***Next Question***

Here is another possibility that I am considering.
After talking to my father on the phone he suggested maybe towing the car home to do the rebuild in his new workshop.
He is in the process of finishing a new 28'X 48' workshop complete with all the fixin's plus a 9000lb car lift.
He is an engineer by trade and has been a car nut for thirty years. His collection includes: '31 Buick, '51 Studebaker, '63 Studebaker (no jokes please), '58 MGA MKII,
'76 2002 and a '73 BMW 3.0CS.
Just a bit of background...
Anyway, I really think this might work. With his background of cars, engines, restorations and all things mechanical plus my knowelegde of my specific car this might work.
The man has every tool imaginable and is very capable. On top of all of that he is an amature machinist so he has gobs of high precision tools at his disposal.
He thinks it's possible to fabricate a home made engine stand that will fit into his existing floor stand. All I would need are the dimentions of the holes that would need to be drilled into a piece of plate steel that would be welded to a section of pipe that would inturn fit into his existing mount. Figure it would work? (oh, I forgot to add that he is also a very good welder.)
The man is a jack of all trades (Col. USA ret.) and I don't think there is anything he can't do.
I figure that if I decide to haul the car to Tennessee that I would just make a list of all the things I will send out i.e. crank, rods, heads etc. and get in contact with the firm I choose to go with ahead of time and set everything up so as soon as the parts are removed they are sent out.
I say this because time would be the determinig factor since I would be burning "leave time" in the process.

Any thoughts?
especially on the engine stand idea...
thanks,

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

I think it's a great idea. It would be a good chance for a little bonding also. The only question is turn around time for the machine shop. If you ahve a good local one that probably won't be a problem either.

It sounds like a great idea to me! And, about the engine stand ... some commercial 'adjustable' models can bolt right up to VW and Porsche engines with no modifications whatsoever, but your dad won't have any problems with any minor mod. needed!

And don't worry about any jokes about the Studebaker's ... anyone making fun of them is either jealous (Ford and Chevy types, no doubt) or not familiar with the Hawk and Avante models ... NOBODY that appreciates cars would ever make fun of them!!! They were unrivaled in their day,true personal performance/luxury cars long before anyone had even coined that phrase!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Studebakers are great cars. And trucks.

The 'leave' problem in an unfortunate complication to a no-brainer. If you rebuild this engine with your Dad, you will thank yourself for the rest of your life. And yes, I am confident that he can secure your car to the engine stand with no problem. This will be among the smallest of your challenges. Good luck and enjoy, if you can spend the leave.

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'83 SC

Warren, its funny you mention Stud. Hawks and Avanties.
His '63 is a Hawk Grand Turismo (His first car from High school) and about 10 years ago he had an Avanti R2 I think...(the one with the supercharger.
He also had a Jaguar XKE but said he would drive it for a week then spend the weekend adjusting the stupid carbs on the thing. As a rule he hates british cars....but my mother insisted on having a early '70s Mercedes SL or a MGA....dad went for the cheaper
While he restored it not a day passed I didn't hear him gripping about all the Lucas "crap" that he has had to swap with A/C Delco parts.
People are shocked to hear that he "butchered" the car since it is a pretty rare MKII (twin cam) but he just wants to make it run alright.
i.e. ditched the pathetic Solexs for Webers, 6V system, fuse panels, and most of the wiring and alternator.
Back to my original post...
Spoke with my father again this evening because I called U-haul and found that a 14' truck and auto trailer is going to cost me just under $1400 from Idaho to Tennessee!!!!!!!
Screw that!
I figure I can just remove the engine and ship it freight to him. Then buy an airline ticket and fly down for the rebuild!


It's so crazy it just might work!




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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Superman, I have over 30 days of leave saved up. My father also said that I could ship the motor to him and fly down a bit later to give him time to disassemble and send out any parts that would take time to get back.
This would save a huge amount of time.
I have photocopied the entire "rebuild fundamentals" section of the Performance Handbook, the engine rebuild chapter in my Haynes manual, and everything pertinant I could find out of my Factory manual pretaining to the engine to familiarize him with my motor.
I know he will love it...I've walked by the kitchen table to find him reading a book on Cummins Diesel engines and when I ask him why he says: ..."oh,...just curious"
He loves all things mechanical.
He got sick of the upkeep and insurance bills from all of the cars so he has turned to..........antique tractors...
Yes I hate to say it but it's true. He's got like 5 or 6 of the things now. I wouldn't have a problem with this hobby of his if say, WE HAD A FARM! The man pulls out a 1931 Allis Chalmers Model blah blah blah to till my mothers little garden...it's so funny... it takes longer to get the old thing started and hooked up than it does to make two passes back and forth to till the soil! I love that old man.

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

I can't believe this wasn't your first thought!!!!!

Good luck and, of course, you will let us know how it goes?

