1962 Champ

[Studebaker62]

I don't know what it is or how to describe it, but I have always had a thing for old trucks. I recently bought my first old truck, a 1962 Champ.

I stumbled across this on an online auction and bought this on a whim, sight unseen, without even thinking twice about it. When I went to pick it up, there was some serious contemplation on just driving away and leaving it sit. I knew it was going to be a project, but I think calling this a project is going to be an understatement.

It's home, in the barn and slowly growing on me. I'm actually starting to get excited about it. It's going to take a while and there is a lot of work ahead of me. I've got basic mechanical skills and feel somewhat comfortable with the engine and transmission. The body work is a bit concerning as my welding skills are very entry level and most of what I do weld is a bit more industrial, 3/16" or heavier. I have done some painting, but again it's been in an industrial setting with thick 2-part epoxies.

I haven't made any sort of plans yet, but I do know I want it to look right. I would like to repair/refurbish as much as possible, but I don't think it's always practical. I'm considering fiberglass fenders and buying new aprons, air deflectors, and front nose panel. In a way, this seems like the most practical option but at the same time, it feels like cheating or not giving the truck the attention it deserves. Thoughts?

The engine is the 6 cyl OHV and seems to be stuck.
Transmission is 3 speed. No clue of it's condition.
Floor plans are completely gone to the point the cab is loose from the frame.
The bed floor and cross members are also completely rusted out and loose from the frame.
The only usable glass is the rear slider.







These are the photos from the auction house. Looks are VERY deceiving.

[doug]

Most mechanical parts are available, Sheet metal is pretty much the same as 59-60 Lark and t-cabs. Welcome to the forum.

[RadioRoy]

I don't think I have ever looked at a car that was as good as it was described, or how it looked in my mind ahead of time.

Welcome to the club.

[Skip Lackie]

As stated, the mechanicals are all available. Many body repair parts are available from Classic Enterprises.

http://www.studebakervendors.com/

[62champ]

Congrats on joining the ranks of Studebaker owners.

Trying to evaluate what direction to go in can be pretty difficult, especially when the amount of work needed is pretty daunting. After working of the truck below for four years, I had to come to the conclusion that there was not money or space to be able to continue and let it go to someone who would be able to finish the task. It was the 30th 7E5 (1962 1/2 ton six cylinder) from the end of production for that model year.



In my hunt for parts, I found a Studebaker vendor who had a whole truck for $500 - it ended up having a cab in better shape than the one I started with. Picked it for all the parts I needed and sent it down the road for $500 to someone looking for parts that were still on it.



Parts and parts vehicles are still out there. If the frame is rusted out as badly as you described, it might be a consideration to find a donor instead to trying to fix what you already have.

Photo of the rear frame of the first truck before being painted.



Lots of knowledgeable folks on this forum who can help. Good luck and keep us in the loop.

[Studebaker62]

It is definitely going to be a huge undertaking, but I'm kind of looking forward to it. The frame has quite a bit of surface rust, but seems solid. At some point I'll pull what's left of the cab and the bed to figure out the actual frame condition. I think I may have a lead on a donor, but from the photos it looks like it may be in too good of condition to strip down. Although deceiving photos are what got me into the project in the first place.

Thanks again and I'm sure I'll have tons of questions for the experts.

[62champ]

When I started to really get into the whole "old car thing" back in the early 1990s, it was with the help of my Uncle. One of his favorite sayings was "you shouldn't buy something from a picture". I have also seen it go the other way - the photos did not look that promising and the item turned out to be much better. Good luck!

[Skip Lackie]

The truck frames are pretty tough. Unless they're in direct contact with moist earth for a long time, they usually only need some sandblasting to clean them up.

[StudeRich]

Welcome to the SDC and to the SDC Forum Brandon!

It IS a sickness all right, once you have One you just gotta have some more!

When I see sagging doors like those I know the probable cause, the A Pillar has rotted off of the Floor Panel and possibly the Cab Support Bracket to the Frame is mostly gone. That will be quite a project.

If you find a replacement Cab, just remember if you want to keep the Original Truck's License, Registration, Title etc. there are NO Serial Numbers on Truck Frames, so you would have to save the Cab Serial Number Plate and Fuser (Bond) it on the replacement Cab.

[62champ]

The truck frames are pretty tough. Unless they're in direct contact with moist earth for a long time, they usually only need some sandblasting to clean them up.

Being a C-channel, and other than some of the boxed in cross members, there is not a lot of places for the frames to "go bad". This truck was picked up with the bed 3/4 full of pine needles - new owner said he did not realize how much of the floor was missing until he looked in it about 750 miles from where he picked it up. Frame was still in decent shape . . .

[Studebaker62]

That's about how mine looked after I removed the miles of broken rusty barbed wire from the bed. I see this one doesn't have a tailgate either. If anyone knows where these tailgates are hiding, I'd like to know. I'm guessing they are wherever the missing socks go. They are not easy to find.

[Studebaker62]

Since my cab is in such terrible condition, I have a plan to take a 4-door Lark, cut it behind the frame at the door and then weld the rear of my Champ cab to it. This will basically accomplish 2 things for me. It will allow me to have a mostly solid cab and it will allow me to push the seat back a couple inches for a more comfortable fit. I'm not a huge guy, but I'm not small. In the stock form of the Champ, I basically hug the steering wheel.

The cab corners of the truck are gone and then some. I would like to rebuild the cab corners before I mesh it to the Lark. I have already cut the rear of the cab off the truck, but I left the entire roof so I can decide how much extra space I want, then trim the roof to the final length.

Does anybody happen to know what the dimension from the cab mounts to the bottom of the cab corner should be? I know I should probably wait until I have the cab, but I think it is going to be easier for me to work on just the back panel with my garage setup.


This photo may look familiar because it belongs to ChampCouple (Mike and Dawn). I'm hoping you don't mind that I'm using it. BTW...Great job on the repair. I'm hoping I can make mine look half that good.

[Warren Webb]

Before you get & cut up a 4 door lark I would think of doing the same thing but use a 2 door lark instead. If one of the trucks has a 6' bed that would make it even better as long as the original truck had the longer wheelbase for the 8' bed. Same amount of work but the outcome would give you more room inside & a very unique truck! Paint it "Apache red" again & create a real looker! Just my opinion

[Studebaker62]

Hmmm... Not a bad idea. Certainly gives me something to think about. Definitely opens my options for donors too.

I don't know why or where the idea came from, but once I was over the shock of what I had just bought, I was thinking something similar but slightly darker than Hawaiian Green, almost teal-ish. The original Apache Red really would be a really good choice though. Too many choices...

I appreciate the input.

[Studebaker62]

In my search for a Lark to modify, I stumbled across a true gem that I could not pass up.




This is a 1959 Lark that was restored by the SDC Michiana Chapter in 1992. I'm told this was donated to St. Joe hospital in South Bend for their rehabilitation wing until a few years ago. I'd love to hear more about this if anyone involved is still around.

[StudeRich]

That is a Very Nice '59 Lark Regal Interior, looks like it was a 4 door. That '59/'60 Seamist Green would also look great !

[6hk71400]

Ah yes that is the Therapy Lark. As I recall, it was in an article in Turning Wheels and the interior was done with donated interior parts from SASCO. I was not involved but the article said it was for stroke patients to use to help with getting in and out of a car. You will not have to deal with the usual tin worm as this has been indoors and not subject to heavy duty use. I could have used that 11 years ago instead programmed torture used for PT today. I had to stop as my heart rate and BP kept going up. That got taken care of at a later date.

As I have moved and I have given my Turning Wheels collection away, maybe some one that has a complete collection can recall the article.

You have a great start with that cab

Bob Miles
Benson AZ