Other: Looking for Help on Possible Issues with 1953 Starliner

[quietwaterspress]

Hello! I hope this is an appropriate question to post here, but please let me know if it's not.

I know very little about cars, but I'm an author writing a story set in 1955 and have given one of my characters a 1953 Starliner. Where I'm stuck is that I need her to have a breakdown (one of my other characters is an amateur mechanic), and I don't know what kind of issue would be realistic for this car. Obviously, I could use a flat tire, but I would really like to do something more original. Ideally, it would be an issue that could be fixed on the side of the road, although I don't mind them having to go back and get parts or tools. The car could either break down while in motion or just not start again after a stop. It could easily be a result of delayed regular maintenance of some kind, although it doesn't have to be.

I don't plan on describing this at any great length, and I doubt that most of my readers will even realize if I get it wrong, but I would really like to have the details as correct as I can. Can anyone help me?

Thank you in advance!

[RadioRoy]

The rubbing block on the points could wear down causing the points to stay closed and killing the engine.

The hero could reset the points gap using a match book cover for a thickness gauge.

[rockne10]

Could be a crack in a rubber fuel line sucking air, or rust through on the steel line. Or a blown brake line (it only takes one, as they have a single reservoir master cylinder.)
The fuel line repair would be the simplest, requiring the most basic tools and parts; brake line repair a bit more complicated.

Common issue with all of them, not present in cars with electric fuel pump, was vapor lock, basically requiring no tools, just patience; but incredibly frustrating.
How much time is your 'breakdown' going to require to fill the narrative?

[Topper2011]

Look up "Gus's Model Garage". Plenty of examples there. It's what got me started in working on cars.

https://gus-stories.org

[oilnsteel]

Things I fixed by the side of the road in 50 years of Studebakering: Clogged fuel line- blew it out with lung power. Bad fuel pump - had a spare and installed it. Rusted brake line-
hammered it flat with a rock and limped home. Jammed starter drive- rocked it in gear. Cracked oil filter line - same as the brake line but this time I had a hammer. Rod knock, made it home anyway. That's pretty much it for all those miles.
JT

[StudeRich]

I think your Timeline (Date of the Happening or Movie) 1955? would make a difference on WHAT might fail.
The Points closing up and needing Adjustment and eventual replacement, is a good one.

But in 1955, the Car is too new for Rusted Fuel Lines, Brake Lines etc., a '53 Would not have any Rubber Fuel Hose to crack etc.
So I would stick with a Common issue in all Cars of the Day after significant Miles, Distributor Points.

The helpful Guy just removes the Distributor Cap and Rotor cranks the engine to get the points on a high Distributor Cam Lobe and Sets the Points. Bingo, it runs!

No need to blame the Studebaker!

Since Studebaker's have been gone since the Last Model year 1966, they often get picked on and shown in Movies etc. as a Car that often Breaks, just because there is little Backlash even though, that could not be farther from the truth.

[Son O Lark]

Since the car is only two years old. Very few problems would be wear related. Loose points would be a good one. Maybe a rock skips up from a truck ahead and punctures the radiator. The hero then gets his pliers out and pinches the leaking tubes shut. Then uses a wheel cover to get water from the nearby creek narrowly avoiding the Water Mocassin. Ten trips later he finally fills the cooling system. On one trip he scores a swell Heddon lure lost by a fisherman. Etc....

[altair]

How about just ran out of gas or locked the keys in side. It could be any car.

[quietwaterspress]

Thank you all so much! The distributor points sounds promising; I'll look into that.

Just to be clear, I had no intention of blaming the Studebaker, and I certainly didn't pick it for that reason! I was researching 1950s cars and chose the Starliner because I liked its look and thought it would catch my heroine's attention, and then I was afraid I'd end up giving it a generic car issue that would be totally inconsistent with this brand/year/etc. Actually, I'd much rather blame my car owner for not taking care of it properly than blame the car itself. I definitely won't make my mechanic trash talk it.

I really appreciate all your help!

[Corbinstein0]

Nice to see someone wanting to put a Studebaker in a story. Next people gonna be asking.... What's a Studebaker, Who made them? LOL

[6hk71400]

The rubbing block on the points could wear down causing the points to stay closed and killing the engine.

The hero could reset the points gap using a match book cover for a thickness gauge.

Good one Roy,

If the mechanic did not have a matchbook, they could use a dime to set the points. As I recall in the book "They call me Mister 500" Andy Granatelli told the story of helping people in the 30's get their car started that way. It was usually in the dead of winter in Chicago

Bob Miles
I have been lucky so far

[skyway]

Don’t ask why I alway carry a spare but;
If it’s a V-8 car the carbon rod in the rotor could have disintegrated or become dislodged?

[greyben]

Distributor points or loose electrical connection related to distributor are reasonable problems although I never recall a complete failure with points in my years of driving. Other possible failures common to the era might be a cooling system thermostat stuck closed causing overheating or a carburetor float valve leaking causing the carb to flood. A plugged fuel filter due to dirty gas is another possibility.

[rockne10]

How about just ran out of gas or locked the keys in side. It could be any car.

I'm pretty sure you will find you can't lock your keys in a Studebaker.
Try it.

[studeski]

How about it's a Chevy that broke down and a guy in a Starliner stops to help.