The Project Continues 58 J Body Hardtop

[JayBird]

New steering gear installed and a lot of fitting of the front body parts underway.

[JayBird]

NOS fins cleaned and 2 coat of epoxy primer inside and out. Quite possible the last pair of NOS fins for a 2 door 58 Packard hard top around. Has anyone else got a fever for more Studebaker fins?

[JayBird]

[JayBird]

[r1lark]

Kenneth, looks like you have a first class place doing your restoration. Hopefully we will have some NCSDC Chapter meets this year...............will your '58 be ready soon?

[JayBird]

Fitting Fenders and trimming the aprons. Next up the radiator core support.

[JayBird]

After spending years cruising swap meets Dave was reluctant to let go of his parts cash! It's okay Dave take a deep breath and just let go. I promise I'll put the parts to good use or take good care of them and store them for another 10-20 year then pass them along to the next owner.

[JayBird]

I've got a fever for some more 58 Packard parts. I attended Dave's invitation only garage swap meet and well I just couldn't resist.

[JayBird]

When just one set of 58 Packard fenders are not enough....These are the original fenders and a set of 58 Studebaker HT sedan fenders. Although they are very similar there are some differences. First the area at the front lower corner on the Packard is recessed to accommodate the fiberglass air dam, second and even less noticeable the front extension on the inside where it meets the hood is straight and does not extend as far. If you look carefully at the Studebaker hood it has a curve to it where as the Packard is straight. Anyway these were in progress when I came across the other pair that I got from an SDC member.

[Flashback]

Looks like you think "HIGHER" of the Stude. than most of the others.

[JayBird]

Hanging out with the PACK!

[JayBird]

I'm saving those stickers for all the 289 Mustang's.

[StudeRich]

I don't think that Chevabaker Engine is going to fool anyone. Why not put the "Packard Super 289" Decals on it.

[JayBird]

Sometimes it feels like a revolving parts depot. Parts going out and parts coming in. Trim going out, chrome coming in, more parts going out for a shiny new coat of chrome and some NOS parts found on Facebook coming in.

[scott.rodgers]

The intent is to keep the body stock and upgrade the mechanicals. So will be a GM crate. Hoping to give it the retro look something similar to this but with the stock air cleaner and going to have the oil filter and breather/fill tube added in the front along with a set of Packard valve covers!

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Great minds think alike! Here's my mock up of a fake R1 engine that I'm doing for my 63 Wagonaire. This is using a foam block for now (to test fit in the car) but it will eventually be a 5.3 all-aluminum LS engine (LM4). The Studebaker valve covers are just acting as coil covers. They are mounted on Holley 241-298 valve cover adapter plates for Chevy small block valve covers. The Stude covers fit perfectly, but I needed to make some plates with studs to mount the covers using the original 2 bolt holes.