All Activity

Don't know if there is any real right or wrong to this. I've found that (on Larks at least, haven't had an Avanti yet) there are a lot more places for wear on the suspended pedal clutch linkage. I have one 'thru the floor' clutch linkage car ('54 Regal 4-door sedan) and several Lark suspended setups, but I think I prefer the under the floor setup better. I'm sure to the buying public it was a big improvement at the time................and of course a 'thru the floor' clutch would look pretty stupid on a "modern" sports car like the Avanti. Anyway, I'll say FALSE because of the increase in the number of wear points.

The ‘suspended pedal’ clutch linkage, introduced by Studebaker on the ‘61 Larks and later on the Avantis, was a big improvement over the old pre-61 Stude passenger car clutch linkage……True?

A Paxton SN-60 supercharger weighs approx ——?—— lbs. 1) 15…...2) 20……3) 25…..or…..4) 30

Original Avanti Chassis and Body Parts Manual, Used Used Avanti Chassis and Body Parts Manual, used condition. All there, some small areas of rodent damage on first sheet (page), and then smaller areas on the next eleven or so sheets. $20 plus USPS shipping cost. Payment via check or Zelle.

Original Avanti Workshop Manual, “Well Used” Used Avanti Workshop Manual, well used with greasy fingerprints on some pages, small tears, etc. The nice thing about this manual is that, being original, the pictures are very clear, easy to see unlike some of the reprints. Took pictures of the worst greasy fingerprints, most of the pages are fairly clean. Does not have original front and rear covers (front is a copy of an Avanti manual cover glued to a piece of posterboard). $22 plus USPS shipping cost. Payment via check or Zelle.

The graphic from the manual that 64studeavanti provided shows a fuel pump for a R2 supercharged engine with three fittings. The R1 only has two fittings, the one at the bottom left is the supply from the gas tank. The fitting on the right side is the output from the pump that sends gas up to the carburetor and to the return line back to the tank. The nipple that points to the right is the one that connects to the return line back to the tank.

picture of fitting, page 4, gasoline section, avanti workshop manual

If it's adjacent to fuel supply line, it appears to be a similar issue I recently had on my 63 R1. Some of the parts are listed in the parts manual, but they are not illustrated. A 1/4 inch inside diameter fuel hose should connect from the T on the output side of the fuel pump to that line. At the T, there is a special 1/4 inch hose nipple that threads into one of the 1/8 NPT ports on the T. The inside of the nipple is plugged with solder and a small metering hole drilled through it to control how much gas gets routed back to the fuel tank. I recently ordered a replacement nipple from Myer's Studebaker Parts in Ohio. Without me asking, they also sent a new T and a new flare fitting for the supply line to the carburetor that connects to the other port on the T. All three parts with shipping was about $40.

Thanks. Will do!

I will remove the transmission and check the alignment of the Bell Housing. It is now installed according to the alignment of the dovel pins and all the surfaces are clean, but it may be wrong if Bell Housing has been replaced or installed without checking alignment. I'll tell you how wrong it is (if it is).

check to see if this tube runs alongside the fuel line. if so, likely the fuel return line. most 63s had a special "T" from the outlet side of the fuel pump that returned some of the fuel to the tank. later cars had a fuel filter with a glass bowl that provided the same function.

I have a recently purchased 1963 Avanti R1 that runs and drives but needs lots of attention under the hood. About 10 inches below the power steering fluid reservoir is what looks to be a 3/16-inch or so metal tube, open ended and pointing upward. It looks to me like it's missing a rubber connecting hose. But to where? A similar, adjacent tube and hose seem to connect to the area below the water pump. I've been through the Workshop Manual and Chassis and Body Parts Catalog and can't find what I'm looking for. What is it, and what do I need to make it whole? Many thanks.

Loved it, thanks for posting!

I am asking for your help. I have a 1963 4 Speed. The clutch disengages as it should, but when you start moving, the gear will not engage unless you press the clutch to the very limit. Clutch shakes also a little. I conclude that the clutch comes off at an angle, allowing the gearbox to spin a little along with it. I have restored the pedals, New Clutch Plate, new Pressure Plate and Clutch Cover. The Releash Shaft has been restored and all the bushings and likewise the Suport Brancet. Whole Clutch Pedal Travel is OK. New Pressure Bearing. Fly wheel looks fine (have not measured). The only thing left is Housing, which might have wrong alignment? Could this be the reason? Something else?

DG 250M transmission & converter desirable for any ‘51-‘55 Stude V8, first gear start… operating when removed. $200

My pleasure...hope other aficionados have a chance to view it. Take Stephen Blake out of the video, and you can imagine the same assembly process for Newman & Altman built Avantis. Quality always came before cost, and it showed!

I’m sure we can all look back at a car we once had and kick ourselves for selling because of what they are worth today. I wasn’t really thinking of an investment when I bought mine, I had just always wanted one. They are a unique car with an interesting history. The video shows one chapter, part of the Blake era. Too bad we don’t have one for the Studebaker era, Newman/Altman, Cafaro and Kelly to go with it. Good find Desert Driver!

Knowing my '02' Avanti was quite expensive (~$65-80k new), they all ...all years... were a Rich Mans Toy. What amazes me is the deflated price on mine, when considering it might be worth up to $50k. That to me is a loss. But yeah, they are nearly a Hand Built Car

Well thanks for posting this, I found it very interesting to watch. Amazing how many hours they spent building one, have to believe in todays world it would be so much more automated.

Well said!!!!!

Aside from some grainy YouTube videos, I've never seen good factory video of the South Bend Avanti plant. I stumbled across this 35 minute gem posted to Facebook. Blake had a passion for what he was doing, and seemed to know every step of the build process...along with the names of all his employees. https://www.c-spanorg/video/?124750-1/avanti-car-plant-tour

Today's progress: #*&(@!$##!! &^*()%)$#! &&*(@#!!! Grrrrr... MF%$&*$&&*! I hope tomorrow is better!

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/745220531113254

Yeah, I followed it. Got too rich for my blood but I actually since I own one, I was glad to see the higher pice being paid. It tells me mine might be worth more than I thought.

What one person may consider acceptable may not be the same for a buyer, thus, seems only diligent to see and drive a car myself. There are no cars on the site for sale which are my liking, and one from the classified in the magazine from NC I agreed on a price and had plane tickets, but the guy cancelled without warning after I asked for more recent pix than from "5 to 10 yrs ago". I asked who was to pay for the ticket I bought? No response.