September 2016 NORTH TEXAS Newsletter of the Drivers’ Club of North Texas

September Meeting: Park Place Retirement 1301 Airport Freeway, Bedford, TX 762001 See page 3

Prep For Action

Many of you know about how fortunate Genevieve and I were to receive our '53 Commander as a gift from Tom and Charlotte Hansen. Because of this we are able to put some money into areas where the need- ed some help. Repairs started with little things and those I can usually figure out with the repair manuals and help from many of the talented club members. The little things don't need mentioning but the larger items proved to be interesting. Radiators, the '53 cpe radiators were the same for the 6's and the V8's, however the tanks were made to thin and fatigue caused cracks. The '54 tanks were of the same design but made of heavier guage material, still had problems. In '55 they used the same heavy guage metal but used a rounded shape to the top tank....problem solved. I bought a used '55 tank from J.W. Davis and had it re-cored for a total cost of $500 at Savage Radiator here in Granbury. Studebaker Automatic Drive was the next project so I started at C&R in the Oak Cliff part of Dallas. After months the car was returned but not repaired. The could not make it right and the $1500 the had into parts and labor they said it would be a write off at the end of the year....no charge to me. Member Leon Carpenter suggested I take the car to Barts Custom Transmission and Auto Repair in Arlington. After driving and thinking about the transmission his answer was no. I asked him to phone Herman at Studebak- ers West in California, he did and was so impressed with their knowledge that he agreed to work on it. After several more months and $2400 , the car was returned. With some miles on the transmission it seems pretty consistent and may get better with a few adjustments . Bart really took it on as a challenge and wanted the job to be right. He says he plans to retire in a few years but is willing to work on those old Studebaker trans- missions. Continued on page 3 2016 SDC North Texas Club Meeting Schedule*

Month Date Meeting Location kicking

September September 10 10:00 12:00 Drive Your Studebaker Day Note One Week Earlier Parc Place Retirement Center Than Usual Bedford, TX

October October 15 10:00 TBD Westlake Classic Car Show westlakeclassiccarshow.com

November November 19 11:00 TBD Hulen mall area off I-20 more info to come December December 10 11:00 John Caldwell’s home in Dallas more info to come January January 21 TBD more info to come

February TBD

* All details subject to change.

August Meeting Attendees

Name City Car M/G

Kent Greenlee Arlington 63 Avanti M Mike Griffin Rockwall X M George Jensen Arlington X M John Caldwell Dallas X M R.W. & ShirleyThornton Ft Worth X M Leon Carpenter Arlington 53 Commander M Marvin & Peggie Herring Ft Worth 53 Landcruiser M Greg Boyd Weatherford 55 Commander Cpe NEW Jack Lockhart Hurst 57 Golden Hawk M Mike & Kathy Kelly Hudson Oaks X NEW Ron & Ilene Wallace Brownwood X M Dale Truitt Commerce X M Gary Meek Granbury 53 Commamder Cpe M Keith Goode Weatherford 61 Lark VIII G Mark, Ryan, Brendan Chambers Ft Worth X M Rodney & Shawanda Murphy Denton 85 Avanti M

2 September Meeting September 10 — Drive Your Studebaker Day

This is one weekend early so mark your calendar now. For a good display we would like to have at least 12 so drive your Studebaker to Parc Place Retirement, 1301 Airport Freeway, Bedford, TX.

Please note that this is Drive Your Studebaker Day, one week earlier than our usual 3rd weekend meetings, and also note the start time is 10:00, earlier than usual. Lunch will be provided.

For any questions call Gary Meek at 214-797-7158

August Meeting Minutes

North Texas Chapter SDC Meeting Minutes for Saturday, August 20, 2016.

23 members and guests attended the meeting held at the Vintage Grill and Car Museum and 8 Studebak- ers were driven. President Mike Griffin called the meeting to order after the meal. There was a treasurer's report, a talk about the change from Cruisin for a Cure to for Wellness. A discussion led by Dale about four up-coming car shows; Wheels for Wellness, Bankhead show in Weatherford, Westlake and the State Fair Car Corral. There was a 50/50 drawing and a tour of the Vintage Car Museum.

Prep For Action cont’d

Of course there was brake adjustments,, rebuilt starter, a water pump, hoses, and four new Napa (Monroe) shocks. Leon once again helped bu suggesting Reams Auto Electric of Arlington where I have had two 6 volt genera- tors rebuilt (one for backup). While in the Arlington area I took the gas tank to Talley Auto Electric, inc. I believe this is where Bart had my Starter rebuilt and gas tanks is something else they will do. My tank had been done back in the 70's and the liner was coming apart. On several occasions my car had shut down because of trash in the filter screen at the carb. While the tank was being worked on I bought stainless steel and a flaring tool, then replaced my fuel line , rubber flex lines and filter. No problems with the fuel system now. That is not the end, now I found a chunk of tread out of my 15 year plus just before the monthly meeting in Den- ton. After a long conversation between me and my checkbook it was decided to buy B.F. Goodrich style bias ply tires. By the time I left Wallace Wade in Dallas and had the four new tires mounted at Goodyear, the total came to $930.00 . The experience was so much fun I went back for one more tire for my spare. Tire and tax was $212.00. I have all four of the old 710-15 / 2 1/2" WW tires if you want them to roll your next project car on , or maybe one to sit in a museum but probably not for highway driving . Forgot to mention, the Goodyear man informed me that I probably have two rims that look pretty but are probably need straightening. I am researching that now and will let you know. The work continues, I will see you at Parc Place for the Drive your Studebaker Day display on Sept. 10th.

Gary Meek

3 4 A friend from a plastic model building group, Mike McMurtry, sent these pictures he found on a Facebook page about the Lockheed Constellation. This gathering was in Switzerland. See the article in this month’s Turning Wheel.

5 Upcoming Automotive Events NTSDC OFFICERS 2016

President – Mike Griffin September 16-18 - 49th Annual Southwest Swap Meet, Wise (972) 771-9400 County Fairgrounds, Decatur, TX 469-463-6277 [email protected]

Vice President—Gary Meek September 17 - Cowtown Cruisin’ for a Cure Fort Worth, TX (214) 797-7158 http://www.wheelsforwellness.org/ [email protected]

September 24 - Weatherford BH Hwy Antique Car Display Secretary – Gayle MacLeod See July North Texas Wheel for details (972) 394-6590

Treasurer – Kent Greenlee Check your local newsletters, etc. and bring the details to the (817) 265-1108 next meeting, so the club members know.

For additional event listings and great links, visit Newsletter Editor– Bob MacLeod www.hemmings.com www.hotrodhappenings.com or [email protected] www.taillightking.com (214) 562-9879

Web Master – Kent Greenlee

Club Website:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/notxsdc/

NOTE Membership Chairman-Leon Carpenter Send all Membership Applications, Dues (817) 654-0722 payments and inquiries to: [email protected] NTSDC, 2211 Oak forest Ct.

Arlington, TX 76012

See you at Parc Place in Bedford in Place Parc at you See

75007 TX Carrollton,

Rd Chatsworth 2033 c/o

Wheel Texas North

Club Driver’s Studebaker