to a shop and the car out of storage mode.


While playing around with the car I've found it to be pushing out the cork gasket in the oil valley where block meets intake and my valve cover gaskets dont work well with my choice of covers. I'd like to replace my entire fuel line this spring before I drive too much as well. Thinking of grabbing holley 34-150 fuel line and facing it to firewall to hide line a bit and moving my fuel pump to my frame rail close to the firewall. Still have hopes of getting the d44 axle under my car soon too. I'm getting tired of not having door panels, that needs to happen this weekend.

The list grows as I check things off...

[RyleeH]

Yup triple groove. Alt only lines up to front pulley, then 2 belts to crank. If I went single groove crank I'd still need the triple groove and have one useless groove in the middle water pump. Double crank, triple water makes it look more "meant to be" in my opinion. No tensioner and I'm not worried about it slipping. Muscled water pulley into place.

Just finished supper after getting back from exhaust shop now.


Driving it easy right now. But I need bigger tires for spring. I'll finish a bit of wiring tonight to have all lights work again. Tighten the manifolds due to a small leak. Have to find a different gear to drive the speedometer cable, it's working but not accurately. Making some good progress these last couple days, I like rain days.

[Jerry Forrester]

Is that a 3 groove water pump pulley you have? I guess that's one way to do it. It works, so that's ok.

[RyleeH]

Back together again now. Ordered up ram horn manifolds with 2.5" collectors, hooked up new speedometer cable(pioneer ca3002 from Borg warner t10 to factory stude gauge), and finished putting everything together to start it up for the first time last night. Only took a couple tries of the key until it fired.
Just going to fix up the steering column wiring tonight and have exhaust done in a shop tomorrow and its a driveable project again. Oh and get headlights and bezels back in.


I'm really liking all the shine under the hood now. Over winter I'll pick away at it more. Valve covers, pump, alt pulleys and whatever else I can.

[RyleeH]

Surprise! So machineshop said on Thursday it wasn't worth machining the heads I brought in. Ordered up some aluminum heads right away. While I was at my local store, we talked about fixing a crack in aluminum bellhousing. $55 and the bellhousing is fixed. Looking at my release bearing after removal and its pooched, picked up national 614083. Trying to find a clutch pilot bearing now and start assembly, hope I find near me for a decent price tomorrow. Push rods will be here monday.
Well yesterday I picked up the new heads.


Hopefully no longer than another week without the car.

[junior]

I re-read your post about the t/o bearing. if that squeaking noise is like a bird chirping with no tension on the clutch pedal then there is a good chance that the ball stud of the clutch fork needs some grease. usually a bad t/o bearing will squeal when you engage the clutch pedal. if you are replacing the t/o bearing, buy a good one, not a cheap one...ask me how I know.

looks like you have roller rocker arms...check to make sure they are contacting the center of the valve stems, if not they can cause all kinds of issues...pooched valve guide being one of them. There is lots of info on the net about this, and a lot of issues have to do with cheap rip-off off shore rocker arms. cheers, junior

[RyleeH]

Was driving my car last week chasing small issues, thinking I was winning the battle until Friday after work. Started to try diagnose the issue and well I did find it.

I started with simple diagnoses and worked my way in. Timing was off, spark plugs were fine, distributor was fine, I hadn't seemed to skip a tooth on the timing chain. Tore off the valve covers and found a piece of valve seal, pulled the heads, removed the valve in question, to find this. Valve guide is ovalled. I didnt pull more valves to see but the way a few wiggled, it's a safe bet more are pooched.

Today I dropped the heads off at a local machine shop where they said as early as next week I could have them back. Hoping for no unexpected surprises. I'll get my act together this week (evenings after work and sunday) to pull the block out and do the throwout bearing. I'll be doing my best to have it back on the road in 2-3 weeks.

Had the carb spacer and edelbrock air cleaner on last week. It looked like I had under an inch of clearance from the hood. But the hood springs rub it just so slightly, I'll be okay with it for now.

On a good note my custom license plate showed up at my house today!


Attended a local car show sunday where 5 studebakers were showing. Awesome cars.

