John Byrd

Hey Chris, good to have you back "reporting" ! If anyone says anything about the shade of the paint being a bit more silver, you have a couple of great excuses to use : 1. Yeah, the silver surround makes the headlights reflect brighter, and 2. Yeah, the factory painted them all a bit brighter under the hood to help us see better and to reflect the chrome engine bits better..... see ? Hope the headlight glass installation goes well - - do be carefull, mine seemed to not fit as well as they did before I took them out for the repaint, and we'll not mention the "light" rear-ender I did that ended their glassy life, ha !

John, in reference to your Kubota's front tires....two dealers told me that the recommended pressure ( 26 psi ? ) was not enough to keep them from doing exactly what yours have done,- - the cracks running round about the center of the sidewall. I don't remember if yours has the front end loader, mine did, but you might ask a "professional" about that air pressure. My tractor went to my brother-in-law when we moved here in 2010, and the tires are still on it and in good shape he says. I had bought it new in 2000 and always kept the pressure up after the 1st time I lifted a good sized load and asked my tire guys and the dealer. Keep up the good work on your projects and tell Greg that at least one fellow here REALLY enjoys his "adventures". Thanks, jb

I believe these were called the "Landcrab" by the British folks. A guy from Decatur, Al. that I worked with in the mid 70's had one and actually made it all the way to work in it once or twice ! (about 15 miles)

Rusty, if Chrysler had Simca in the early 60's, then the Simca Vedette with the V-8 60. Paul, I believe all the Interceptors were 383 or 440 Chrysler powered, but ???

DNC, the following have info: Vol 16 #2, Vol 3, #1 Vol 10, #4

Custom53, like Unimogjohn says, "you are going to have such fun". These cars are just so satisfying in almost every way. I miss ours so much, and remember the first time I drove it and the first time after completely re-doing it like it was yesterday. Don't feel overwhelmed, just feel a bit challenged, after all, is doesn't HAVE to be done immediately and exactly perfect I imagine. It really looks and sounds like you have a great gift, and just peoples comments and reactions to the Avantis alone make them one of the most fun things we ever owned. Other Stude people are very helpful, and be SURE to read through John and Chris's (Seventh son) posts ! Congrats on a great inheritance, hope you enjoy the "adventure" of the build ! Oh, and join the SDC if you can, great vendors, great people, great info, and a really great magazine. http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/index.asp

Yesterday we went to the Cherry Blossom Festival over in Waimea and saw 8 or 10 pick-ups with the beds completely full of snow. The boys here go up on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa when it snows and bring it down.... For what, I don't know..... although one kid did have a big snowman made in his truck bed, pretty funny unless you follow too close with all the "melt" running out the back, ha ! Hope you folks get some relief from those horrible cold temps, our folks in Al. and Tn. keep us updated....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr see some here. http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Mauna-Kea/webcams/latest

gossir00, be sure and hit this one if you possibly can, it is always superb ! I had booths there for years, when I moved to Hawaii my pals took 'em over.. Hope you get to go and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Ha ! Me too, both my little Brits have a "strangler" or choke as we call 'em.

John, doesn't this make two "leapers" you have now ? Peanut and the Jag.........

When we built our house in Alabama, we had a basement for most work along with the outside garages. We used a propane gas fired hot water heater that recirculated the hot water through a unit very like a giant heater core in a car. This was contained in the same duct work the AC unit used, but when we used the heat, only a small 110 volt fan was necessary to heat the whole house and basement. It was very clean, but the choice of gas types or electric could be different if needed. Our house/basement (over 4500 sq. ft combined) was much cheaper to heat than any of the neighbors, some with much smaller places. The outside garage was heated by an old heat/AC combined unit (electric) that an HVAC shop gave me after he replaced one in a home because the AC part didn't work. Electricity is pretty cheap in the mainland south, so that was not a problem. The heat side worked fine, and the price was sure right ! Now, over here, well, I use an overhead fan in the garage to keep some air moving - - - BUT - - there are lots of areas on the island that need winter and evening heat. Most folks (us included) have gone to the whole house electric solar deal. Lots of the solar units are coming down in price, and if you have enough "sun time" are certainly worth considering, even a small one for a ducted heat unit only.

You can find some good info here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66280

John, do you think Greg might enjoy this ? There sure are some fabulous pictures of some old and unusual aircraft. John http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=55583

Carfreak, we also give some of ours to a local "rest" home. The guys there and even some of the ladies seem to really enjoy them. A few Dr's offices will take them too, as most seem to have only children, home decor, or ladies type books. I have also taken piles of books to car shows and put a "Free books" sign by them and made some kids and adults grin...as they grab'd them !

Keat, look at the following link about the car from The Old Motor site..http://theoldmotor.com/?s=rolls+royce+round+door John

Chris, the things I have used in the past on many different situations come from the Honda Motorcycle shop ! They are small devises that slip in the hole much like a sheetrock anchor does, then when you press the stem on the back of the emblem into them, they expand and have tiny grippers on them to keep the stem from slipping back out. They were probably used on many other types of cycles for the tank and side cover emblems too. Might investigate that... jb

My first car was a 56 Chevy Station wagon. It was turquoise and white, V-8, 3 speed and in good shape. I put a youth-bed mattress, dual exhausts, glass packs, later model station wagon wheels (wider), and baby moons on it. Nope, the mattress was for sleeping when out of town while working, Ha ! My Dad, an uncle, a cousin, random friends and I were escorting wide loads - - mostly house trailers, all around the south east. I bought the car on a 90 day "note" in 65 after hi-school graduation and had the time of my life driving and earning money, and on some trips for the Government, legally speeding and running on their scheduled time. That car lasted about 85 days before it succumbed permanently to this (then) 17 year old and all the highway "stress". When it used almost 10 quarts of oil, ate another (of many) wheel bearings, and overheated on a trip back from Memphis to Clinton, Tn., my Dad made me trade it for a 64 Bel-Air - - yuk ! (That thing lasted less than 60 days). Loved that old wagon though....

Referencing the picture of the "Shelby" looking wagon in post 14, at a Mustang and Ford show in Knoxville, Tn. several years ago, there was a gorgeous '67 Mustang wagon. The folks had used a full sized wagon's top and sectioned it down I think. I took pictures of it and they were published in the old original "Super Ford" magazine before John sold it to the big guys. The car was pale yellow, and I still have my original photos, but the magazine pics were black and white. That Shelby looking one is gorgeous too ! There was also a dark green '65 or '66 Mustang wagon on the front of a '60's magazine, Car and Driver I believe... As for the Mustero, there was one at a Mustang meet in Chattanooga, Tn. show in the late '70's too. I think there may be more of these little lookers out there than most of us know. And for my final offer, in '68 thru '70 in Ft. Worth, Tx, there was a '58 Edsel Ranchero that was also SO tempting. Thanks for this thread, Mac, great as usual !!

Sounds like a great plan ! When we decided to build our house in Alabama, we fixed a 16 X 45 building with an additional 2 car garage on one side, then completed our 2400 sq. foot basement. Hey, we had a LOT of stuff with wheels on 'em, ha ! THEN, we built the house with an additional 24 X 26 garage on it. Oh, now you probably think we might like cars and bikes, huh ? It is SO good to have the metal babies safe and sound, I hope you get to do it quickly, your vehicles are so nice and deserve it ! To us, it seems like a no-brainer to protect such a big investment as a vehicle, but we haven't always been able to. Over here, our daily driver "disposables" ( almost anything built after 72 we think, ha ! ) set outside, and we don't like it, but, the two little oldies and bikes are in the only garage allowed.... 1st time in a sub-division for us... oh well.

Wow !! Chris, I'm proud for ya' ! That rascal sure looks good, and the first turn-back-around glimpses you speak of when doing a double check of the color is a lot like the first look at your first "WOW" girl, so the Silver-ish gal has got you ! Ha ! Sure looks nice, enjoy. Oh, and Roger nailed it about seeing other things that will need a bit of "upgrade", I bet... John

Chris, I just looked back to see your 1st entry was Dec. 7 of 2011. For a guy doing most of the "fun" himself, and learning as he went along, you have achieved a great deal ! Congrats, and I too can't wait to see the old gal out there shining ! As I told in a previous post, I did paint and body for several years as both a hobby and a business, and as an example of "how it can be", I bought a 59 English Ford Thames in 78, drove it a couple of years, then started working on it. I sold it in '10 to move over here, and had to pile several piles of parts, push it on the trailer, and hand the guy several boxes of new parts. And I loved that little rascal and knew what I was doing, ha ! So your time seems painful and slow sometimes, but.........good job, fellow !! jb

Chris, we always just call the "graffiti" a guide coat. Helps when sanding to be sure things are flat and don't have low spots. If it does, the contrasting color shows...if you are using a block and not just fingers and palm to hold the paper. Good method, gets good results ! Lookin' good !

And Chris, to add my 2 cents wort, there are VERY few painters (or other craftsmen) that would be glad to take on a job that was taken to someone else first. Your price may escalate quite a bit if you do that. John's and Bill's advice above is good. I bet it will turn out fine.

Hey, Magoo, thanks a bunch for this ! The sedan deliveries are near the top of my list for "cool" vehicles ! I've had 3 so far, a 59 Thames, a 64 Falcon, and a 58 Ford. Your pics are great and as usual, I linked your site to our little car club over here. I also want to tell anyone else interested in these to just get on Google, click on "images" and type in sedan delivery, (or the name brand delivery or van of your choice if you are "focused"). There are a bunch of really nice ones still out there ! I tried to buy Falcon sedan deliveries while still a teen from Swift Packing Co. in Knoxville, Tenn., National Cash Register Co., and Union Carbide Corp. in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Union Carbide and the city of Oak Ridge also had some others, seems like 60 Chevys, one Lark, and even a few 55 or 56 Fords! The manager of the National Cash Register Company said he would save one out for me when they got ready to get rid of them, but I moved to Texas......... Oh well, got a "junkie" one later anyhow ! Thanks again for your great site, John P.S. LOVE the Lark !

Reference post 29. Peter, I don't even CONSIDER using Facebook or Twitter, so that makes this site the top one ! There ! What'cha think about that ? Thanks to you and all the folks that make this part of my small world possible, I check it a lot, and respond occasionally, but just really appreciate and enjoy it. John