mfg

Seems to bear out my idea of period Paxton supercharger color somewhat dependent on which pallet they were unpacked from!!

Really too bad it wasn’t in the cards to continue development and production of the Packard V8 engine… which had a very large bore spacing with eventual maximum displacement of up to 500 CI. Studebaker ‘owned’ this quality engine, however, the years ‘53-‘58 were a terrible struggle for Studebaker… and an expensive engine being built in Utica was, at that time, un-affordable. General Motors Chevrolet Division showed interest in purchasing the rights and tooling to continue production of the Packard V8, which GM would have most likely called the ‘Mark lll’ had they purchased it, however, they ultimately decided against the project.

The bearing housing would also need to be redrilled to make the swap between side mount Avanti and top mount Lark… Color might have depended on which shipment (and date) the blowers were delivered to South Bend from Paxton… I once owned a full package, all black, 1964 Daytona R2 hardtop, never altered, and the supercharger was ‘factory black’.

You got it!

In 1962, what was the offer Enzo Ferrari made to Sherwood Egbert shortly before the Avanti was introduced ?

Salt & Pepper works just fine describing that particular combination Paul!😉

Could be a weak battery…. Try a multi meter across the battery terminals with engine running… You should see around 14 volts if alternator is charging.

The alternator looks to be rebuilt… Trouble could be in the voltage regulator.

Good thought!

That’s odd!…. It’s usually the driver’s side that runs ‘hotter’ due to the heat riser valve, located in the exhaust system directly under the passenger side exhaust manifold, diverting exhaust through the intake manifold and into the driver’s side exhaust manifold. This would remain true until the valve fully opens and then the exhaust temps basically equalize. Did someone install the heat riser valve on the wrong side? Short of that, there must be a restriction of some sort somewhere in the driver’s side of the exhaust system.

I believe that black is what Studebaker engineers originally had in mind for the superchargers… however, since the blower is the ‘star’ of the engine compartment, they decided orange stood out much better. (and I agree with that!)

Very odd upper radiator hose set up…. The plate you were asking about must be there just to support the upper hose. If it was my car, I’d make some changes there. (Looks like a lot of $$$ was spent on your Avanti by the prior owner!)

That makes two of us!!

I noticed in the latest issue of AVANTI MAGAZINE (213) that the Paxton supercharger on 63R1001 (first production Studebaker Avanti) was refinished in the color black….. I’m certain that the restorers of this particular Avanti were striving for authenticity, and I found that interesting.

Hopefully soon! I mentioned this because a ‘follow up’ story about the Due Cento (hopefully with more pics!) was mentioned in the last AVANTI MAGAZINE (Issue 212)…. Perhaps next issue?