Never Give Another Man a Key To Your Studebaker Parts Shed

Wow! Check out that shiny new chrome hood latch on the truck. I'll bet GD wishes he had one just like it. Well, funny thing is that he DID until about a week ago. Seeing as John was feeling shorted in the birthday department, he decided to take matters into his own hands. One trip to Smitty's House of Studebaker Parts, a few new nuts and bolts, and it's "Happy Birthday to Me" John-style! Other items he "received" for his birthday will be disclosed at a later time. Thanks, Dude!

Hmm...now here's something that needs replacing, as well. You know all those hours Tracy spent painting around the gauge panel (apparently it's called the "gauge cluster")? All that pretty red that stayed on her hands and clothes for eternity? Well, that's old news now. Baby needs a new set of gauges. Now, to John's credit, the gauges aren't actually working, so they truly do need to be replaced.

Take, for example, this lovely, temporary temperature gauge that currently has the place of honor on the front seat. However useful it may be, one might argue that it lacks a certain charm.

But, what if we used (strictly an example, here) a spare glove box door as a new gauge panel? Wait a minute, what's that in John's hand? WHEREVER did he find such a perfect, authentically Studebaker piece? (You guessed it...."Happy Birthday to John!") Look at the sparks fly (seemingly from Guam?) as he carefully removes the hinges and removes any possibility of ever using it as a glovebox again (plus any identifying serial numbers, fingerprints, etc...)

Here's a template of where the new gauges will be placed on the panel (unless John changes his mind, which he reserves the right to do at all times). The hole on the top MAY house the ignition switch and the small dent in the bottom (wasn't me!) will be "removed." Hmm...