OT Stude hawk motor started and drove today

[Rodney Bullock]

WEll, I start the stude motor yesterday and today was the first time I drove the car. It's a bit noisy and I hope this is a temp thing. I think the mechanic told me that the alves needed adjustment. The car ran good no smoke or anything just hot inside(all but one window down. I was sweating bullets, car ran out of gas and I had to walk to the gas station (Half block) It was a rush to do it, no tags or insurance. All the lights work and trans shifted ok. I am so surprized that I was able to do all that work by myself and the thing didn't blow up:o Somebody up there likes me! pic's to follow.

[Jim Yergin]

Rodney,

Congratulations. That is great news. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

Jim Yergin

[greg g]

Congrats Rodney, looking forward to seeing it, riding in it.

Hey Jim what is the status of your car????

[Frank Blackstone]

Rodney I am always interested in the details of anyone's wrenching experience. So tell me all that you did and the obstacles you overcame. This is one place that people can relate to your hard work. I don't waste my time telling the nongearheads at the coffee shop because most of them don't get their hands dirty. Pictures are a nice addition. Wrenching,Frank

[Jim Yergin]

Hi Greg.

The car is still in the garage on jack stands. I replaced the broken gear shift selector rod and "drove" it while in place on the jack stands. Have been busy with the new job but hope to find the time soon to put it back on the ground and try it yet again. Thanks for asking.

Jim Yergin

[Rodney Bullock]

Jim, that's good to hear, we all knew you would fix that problem

Greg, I can't wait to take you for a spin, When you rode in the T-Bird your ride was 200 feet:) however I think you got the jest of the 50's style custom.

frank, That car came along way, it was a basket case, most of the Stude people told me not to mess with it. That gives me incentive, the impossible is my hobby, the unbelivable my goal.

[Jim Yergin]

Rodney,

That is unbelievable. Fantastic.

Jim Yergin

[Don Coatney]

Rodney;

I want a ride too. Actually I want to drive it. You can pick me up in front of my house as soon as you arrive in the Boro.

[BloodyKnuckles]

Rodney;

I want a ride too. Actually I want to drive it. You can pick me up in front of my house as soon as you arrive in the Boro.

Why don't you just take it like you did mine??

Rodney, that's great to hear. It looks incredible!!

BloodyKnuckles

[Don Coatney]

Why don't you just take it like you did mine??

BloodyKnuckles

No lakes pipes to smash on the red baker:D

[Joe Flanagan]

Congratulations, Rodney. That is the neatest looking car. You put an awful lot into it. Now you get to enjoy it. I guess the next thing is working all the bugs out. Can't wait to see it.

[PatS....]

Awesome job, Rodney!!!!!

[40phil41]

Congratulations Rodney. You have come a long way in a short time. Enjoy!

Phil

[Rodney Bullock]

I have been over at the shop working on the car today and after I washed it I drove it...good and hard:D man that thing is dynomite! I had the carb spring to tight and the carb was not adjusted right. I took it out on Route 1 and let it go. The rush almost sent me to the hospital. I got back to the shop and handed the keys over to my mechanic. There are a few minor issues(tail pipe hitting the body and the freash air duct is hitting the front wheel other than that it will be ready to come home. I think I might have them adjust the valves one or two are out.

Hey Joe, I called your favorite machinist and let him hear the car run, when I picked the phone back up he said...well I guess you did n't blow it up after all..good for you! Roy was so happy he told me to put the phone back down so he could hear it some more.

Don, just as all my friends put SB 350's in everything they own, I don't put lake pipes on everything I own. I thought about it:D hard!

Thanks for the kind words however everyone on this forum works very hard to make there dreams come true, I gotta do my part!

[greg g]

Rodney, Don;t go anywhere near the Studebaker museum in South Bend In. That looks much better than many of the cars they have on display.

[Don Coatney]

handed the keys over to my mechanic.

So Rodney;

Where do you leave the keys to this car when you go to bed:confused:

[Rodney Bullock]

Under my pillow:D good night

[Niel Hoback]

I really think that is the sharpest looking Studebaker I've ever seen. Seeing it in real life must be fantastic !

[55 Fargo]

Totally Studependous, Man what a resurrection, I am glad you did this project Rodney, gives all of us guys with the basket cases, hope for our cars.

Hope to see your collection one day............Fred

[wldavis3]

Very nice ride, Rodney. You have done an amazing

job on that car!

[BobT-47P15]

Super cali-fragilistic .......

The Red Rocket.

Excellent work Rodney.

[Frank Blackstone]

these details. The car parts were several basket cases of which all the parts may not have been present. One missing piece can stop a project cold and make completion impossible. Next the lack of support from supposed knowledgable people can be devastating. Unless you are like my family and relish in the possibility of proving naysayers wrong. Tell us it can't be done and I'll show you several ways it can be done. That's the American way.

Then there is the work itself. I am a small man and this was my advantage as a 13 year old helping work on Studes because I fit under them. No fancy lift when you are working on the street. As I recall you are no built like that so you may have had a time getting in the tight spots. The shop you pictured did not seem real roomy or well equipped with modern tools or lift equipment. That adds another dimension to DIY. Probably making the job at least 3 times as difficult just to keep track of tools and ease of movement.

So take credit where due as I don't think you would blow your own horn this loud but you deserve it. Allow me to give you the accolades. Because I thought you were just a collector that showed up for casting calls. Congratulations. Impressed, Frank

[Rodney Bullock]

For many years I would atempt to build cars and work on other's. Building cars from the junk yards and used parts I found. Using a small space is something that actually helps me. It keeps my concentration in a narrow beam. If you are not making progress it allows you to know it. When you do make progress it is very noticable.

The guy that helped me was a very expereinced body man that never saw a studebaker hawk before, I had to take the car apart for him.I remmeber a while after that first picture he became depressed and the project stall. I came by one day and he had other peoples parts piled inside and on top of my car. I removed all of it and told him not to put anything in on or around my car. He told me that he worked all day with out putting a dent in the car.

I removed the motor and trans after I removed the front clip and I cleaned and painted the frame, when he returned and saw his he went to work. i remember everywhere he saw rust is cut it out welded in new metal. We went on like that for about two week and then I had to leave him to the project.

I think what really got the thing going each time it stalled was the fact that I would spend a day doing something and it shamed him into action, I did more work to the car than he did and at one point he just did what I told him to do, I would set a goal for him this week and he would meet it. I think sometimes these guy's just don't know what to do, they need guidance.

At the end the car snowball because with in two weeks the car went from a shell to having all the interior , the motor the wheels and everything on it. He was so surprized and depressed at the same time as he was sad to see the car go. He wanted me to stay and help with other projects that were coming in however I look at all this as an adventure, like Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock when the end of the day comes I gotta beam up:cool: as the ship goes into warp speed.

[Don Coatney]

Rodney;

Twice now you have made reference to StarTrek. Did you have your ears bobbed as a kid:D

Your car went together "in the blink of an eye". Remember that one?

[Rodney Bullock]

Hey Don, I learned so much from that show. I have surfed the channel and see a marathon going on and it blows my day, I gotta watch:) I have seen so many episodes that I can recite the dialog. I am ashamed of my self:o

OK, now if can just get the keys to the shuttle craft so I can get some burgrers:D