Cam

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Cameron Baudinet
1975 911S

I've come across the same situation with my father. Had the opportunity to drive mine up and do the rebuild in my dad's garage. I didn't have enough leave and opted to do it in the Maxwell hobby shop. Regret it to this day. Never had a great relationship with the old man and the only thing that really brings us together is the cars. I can tell you if you have the chance go spend time with your dad. I guarantee it will be an experience you will cherish and look back on when you are the old man. Not to mention the joy it will bring him. I call my father from Mildenhall and discuss the little problems I'm having with my ride. I can hear the enthusiasm as he tells me the answers I already know. Well worth the overseas call. I hope my little girl grows up to want race cars

I've come across the same situation with my father. Had the opportunity to drive mine up and do the rebuild in my dad's garage. I didn't have enough leave and opted to do it in the Maxwell hobby shop. Regret it to this day. Never had a great relationship with the old man and the only thing that really brings us together is the cars. I can tell you if you have the chance go spend time with your dad. I guarantee it will be an experience you will cherish and look back on when you are the old man. Not to mention the joy it will bring him. I call my father from Mildenhall and discuss the little problems I'm having with my ride. I can hear the enthusiasm as he tells me the answers I already know. Well worth the overseas call. I hope my little girl grows up to want race cars

sorry it did that all by itself!

Cameron, the only reason I was even thinking of taking the entire car back home was because I'm still leary of putting everything back together and finding out that there is something wrong that would require the disassembly of the motor again. There is no way to adjust the timing or mixture with the engine out of the car. So after I shipped it back here I would have to install the motor, then take it to my mechanic for timing and mixture adjustment.
Thats all, but in lieu of the other alternative (spending $1400 for a U-haul) it might still be worth it.


rcilurso, Maxwell must have a better Hobby shop than Mountain Home.
I wouldn't leave anything of value in that place overnight.

thanks guys,

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

I lost my father last Fall. He did not understand cars well, but appreciated them in his own way. I'm selling his Mercedes 500SL right now, but for some reason I have been dragging my feet. We appreciated and respected one another, but were not close. I envy you very much. Very much. Superman gets misty.

I thought about the engine shipping too. This will probably be among the most important experiences in your life. You clearly love your father.

I have a friend that rebuilds antique tractors. They're COOL.

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'83 SC

Sorry to hear that Jim,
When I was younger (high school)I didn't get very close to my dad. I was into my stuff and he was into his. He would constantly ask me if I wanted to come and help him do something and maybe practice welding or bleading the brakes on one of the cars. Sometimes I did but most of the time I skimed out. Now I totally regret it. I could have learned so much. I hate my self for being a teenager. I had so many opertunities to learn about the things that I need to know about now to do this rebuild.
"youth"

Anyway, I am very proud of my father, I wouldn't even know where to begin to explain this man.
He's kinda like a "Tim Allen from Hell". Past Projects include:
digging out a 2000 sq. ft. basement out from UNDER the house.
re-erecting a 150 year old log cabin on our property.
Ok, he even built a HUGE fifth wheel trailer because his old one wasn't big enough to haul one of those gigantic tractors. Hand built...the thing is massive... insane.
He even decided to put plumbing in the cabin so he had to build a septic tank (too cheap to buy one) then he hand built a hydraulic rear end loader that mounts to one of those old tractors just so he could dig the hole for the septic tank!!!
You people think I'm kidding...I can email pictures...
My father kicks ass.

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Now that we talk about fathers;
My parents fled Hungary with me and my Brother in the luggage. After that my father was real careful where he put his money.
When I was 12 I had a flat on my bicycle, he told me :"Look carefully, I will show you once". Since this day, I do all of his bike repairs. We still have the bike in question.
When I was 14 I wanted a moped. He said : "Don't use these things, and I'll find you a car when you're 18". He did. An old VW POLO.
When I was 20 and I had worked for money to buy a car, he doubted the Porsche. I let him try it, he never criticised it again. I still have that 944 stored in a barn.
When I have problems with my cars, he always noses around, asking if it can be repaired or has to be changed. He is no longer up to date on these cars (we're both medics), but he always gives ne motivation to repair by myself before paying someone to do it.
I guess from where he comes from, he kept the talent to keep things working.
To this day I owe him that I still own every piece of mechanical stuff I bought, and that they still work.
Maybe some of the Hungarians here can relate.
Happy motoring, George

Leland - I took some pix of my engine stand for you. You can see the two holes drilled midway down the length of the lower arms.

Interesting thread.

My dad and I have worked on Porsche's, Avanti's, Hot VW's and Morris Minor's together. Great bonding thing. If you have the time to do it, you have got to jump on the opportunity!

By the way, Studebaker Avanti's are awesome muscle cars. Best of the muscle cars in my opinion -- better design and lighter than Vettes.

Thanks Rarly8,
That'll help quite a bit!

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa