'64 Studebaker Champ Truck

[truckman]

First post!

My grandfather was the second owner of this stude - he bought it in the early 80s off the side of the road. I had many fond memories as a child of visiting him out in Longview TX to work on the Studebaker (for a while he had a '32 buick sedan as well, but it barely ever ran and needed some TLC just about everywhere) and this truck is what got me into cars. He passed away a year and a half ago but before he did he handed me the keys and the title as I was the only person in the family who seemed to genuinely care about it. This is not the original paint - it got this new cherry red color in the late 2000s/early 2010s. The original color was banana yellow. Unfortunately I do not have any photos inside the engine bay. I think the hood release latch is stuck/rusted/NOT WORKING and I couldn't find a pry bar when I visited last to try to work the latch from underneath. It does not run; the carburetor was pulled and in the process of being repaired as of 2 years ago. I believe it has the 169 six-cylinder.

I finally have a financial and life situation stable enough to commit to working on this vehicle on the weekend once a month or so (it is in a shed 6 hours away). I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but I have little-to-no experience working on a carbureted engine so I look forward to being more involved in this forum and learning more!

[South Bend Mark]

That's a smart looking Champ!

[62champ]

Welcome to the forum - looks like your grandfather left the Champ in good hands.

Unless it has been changed, your Champ had a hood release lever in the grill. It is open enough you can get some penetrating oil sprayed up in there to get it to move. It also helps to put some downward pressure at the spot in the hood to release some of the tension and get it to unlatch.

All of the engines of the time period are pretty simple - if you already know all the basics, it will be easy. One thing to keep in mind - without all the electronic/computer controls, adjustments are "close" to what is needed to get the engine to run/operate properly. Even lubrication is something that vehicle owners do not worry so much about these days - Studebaker wanted grease in pivot points added every 1000 miles and up. An owners guide/shop manual are handy to have for such purposes.

There is a registry here on the SDC forum if you would like to add your truck to the other '64 8Es.

1964 Champ Registry

You might remember from your younger days about how unrefined these vehicles are - they are rough riding, loud, dirty, and have few creature comforts. However, when they were new, a owner was probably trading in something from the early 1950s for this truck and it seems like a luxury automobile to them in comparison.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[truckman]

Welcome to the forum - looks like your grandfather left the Champ in good hands.

Unless it has been changed, your Champ had a hood release lever in the grill. It is open enough you can get some penetrating oil sprayed up in there to get it to move. It also helps to put some downward pressure at the spot in the hood to release some of the tension and get it to unlatch.

All of the engines of the time period are pretty simple - if you already know all the basics, it will be easy. One thing to keep in mind - without all the electronic/computer controls, adjustments are "close" to what is needed to get the engine to run/operate properly. Even lubrication is something that vehicle owners do not worry so much about these days - Studebaker wanted grease in pivot points added every 1000 miles and up. An owners guide/shop manual are handy to have for such purposes.

There is a registry here on the SDC forum if you would like to add your truck to the other '64 8Es.

1964 Champ Registry

You might remember from your younger days about how unrefined these vehicles are - they are rough riding, loud, dirty, and have few creature comforts. However, when they were new, a owner was probably trading in something from the early 1950s for this truck and it seems like a luxury automobile to them in comparison.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you for the tips and the perspective. Very rarely have I seen "grease pivot points" in my car's maintenance schedule, so time to get to reading.

[StudeRich]

Nice looking Champ, is yours an I Six or V8 ?



Here's a V8, the Air Cleaner Lid should be black:

[19502R16A]

Welcome Aboard Truckman,
Very neat history with this truck. You will enjoy decades of fun with it, it's definitely in the right hands!
There is a wealth of information here, fantastic people, and we all share a passion for everything Studebaker.
Enjoy the ride.

[Warren Webb]

Please don't try using a pry bar on that great looking hood!!! Unless your was modified with a hood release handle under the dash ( as one of my 62's was) the hood release is very simple. Spray the latch with WD 40 or something stranger. Use it like you got it for free! I've used stuff from ACE Hardware that I can't think of the name. Old age thing I guess! But it comes in a spray can with yellow lettering. Another is "CROIL" but getting expensive lately.