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R2Andy

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Posts posted by R2Andy

  1. The heads were cast and machined in South Bend. The pattern equipment ended up in the hands of the Granatelli bros. along with a lot of other things when South Bend was winding down. At some point Stu-V got them from Paxton. At some point they ended up being purchased by a man from the east coast in a deal which was brokered by (IIRC) Gary Johnson. The guy from out east advertised them in the classified ad section of Turning Wheels sometime around 1982 with an $8K price tag. Lionel Stone bought the lot from him. AFIK everything but the pattern equipment for the R4 intake was purchased by John Erb when Lionel had his going out of business sale. I have spoken with the man who sold everything to Lionel both when everything was for sale in the '80's and a few years ago but can't remember his name off the top of my head.

  2. The redesignation of unsold previous model year vehicles. 1957 (3E) trucks became 1958 (3E) units. Studebaker did the same thing with the 1963 (8E) trucks, with leftovers being designated as 1964 (8E) models. The same program as was used on unsold 63 Avantis being designated and sold as 1964's.

  3. Made vs assembled is a mater of semantics. Studebaker and MFG both assembled the Avanti bodies from components produced by both MTG and outside suppliers. The fiberglass panels themselves were molded by MFG in their plant in molds owned by Studebaker.

    Gunslinger comment regarding Avanti motors is correct although I don't remember the exact number of left over bodies off hand.

  4. Studebaker had different vendors for a given part in a number of situations. This happens to be one of those. Both black and maroon wires were used and there have been cases where it occurred on the same engine.

  5. Although it has generally been accepted as such, R4130 may not have been the first "square headlight car. 63R 1017 was sent to Engineering when it was built and has the non flush (production) headlight treatment. Food for thought.

  6. Thanks Nels, I'll note those in my lists. I find it interesting that the heads always seem to be mixed pairs rather than identical pairs. The difference can't be very pronounced given Paxtons propensity for mixing them. I'd love to have a chance to compare the two side by side or to compare the early head against my R3 engineering dwgs.

  7. Nels,of all the engineering drawings I have collected thru the years, the early version of the cylinder head is one I have yet to acquire. I haven't given up hope yet tho. Did you happen to record which of the B series engines were 299's? And which have the early head? I would love to have that info to add to my collection. And casting date codes if you have saved any of that as well.

  8. 63R1005 still has it's factory installed 140 MPH Speedo. It also differs from it's predecessors in that it is the first R1 powered car and that it is Avanti Gold with the Elk interior.

  9. The class limit was 305 CID. Studebaker went with the 304.5" to have a slight "fudge factor". Also, the prototype 299" R3 engines were the "A" series and were marked was such. At least one of them has 1 cyl head that carries the casting number that was the precursor to the production R3 head.

  10. Nels,it's 63R 1016 you are thinking of rather than 1017. 1016 was "sold" to the PR Dept. and shipped to Los Angeles "for Mr Egbert's use in California" per the Appropriations Order. It was transferred to Paxton and was converted as the R3/Powershift prototype from it's original R2/4speed configuration. It received R3 B27 complete with the correct Transignitor ignition system and the correct style cold air intake setup with a hand made aircleaner. The car was originally equipped with a Hill Holder which was removed as well as having the affected brake lines replaced.

  11. It sounds like you're talking about the "Pirate's Buckles" on the sail panels (or "C" pillars). If your car is an untouched early car, who knows for what reason they might be missing. Being missing simply could have been a factory oversight, or removed by a previous owner and the mounting holes refinished.

    About the only way to tell if they were ever there, short of stripping the finish off would be to remove the interior trim and see if there is evidence of body filler where the holes would be. Local to me is the #8 car Bonneville racer, 63R1014 (the 14th Avanti built) and it has the emblems.

    All Avantis (Stude) should have the sail panel emblems. 63R 1005, 63R1016 and 63R1017 have them.

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