NEED HELP, NEW PROJECT (NOT A TRACTOR) - 110 year old Barn Find Studebaker

[used red MN]

Really?? It looks old and didn't know there were "fakes" or copies out there. Wonder what it would be worth if it was blasted and repainted?

A real one is made of cast iron.

 

[RTR]

A real one is made of cast iron.

oh ok. I thought they made concrete and cast iron ones. Didn't know that.

 

[37chief]

I just bought a really cool project! From the little research I’ve done it’s a 1917 Studebaker Model ED 7-passenger touring car. I know NOTHING about them and am new to this ; but I'm no stranger to old tractors having restored 30 or so over the years. Hoping to learn a lot, and get help along this journey. I have no parts for this car so that will be an adventure in itself I bet. My goal so far is to preserve it the way it is as much as possible, but to SLOWLY evaluate the mechanicals and bring them back around to TRY and get it running after all these years! Can’t be that bad and that much different from an old tractor! And the cherry on the top is that I’m going to film all of this to document on my YouTube Channel and Facebook Page Alabama Tractor Pickers.

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Lucky you. The car must have tight been in a fairly good shed with a good roof. For being that old it looks in good shape. You should start with the wood spoke wheels. These will be the first to go. Stan

 

[Gambles]

A very cool project, indeed!
Back around 1980, my neighbor lady GAVE me a ‘64 Studebaker Lark. 289/3 on the tree. There was one catch. It needed a new clutch. The pedal went to the floor. That didn’t bother me as I was going to auto tech school. Seems like it bothered mom and dad, though, as we had no room for it and they wanted it gone. I never got to drive it.

 

[RTR]

Lucky you. The car must have tight been in a fairly good shed with a good roof. For being that old it looks in good shape. You should start with the wood spoke wheels. These will be the first to go. Stan

what do you mean, they are the first to go? They seem to be good and solid!

 

[lodoc]

Nice find. Amish a great source to repair or manufacture new wheels if needed. No web sites though...

 

[37chief]

From the title, I really expected a Studebaker wagon. This is so much more.

I friend of mine has a Studebaker wagon that has been in his family since it was new. Stan

 

[lodoc]

Can’t be that bad and that much different from an old tractor!

Well.... I don't know what standards you tractor guys use in judging, value, collectability, but the 'car guys' are a different world when it comes to 'correct, original, restored, numbers matching, etc. Depends on what level you want to play in, how deep your pockets, goals. The only similarity between this and a tractor is they're both mechanical vehicles made of metal.

 

[RTR]

Well.... I don't know what standards you tractor guys use in judging, value, collectability, but the 'car guys' are a different world when it comes to 'correct, original, restored, numbers matching, etc. Depends on what level you want to play in, how deep your pockets, goals. The only similarity between this and a tractor is they're both mechanical vehicles made of metal.

you're right. A tractor typically has an overhead valve engine ......some older valve-in-block flat heads - BUT this one is a Mono-block (no head and no head gasket). Has primer cups, has an oil pickup with splash lubrication (no oil pump), and has a vacuum fuel system pump. Nothing like a tractor engine. This one is a bit "old school", haha.

 

[37chief]

what do you mean, they are the first to go? They seem to be good and solid!

I had two very old rake wheels with good wood spokes. Before I realized what had happened the wood was attacked by some wood boring insect, not termites. Now all I have is the iron center, and out side iron. Stan

 

[RTR]

I had two very old rake wheels with good wood spokes. Before I realized what had happened the wood was attacked by some wood boring insect, not termites. Now all I have is the iron center, and out side iron. Stan

from what I can tell these are in good shape. We have amish nearby so hopefully if I need them, they can help

 

[Richard G.]

what do you mean, they are the first to go? They seem to be good and solid!

I was showing my 17 Model T to an older couple years ago and they said they dated in one like it.
He would drive it back and forth through a creek to swell up the spokes so they would not rattle.

 

[RTR]

I was showing my 17 Model T to an older couple years ago and they said they dated in one like it.
He would drive it back and forth through a creek to swell up the spokes so they would not rattle.

that is funny.

 

[38 Sears Roebuck]

I've have heard of that done for that reason. Makes sense. I've also heard of wrapping the spokes in wet cloth

 

[lodoc]

Hemming magazine is your friend for restorations. You may contact other members of the magazine with the same auto for collaboration too.

As a Hemmings subscriber for 40+ yrs... Yes, you should subscribe. But only for specific services. No parts will be there for your Stude.
I assume you've already joined:

Antique Studebaker Club Inc.
P.O. Box 1715
Maple Grove, MN 55311-6715

Will lead you in the right direction

 

[RTR]

As a Hemmings subscriber for 40+ yrs... Yes, you should subscribe. But only for specific services. No parts will be there for your Stude.
I assume you've already joined:

Antique Studebaker Club Inc.
P.O. Box 1715
Maple Grove, MN 55311-6715

Will lead you in the right direction

I mailed off my membership stuff last week.

 

[lodoc]

Excellent. Not familiar w specifics of that club but most are very generous sharing knowledge. They'll likely get you hooked up w members that own/ have restored /have parts for similar vintage vehicles and advise you how to proceed.

 

[lodoc]

Coincidently, there is a 1916 Studebaker ED-6 on p. 67 of the July, 2026 Hemmings which sold at Bonhams, Scottsdale, Az auction recently. Looks like yours but shinier.

 

[RTR]

Coincidently, there is a 1916 Studebaker ED-6 on p. 67 of the July, 2026 Hemmings which sold at Bonhams, Scottsdale, Az auction recently. Looks like yours but shinier.

Just looked that one up. Looks like a nice, somewhat original survivor. Seemed to have sold pretty cheap too! $5,000 including premium.

 

[RTR]

I removed the oil pan last night to check things out, clean it out, and make sure the pickup tube was clear. I didn't see anything immediate but it is also my first time looking at one of these. I really need guidance with what I'm looking at with this one as this early "brass era engineering" is a different animal. Engine was nice and oily/sludgey which has helped preserve it. The exposed water pump shaft and distributor shaft turned when I rolled engine over.