[RyleeH]

Ya I might be overthinking the coolant situation. Went for another car wash to clean up some oil underneath and the rad keeps at a level about 2" from the top of tank. I have a small overflow tank. So I'll just monitor the situation and if it gets lower then I'll look into other solutions. Believe I just have to do more cleaning underneath to get rid of any drips now.

Bringing it to work the next few days should help dry it off, supposed to be 38C tomorrow and the next day. Won't put the carb spacer or air cleaner on until I get all the excess oil and coolant cleaned out of the engine bay.

[Jerry Forrester]

still spitting out a bit of coolant but will try changing up to a 19lb rad cap from my current 16lb to solve that. My local performance shop guy gave me the rad cap advice, he has been great with me.

Rylee, it sounds like you're having too much fun. Slow down, you're gonna burst your fun meter.
I wouldn't go with a stronger radiator cap, if anything I'd go with a 14lb. cap and install a coolant recovery tank. Your car, your money, your decision.

[RyleeH]

Now I'm just chasing small leaks and starting to clean up appearance more. I thought I had oil leaks under control until I put a better sealing oil fill cap to stop dirty valve covers and the timing cover gasket failed horribly. So yesterday I frantically changed that in 4.5hrs, changed the oil and all. I sit below the half mark on the temp gauge with my new flex-a-lite system, still spitting out a bit of coolant but will try changing up to a 19lb rad cap from my current 16lb to solve that. My local performance shop guy gave me the rad cap advice, he has been great with me.

Was able to take a highway cruise to another members house yesterday to ask for advice for repair of the front door panels I have from the parts car I had. He offered to tinker on them himself which would be awesome, but I'd rather do it myself to learn. He said I can call anytime for advice, I like that more. While I was there I drooled over a Hawk(I think) that he is working on. Very grateful for his advice and the time he takes to explain things to me. Thanks George!

Yesterday as well I ordered some parts which I just picked up. Carb spacer, double v-groove crank pulley and this nice edelbrock air cleaner. Should help the engine breathe better and space my fuel line off the coolant line, only reason for the carb spacer. Everything should start looking like it's meant to be soon.

[RyleeH]

Had some more learning experiences this weekend. So after charging the battery twice, a boost from my ranger finally got it started. But that was only after I removed the valve covers again to verify tdc. I found an awesome video regarding motorcycles that helped a lot to explain tdc on 4-stroke engines. Turned out I was 180° off the compression stroke, i originally set it when valves were overlapping open.
Turns out I didnt install my transmission inspection cover very well so the pressure plate made some bad noise once I finally got the timing right and started.


After I got it running I tested my new rad/fan combo which is also awesome by the way. Flexalite customer service is great. The new controller showed up and was an easy install. Loosened rad shroud holding bolts slid it up just enough to under controller cover and just five wire connections to mess with.

Wanted to go for a test drive after I begged a friend to come help put the hood back on. So I had to pull up front and have Ranger save the day again. I didnt get the cig lighter in car working so used the trucks and my crappy compressor to get up air pressure in my front driver tire.


Before the test drive I noticed a slight squeaking noise. Sounds like regrets of not doing clutch release bearing while I had easy access. But before calling it a day I reached under and generously sprayed white lithium grease in through the clutch fork hole since I dont have a cover. Started the car, moved the clutch a bunch, no noise. I'm still gonna order a new one and be ready when its needed, IF I got away with it this time.

Re-aligned my ford brake light switch right at the pedal so my lights dont stay on at all times. I know stock the switch is on the master, I'm getting there, bear with me.

Im super excited now and going to drive it to work tomorrow. But now that I'm running I can focus on all the small things. Like door panels, sill plates, window cranks, etc. Never ending list that I'm totally fine with.

[Jerry Forrester]

Ya I needed to install pulley with belt on. Wasn't easy but I managed. Once I get a double groove crank pulley and add a second belt I can imagine it will be much harder to put back in place.

Much easier if you remove the WP pulley.

[RyleeH]

Ya I needed to install pulley with belt on. Wasn't easy but I managed. Once I get a double groove crank pulley and add a second belt I can imagine it will be much harder to put back in place.