mfg

Sorry no… that isn’t the connection!

In the fall of 1962, what was the connection between the United States Line steamer “American Chief” and Studebaker’s new Avanti?

email sent Tim

One of our Stude venders showed me a pair of R3 type exhaust headers cast in aluminum…. Not sure how that worked out.

OK Tim…. I’ll snap a couple photos and send them along today…. Right now clearing driveway… 6” snow fell overnight!

Not sure, but I’d guess you own the real McCoy… Amazing how, after all these years, rare parts like these still turn up !

Pretty easy… drain battery acid, then slice case open near the top. (mine had seam about 1” down from top ) Then slide out and properly dispose of internals, (saving top posts) Then wash out case thoroughly, put top back in place and install a couple of ‘dummy’ battery cables, routed down the side of the now empty battery. You’ve removed about 35 lbs of weight from over the left front wheel and put it where it’s needed… over the rear wheels! I frequently open the hood of my Avanti at car shows, and no one has ever ‘caught on’ to this!

Removing the up to date Turner disc brake system and re-installing the now archaic Dunlop’s??… R5408 best be headed for a nice warm museum!!

Just to clarify…Studebaker engineers utilized a modified Lark convertible (X Member) frame under their Avanti…. Not a “ truck chassis”

Sounds like the clip that holds the release rod to the exterior door lock is broken or missing…. and no, turning the key lock would only open the door on that side, not both. Interior door panels need to be removed to see what’s going on.

Yes, I sort of did the same, gutting the 3EE to keep the ‘look’… but instead of going with a small battery inside it, I left the battery case empty and relocated a Group 24 to the trunk,

Agreed….(I wouldn’t relocate the battery on square light Stude Avantis with group 24 batteries, but I’ve always felt the 3EE was an engineering mistake…. As you say, they don’t seem to last very long, and all that weight sitting on the fragile fiberglass inner skirt is ‘nuts’!)

I’m 100% for safety upgrades on Stude Avantis (3rd brake light, better brakes, radial tires, Halogen headlights) Trunk mounted battery is a winner… Otherwise stock suits me!

I was wondering if you could ‘sneak’ the tailpipe hangars up 1/2” or so by drilling new holes in them?

The flattened exhaust deflector in the photo would work OK, however it would definitely change the look of the rear of your Studebaker Avanti, and I’m afraid not for the better….. Beautiful car by the way … ‘Avanti Turquoise’ always gets my vote for best factory color!

OK…. I found that complete heater housing in good shape… Can't receive PM’s on forum … If you want to post your email, I’ll send a couple pics…. Ed

Yes… but let me double check it this weekend.

Thank you!… Great info.. for my own Avanti, I ended up renewing and re- installing the original power steering system… which is still working fine.

Living in Florida and removing working A/C?? A BRAVE man!!!

I know what I’d suggest to the SDC board of directors!!

As an experiment several years ago, I removed the power steering system from my ‘63 Avanti (leaving the 16-1 power steering box in place). This basically would be the same as if the car had been ordered with ‘quick ratio’ steering… The front suspension was in good shape & well greased… I was running 20575R-15 radial tires all around at 30 psi…. BAD IDEA!!……My Avanti steered like a truck at low speeds…. (No offense you truck owners out there!!)

I doubt if there’s enough ‘60’s, ‘70’s, ‘80’s, or even ‘90’s cars being driven regularly enough to even be concerned about the emissions they produce…. Also,…..collector vehicles are generally kept in very good states of tune which helps some.

Perhaps instead of complaining, you could volunteer to help?

Yes exactly…. Basically the power steering ratio 16-1 steering box… without the power steering! Just slightly ‘lighter’ steering, due to not having to steer through a ‘dead’ ram, as one has to do with a disabled power steering system.

Yes, Clarke was the division!