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HA HA ...

I heartily approve of your choice of SUV!

I've noticed other Studebakers in your photos - and took note that you replaced the '54 Clipper that your are transforming into the "After Eight" with a '50 Studebaker Champion.

When you finish the "After Eight," I'd like to do a Gear Head Tuesday post about it on my blog. In recent weeks, I've done these Packard posts:

Esquire:56packardman.com/2016/09/06/gear-head-tuesday-the-packard-esquire/
Executive:56packardman.com/2016/08/30/gear-head-tuesday-packards-executive-decision/
Another Packard What-If:56packardman.com/2016/09/13/gear-head-tu ... -could-this-car-have-saved-packard/


Thank you for posting the bread recipe! I'm going to make it tomorrow!

I'm sending you a PM about a topic related to your "After Eight" project.

Tacked the front fenders together along the cut lines today, then set the front bumper and grill up into position to get an idea how things will look.

The car will sit much lower than shown as it has lost a lot of weight so far and is up against the rebound bumpers. I am giving a lot of thought about what to do with the grill, and the one thing I know is that I don't know. Will probably float small fog lights in the parking light area. Since I won't have the heavy chrome cross bar, am pondering a series of 5 fine stainless tubes running horizontally set very deep in the opening. Might even make the outer shell body color. That would save several hundred dollars!

The rear of the body is still sitting at original height. That will change shortly.

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Looking good!

drooling right now!

Tomorrow we are going to shorten the frame to bring the wheelbase down to 112 inches. The frame rails will be sectioned at the rear of the X where they splay the least, and the X itself will be shortened at its center. That will eliminate the rectangular plate you can see in the third photo and the four legs will be tied together with one strip of barstock.

The rear clip is outside looking very forlorn.

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It is so fascinating to follow your progress. Your craftsmanship is most impressive!

The wheelbase is now 112 inches instead of the original 122.

For maximum stiffness, we have boxed all of the side rails with 1/8" plate. This has some effect on the bending stiffness, but much more on the torsional stiffness. This is all part of my desire to have the car feel more "tight" than a usual open car.

Lastly, the rear bumper mounting holes have been moved forward 4", the frame horns have been bobbed, and a new rear crossmember has been substituted. This enables me to reduce the rear overhang of the finished car by that amount for a more balanced appearance.

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You don't miss a single detail!

Was rather busy with Hershey and getting ready for a customer "show and tell", but have managed to get some important things done.

First up was making a header panel as a landing spot for the convertible top. The posts have been tied together with a curved 1" square tube and then a suitably shaped panel fit to the windshield curve. I installed round bar stock right down the middle of the windshield posts and tied into the cowl to firm up the windshield assy.

I separated the rear floor pan from the rear quarters. Oh mercy, what a lot of rotten metal and damp bondo. Oog. Then the floor pan went back onto the car and was tied into the inner rockers. Today I sat the rear quarters in place and made many adjustments to inner fenders and structure to allow them to sit 4 inches forward, and 4 1/4 inches lower.

The forward edge of the quarters, aka the old door skins will not be installed until I have come up with the folding top mechanism as that will hang off the rear side of the former center pillars. Much easier to get at it now.

Major score at Hershey for only $25 was a metal cover for the continental spare. Its from a shoebox Ford wagon.

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I was hoping for an update this weekend. I came home from work and VOILA!
Thanks for bringing us up to date!