Looking good but I have a suggestion. Instead of those stainless steel cupped retainers, pop over to the nearest Ace Hardware and pick up some plastic ones. You can paint them (and the screw heads) to blend in with your interior. Makes for a much more even look.

Thanks Mike! I will keep it in mind.;)

Oh yes, the pictures were taken in a dark trailer with flash looking in from the side window which is roughly the size of a large loaf of bread.;)

NICE!!!


Dan

Thanks Dan! I was just thinking about the turbo today.

Tom

Thank Barry!

That is how they did it back then. My CE probably had painted masonite door panels, though it did have a headliner which a lot of the old trucks did not.

Cheers!

We had some rough edges to smooth out.... center bearing and support for DS, AC brackets and smaller belt, troubleshoot the heater/ac. It is ready to pick up tomorrow.

I'm considering driving it up to south bend for the spring studebaker swap meet. It would be the longest drive I have done in it and I'm not sure if I have the Cojones for it.

Just picked it up. It rides and drives like a much newer pickup truck. Good ride good steering and not bouncy or rattly. The brakes are awesome!

Still some rough edges though. Accelerator pedal is binding.

Sounds really good. Down to the detail stuff at last.

Indeed!;)

Got it back from the shop and drove around a bit yesterday. Drives fine. The new DS carrier bearing rubber support is from a Ford Ranger or something similar and is much more solid than the one from MB which is designed for a rear diff which is attached to the frame with fully independent suspension. With my ford 9" the shaft moves around a lot more.

The springs and such all work very well now with the 150 to 200# of Shyte I have in the bed. But the truck drives and rides as I had hoped for, like a ninety something half ton pickup. Solid and supple with good steering except for the inch of free play in the cheap ford rack and pinion. The AC works now too and the brakes are awesome... perfect pedal pressure and loads of stopping power.

Now I want to find a radio, cd player and nav system I can put in the glove box without any wires.

Wooo hoooo!

Happy News!!!! :D
Dan

Sloppy Steering
 

? Can't you shim or adjust the steering rack? .

An inch is a lot of play .

I have not found a way to do that with a rack.

Adjusting Steering Racks
 

Understand that my experience here is with 50 year old British Sports Cars ~

They typically have shims on the cover of the pinion gear holder, you take out *just* enough shim(s) to reduce the play and you're golden .

Hmmmmmm. I'll check.