I'm a regular on the SDC Forum, but a first-time poster here. I have a friend who has a 1916 Studebaker Touring car. Its pretty much all there (engine, drivetrain, sheetmetal), except for trim, but its been outside a looong time, so all of the wood parts are rotten. He's trying to assess whether he can manage to restore it. It is an old family car, so he has the desire, he has the ability and he might even have the funds, but will everything that he doesn't have need to be fabricated? If so, who does this kind of work? I can get almost anything that I need for my 1950 Champion, but I imagine he's in for rougher sledding. Are there any experts on early Studes out there?

Where is the car located?
I have some parts for it.
Is it a 4 or six cylinder?
I know of two 1916 Studebakers here in Northern Illinois.
Robert Kapteyn

Its a four cylinder car. The car is located in central Nebraska, but the guy that owns it travels around to races quite a bit. What kind of parts do you have? I know hes missing a rear passenger door and part of the hood, as well as a lot of trim parts, wheels, etc., etc.

Aren't 1913 to 1916 Studes pretty similar? Are parts interchangeable? Are service manual reprints available?

Yes, the 1913 to 1917 cars share many common parts both 4 and 6 cylinder models.

Send me a private email to "studeracer_37@yahoo.com" and I can send copies from my 1913-17 illustrated parts book. I have already scanned many image and data pages for a friend restoring a 1917 Big 6. The files are around 100K in size and email well. Also have some advertising brochure images of the chassis details. Stude8

Stude8
Thanks for your willingness to help! I want to inspire this guy to save this old car. I will email you ASAP

Lothar

I think one of the first things that needs to be done is identify exactly what Series vehicle it is. The early 1916 vehicles had the fuel tank in the cowl and no vacuum tank. The later vehicles in 1916 (Series 17) went to a rear fuel tank with a vacuuum tank. The next series of vehicles (Series 18)in 1917 had the rear fuel tank but a changed rear engine mounting. The Series 17 and earlier vehicles had four ears on the crankcase which bolted directly to the chassis. The Series 18 vehicles had a stronger rear mounting for the engine which used a steel reinforcing ring at the back of the motor. There are other differences in the series but these should identify what vehicle you have. All of these vehicles had the gearbox bolted to the differential (Transaxle).

Thank you Merv for the teens Studebaker spotters guide.

Lothar sent images of the subject car and it has a cowl fuel tank so is a 1916. It will take a serious restoration to get it running but is in fair shape after many years on the prairie Stude8

I can confirm that it has a cowl fuel tank. I also saw the transaxle and the wierd clutch.Stude 8 provided some good information and advice. Thanks.

The parts I have are a front axle some springs, transmission cases
wheel rims, tansaxle housing, stabilizer torque bar, steering column etc.
Robert Kapteyn, Joliet Studebaker ,815 722 7262.

If he decides to restore it I have two 16 rear doors with wood and upholstery.
email me at steven.may@sympatico.ca