Stuart Suede

Thank you all for your responses. This forum has helped me so much!

I have a question. My 1963 (Serial Number R4581) is an R1 with automatic and A/C. Last weekend, I drove from L.A. to Palm Springs and back - both with the A/C on (which was working correctly, cycling on and off). Even so, the interior was just comfortable. I could not believe how much heat was coming from the automatic shift lever. Is this normal operation? Has anyone figured out how to make it so the heat transfer from the transmission does not transfer to the passenger compartment? Thanks.

The outside door key lock on the driver's side does not lock/unlock the door. Looking into the matter further, the spring broke causing the problem. Going to the Avanti parts catalog, this spring is on Page No. 187 (Plate 21-10), part number 1351173 'SPRING, left door lock control lever' Trying to find this part, I checked SI and performed an internet Google search with no results. I'm hoping someone can guide me to a replacement part. Thanks.

Does someone know where I can find an A/C blower variable speed switch for my 63 Avanti R1 with factory A/C? Searching 'air conditioner switch' on the SI website, it brings up one part # (1552649) showing 3 applications - 61/62 Lark and Hawk, and 63/64 truck. SI is usually very good in identifying parts that also work on Avantis, so my guess is that 1552649 won't work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have an R1, Serial R4581 with automatic and factory A/C. I just removed the intake manifold from the engine, doing some cleaning and installing a chrome valley cover that I found at a swap meet. I believe that the intake manifold and the rest of the painted engine (not chromed) should be black. I was pretty certain of this until I removed the intake manifold, scraped the head ports (to the intake) and saw blue paint. Can someone please advise what my engine color should be? Thanks.

Thanks Mark. Will do.

Thanks Gunslinger for this great advice. Yes, the fan shroud is in place. I will visually test the fan clutch to see what it does. And if it's bad, I'll just buy the SI replacement - it's somewhat higher in price but I'll have greater insurances that the part will fit properly. I've noticed that SI is very protective in providing full part specs, as they don't want customers to do comparison shopping. Also, I just bought this push electric fan - for $22.50 seems like I can't go wrong. And if I don't need it for this car, I have 3 other Mopars that it could fit. https://www.ebay.com/itm/263168331810

Has anyone installed a Pertronix Ignitor ii in their Avanti R1? I thought I did all the right things per their instructions, such as bypassing the ballast resister, making sure the Accel coil meets the proper resistance, and that there's proper ground from the base plate to the distributor body then to the engine. I even had the distributor rebuilt so that the shaft doesn't wobble , The car starts easily, has a slight delay from a stop, but what I think is amiss is that there's no engine torque at high acceleration (she has a rebuilt carburetor) Searching the internet I saw conflicting suggestions, such as gapping the spark plugs to .045" and adjusting the timing from 4 degrees BTDC to 8 degrees. At present I have the vacuum advance hose connected. But this too brings up a question - since the Ignitor ii adjusts the dwell throughout the entire RPM range, and dwell impacts timing, should the vacuum advance be connected? I specifically asked this question to Pertronix in writing, and their response was yes. I'd appreciate your ideas and recommendations. Thanks.

Thanks mfg and Gunslinger for your input. I did recently replace the water pump with thermostat, had the radiator rodded out, and flushed the cooling system (although I did not remove the freeze plugs to get the crud from the bottom of the engine block). What I'm encountering is the engine heating up terribly (230 degrees) in stop and go traffic, even with the A/C off. After a steady 40 mph or higher, the engine cools down. That's why I'm thinking that the fan clutch is part of the problem. But with the A/C going, that adds to the engine running hot and thought an electric fan may help. Any recommendations about another brand's (4 Seasons, Hayden, etc.) fan clutch that works, other than SI's part # 1560257?

Other than buying fan clutch part # 1560257 from Studebaker International for $80, has anyone purchased another brand (4 Seasons, Hayden, etc.) that worked? Searching the internet I saw photos of other fan clutches that may work and are about $35, but thought I'd run the idea by this forum. Also, has anyone installed a push electric fan hidden behind the grill? I have a 63 R1, automatic with factory A/C, removed the grill, measured the condenser space that may work, and can fit an electric fan not wider than 19 inches and not taller than 14 inches. I'd be curious to know if installing an electric fan had an adverse effect on the charging system. Thanks in advance.