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Does your Avanti have A/C?… I’ve seen Avanti carpet sets that supply both types of console forward carpets.

The two upper curved carpets look like the console forward side pieces.

Jim made Studebaker Avantis ‘ jump through hoops’ at Bonneville… He will be truly missed.

Whew!…. My simple on-off toggle switch, which controls converter lockup, was installed approx 15 years ago in my 700R4…. Have had no transmission problems whatsoever with an ‘83 Avanti used everyday—- summer and winter! Cost at the time… about $4.00

You can release trunk lock by opening hatch under rear window… reaching in with flashlight & long, flat screwdriver and rotating latch release pawl from backside.

This 2006 Avanti shows me well thought out, VERY well done IMPROVEMENTS !

I purchased a gold ‘S’ repo hood emblem years ago that also faded from sunlight…. I was lucky to find a nice used original emblem at South Bend meet with gold ‘S’ that seems to be retaining its vibrant gold color.

Do you have a voltmeter?… That would identify how much current and where it is going… or not going…. Even a basic 12V test lamp will allow you to ‘see’ the electricity.

In addition… no extra holes to drill!..… The factory screw which retains console side upholstery can be utilized to support toggle switch by crafting simple ‘L’ shaped bracket.

That’s it… I have an ‘off-on’ toggle mounted on driver’s side console within easy reach. The lockup disconnect at rear of stop light switch is still functioning. My normal driving routine is to not lock the converter unless I’m on the highway, or higher speed secondary road. As I remember, the problem I found with the factory computer controlled converter lockup was that it locked to early… at too low an engine RPM causing what I can best describe as ‘lugging’. I heard many years ago that not allowing the converter to lock up automatically would damage the converter by overheating it…. In 15 years of manually controlled lockup, overheating has never happened… ALSO…. I believe the simplest way to accomplish this, if your Avanti has CCC, is to install toggle into the converter lockup switch wiring (at rear portion of stoplight switch)….located at brake pedal.

Guslinger made some good points… Also, those hydraulic switches commonly fail… When in doubt… change it out!!! Or convert to a mechanical brake light switch.

Just beware of red, orange, or turquoise ‘salt’ !

OK… This changes the ‘picture’…… Eliminating computer controlled converter lockup on Avantis factory equipped with CCC is quite easy by removing the tan lockup control wire from the onboard computer and then completing the circuit by grounding that wire via a manual switch. (as I did on my ‘83) Your ‘A’ series Avanti never had a computer… so basically the internal lockup solenoid needs to be fed 12volts… and it’s negative (ground) wire (to frame) can be controlled with a switch. A wiring diagram pertaining to your transmission conversion would be helpful. Or, you can leave your Avanti, and your wallet, at a transmission shop… as others have suggested!

Let’s just say… More ‘natural’ than a 426 Chrysler Hemi !!!!!

I’m ask the administrator about this BTW …AG-R3.., your profile indicates you own an early ‘A’ series Avanti ll. That wouldn’t have a lockup converter… Or has it been retrofitted with a later ‘Turbo’ transmission?