1. Home
  2. Studebaker Autos
  3. 63 Lark Custom R2 Window Trim Question

63 Lark Custom R2 Window Trim Question

Restoring a 63 Lark 2 door sedan it is the Custom trim level. Around the glass, on the exterior of the doors, there are three pieces of stainless trim. It looks as though they were compression fitted on at the factory. On two of the pieces, have two tabs that fold over on the inside of the door. The last piece does not have a tab. I am sure by lifting these two tabs, these pieces are just not going to fall off. Question 1, is it better to remove this stainless prior to painting the car or is it better to tape over them and leave them on the car? While the car is going through a ground up restoration, these pieces look like a nightmare project to put back on. Unless someone is able to explain a way that I have not thought of with a rubber mallet and block of wood. Question 2, how tough are they to get off without damaging? Question 3, how tough are they to put back on?

Also I am looking for a main wiring harness for the same car (1963 Lark Custom, 289, 4 speed, R2, 2 door). Are these even being reproduced? Also in need of a nos/excellent used black dash and seat covers. Seats are solid black, fronts are buckets and rear is your regular bench seat. On the seats, I would be open to black with white inserts. Any ideas?

Your input is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Reply to
58packardwagon
Loading thread data ...

Having had a '63 four door custom, I would leave the trim in place. I had actually toyed with the idea of removing these pieces permanently but I never got around to finishing that project.

Reply to
Grumpy AuContraire

Yep. Unless there is rust growing out from behind that trim, it is best to leave it alone and mask carefully.

Herman Thoms of The Thoms Brothers at Studebakers West, regular Turning Wheels advertisers, can fix you up with a repro wiring harness made to order.

New black dash "pads" are not available, but I understand green ones ARE. Just dye a green one black.

Seat upholstery is readily available from Phantom Auto Works, or maybe a little cheaper but not quite as faithful a reproduction, from John Poulos here on the forum. (Hopefully, JP will not shoot me for that observation, but not everybody can afford premium stuff and it is nice to have quite usable new material available for a lot less money).

Black vinyl with white vinyl inserts was available (Order Code 712BKV for 1963 Custom 2-DR) and may have even been more common than all black (Order Code 7121BKV), as the car is now. Either arrangement is "correct" as to authenticity, if that is of concern to you.

Those were nice cars, and an R2/4-speed is really desirable. Congrats on seriously tackling one. Bob Palma

58packardwag> Restoring a 63 Lark 2 door sedan it is the Custom trim level. Around
Reply to
bobcaripalma

I was able to find NOS seat covers at SASCO for my 63 R2 Daytona. (Black with white inserts) That was 3 years ago and it took a lot of digging.

snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com wrote:

Reply to
John Poulos

Try SASCO for the harness, they had the one for my 62 ragtop NOS.

Jim Turner

Reply to
Jim Turner
58packardwagon wrote:

I have the exact same car. I removed the stainless around the doors window frame. When it came time to re-install them I used Kit Car wax on the newly painted window frame and was able to re-install the stainless without any problem. The wax helped the stainless molding to slide around the frame I did however put 2 dents in 1 window molding on the driver side. This was on the horizontal top molding that goes over the 2 vertical ones.That was just before I tried the wax idea. I wish I had thought of that in the 1st place,there would be no dents in any of them. You could probably use WD-40, vaseline whatever. My biggest problem with the car at the moment is wheel hop and trying to get the supercharger belt to stop slipping. I have a black dash pad from Studebaker international that I will be installing before next season. I used The Historic Automotive seat covers,J.C.Whitney carpets and their headliner as well. My car is a driver and is not intended to be a show car. It is quite presentable as it is.I need to re-do the headliner again.Last winter I had mice staying in the car and they made a meal of my headliner. I want to get the next one in black,this way the entire interior will be black.Maybe someday I'll re-do the interior with the correct seat covers and door panels from Phantom. I am using cheaper Lark Standard door panels that I dyed black. It is not unusual for me to have my large[95 lbs] dog in the car or my son and his friends. I can't see spending big bucks on the interior and then getting all cranked up if someone does something stupid to it. I'd rather drive the hell out of it and have some fun and make some memories in it. It can always been done over again. Good luck with your project. Joe Flannery

Reply to
jflan63

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.