101 Ron

In case you have not found it on you tube.....my studebaker Note all Aussie cargo body Studes were combination wood/ steel constrution and were fitted with extra over cabin clearence lights and a mechanical signal arm as they were left hand drive vehicles operating in a righthand drive world. It was blewing a little bit of smoke as it had its first ever engine ring replacement after 65 years and the new rings had not settled down yet.

This is a friends studebaker last year. He did a ground up restoration many years ago and did a very good job of it. He has it out fitted very well in the back as a camper with fridge, double bed, eating table, water supply and sink etc. He removed a few of the rear spring leaves to improve ride. Hope you enjoy http://s131.beta.photobucket.com/user/101Ron/media/101%20Ron%202/042.jpg.html?sort=3&o=143#/user/101Ron/media/101%20Ron%202/050.mp4.html?sort=3&o=144&_suid=13577039050230940834987651749

Thanks for posting. Good to see another Stude running in your part of the world. Shane Holby and Ross Prince in Australia should have given you much information on the stude. I always though the Studebaker was the poor cousin to the GMC 6x6 untill I owned one. While the GMC is a much faster truck as it could run above 3000 rpm with the govenor off, the Hercules motor will outlast the GMC motor 3 to 1 if it is not run above 2700 rpm. A Stude will be happy if not pushed above 40mph continous constant driving. It should if running right pull slight harder up hills than a GMC gear for gear/rpm for rpm. The studebaker won hearts in Russia and Australia for its relaiblity. If fitted with a plain bush fan bearing , it pays to use the oil can in the engine bay and remove the screw /oil hole and lube it before a long trip and a quick check of the water pump gland nut. The low slung diffs and transfercase can limit off road work a little bit. You will find the chassis flex will increase with the body on the back and even more with a load and greatly help off road traction. If doing a long run unbolt the short tail shaft from the centre diff pillow bearing to the rear diff, as the reduction in windup will allow you to pull 1/2 a gear higher going up hills(this tailshaft is easy to remove) There was a CD made in Australia about the Corowa meeting of studebakers some years ago now, it still may be advailible. Good luck Ron

Thank you very much for sharing. Ron

Is the ferret british rim 900x16 or american pattern 900x16. Moore tyres/ ag equipt tyres........ should be able to help you as they import MRF bar treads at reasonable prices for american pattern 900x 16. I think the american pattern tyres can be fitted on british pattern rims with a bit of machining of the rims or removing rubber from the inside lip of the tyres..............I dont know the full details of doing this. Plenty of ferrets in aust........talk to other owners. Ron

The corgi is a 1946 model. In 1947 they went to disc wheels.

I will try and find out where the restored aussie Saladin is currently located for you. It may help you greatly to see a running one. I know a former owner of it and he liked it very much.

Is that the one which had been advertised for while ? There is one restored aussie Saladin which survived with its turret and I believe it also has a B81 motor fitted. The turret from the Saladins were fitted to M113s, but I think that they were removed for another M113 up grade of a American turrent which we are still using on the aussie M113s. Turrets must be some where in aust. I will follow this thread with interest as I will have to do the wheel stations on my Stalwart soon here at Nowra NSW Aust.

This is the other end of the handsign on the dash board. This is me playing at the farm, it is blowing a little bit of smoke as it just had new rings fitted which had not settled yet. The old rings were not worn out ,but lost there tension after 65 years. This truck has yet to do 11000 miles and has never been fully restored. enjoy

My rubber floor mat is due for replacing. It used to be renforced at the gear sticks, only a little bit on the transfercase levers remains. This showns the original type of wiper arm for the mounted on the roof wipers, but is incorrect for this truck as they are fitted to windscreen frame mounted wipers.

To the best of my knowleage. Early production has one vacuum wiper built into the roof above the windscreen. A exturnal link (outside the vehicle) tranferred the wiping action to the right hand and left hand wipers. The next version is the twin built into the roof set up which you have. Both early versions built/mounted in the roof used a special type of wiper arm which allowed the winscreen to be opened without damage to the wiper arms.(these wiper arms are very hard to locate) The latter models had the wiper vacuum motor mounted directly onto the windscreen. This allowed the use of standard wiper arms, but at the cost of reduced driver vision. All australian Studebakers were 1945 manufacture and had vacuum wipers fitted to the opening windscreen with standard wiper arms. These vacuum units were replaced in service with electric wiper motors.( In AUST) My studebaker while having the later windscreen mounted vacuum wipers has had the early type wiper arms fitted as for some reason they were advailible here in Australia for a time and could be fitted to the later set up. I converted back from 6 volt electric to vacuum due to a 12 volt conversion of my truck. On my truck I noticed it has everything inplace to mount the wiper motors on the roof and have often though of doing it to improve vision as I already have the special wiper arms. The later mounting on the windscreen frame may be slightly different between production batches as Steel, brass and alloy frames were used and I guess some of the early steel frames may not have been drilled for wiper motors.

The rubber flloor mat is not original. ( I believe it is done similar to the original......I will post pics) I will have to check the rubber around the doors and see exactly what it is.

I posted that pic to see if anyone would pick it up. The amber clearence lights on the roof and the cable operated stop/turn signal hand were fitted to Australian studebakers. The handle that operates the yellow signal hand which hides inside that flat plate is mounted up in the centre of the dasboard hard up against the windscreen.

The roof lining is cardboard with a brown smooth surface on the side pointing down( exactly the same stuff which was used in my old school case when I was a kid). Self tapping screws used thoughout. The centre front of the lining has a split in it to allow it to be shaped to the roof and the side to roof lining was sewn together with heavy cotton . I will post more pictures for you.

[ IMG]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p299/101Ron/IMG_0094.jpg[/img]

If you need any more pics I am happy to help you. My studebaker has never had a full restoration due to its good and charmed life over the years and is very original except for 12 volt electrics. Ron

This is in the middle of the roof of the cabin.........it is split above the windscreen so the cardboard can follow the shape of the roof.

Taken these to night. This stude is a gem as it has only done 10,000 miles since new and the door seals and head lining are original and very rare.