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If your Q-Jet has a composite float, it could be starting to sink due to fuel saturation… I believe a carb overhaul with a new float thrown in is in order here. When carb is apart, the well plugs at the bottom of float chamber should be checked, as fuel leakage past those plugs has always been a chronic problem with this type of carburetor.

I agree Dick…. And thank you Mike P. for the great photos of your nice work!

I believe Studebaker felt the cooling kit wasn’t needed in A/C equipped Avantis for two reasons….. First, with the A/C in operation, the interior would naturally be cooler than in a non A/C Avanti…. and second, clearance issues between the twin cooling hoses and the console A/C evaporator…. (Although the Altman crew apparently figured that one out!!)

Yes…another ‘Altman Avanti’ ! ( You’ll notice on the Stude Avanti parts manual illustration above a non A/C console is used for reference)

The Studebaker Avanti twin hose console cooling kit was installed on non-air-conditioned Avantis with automatic or manual transmissions…..The main reason it was installed was to keep the shift lever at a tolerable temperature.

Yes… my point was Studebaker (as far as I know) did not install the console cooling kit on their late Avantis with A/C…. So I was a little surprised to hear that the Altman’s installed that twin hose console cooling setup on Avanti ll’s…. most all of which, like yours, were built with A/C!

Best I can remember, I used ‘82 Chev Monte Carlo engine mounts in my ‘83 Avanti 305.

Interesting!…. You have an Avanti ll equipped with air conditioning …..On the earlier Studebaker Avantis, I don’t believe that console cooling system was used on the late ‘square light’ Avantis equipped with factory air conditioning…. Apparently they changed that policy on Avanti ll’s.

I like the sound of this!

I think the B&M fluid is similar to Ford ‘Type F’ ……..in that it’s less ‘slippery’ than some other ATF’s.

I used to be right on top of these things… but I guess I’m slipping a little! No one needs the expensive of a Paxton rebuild if they can help it!

Yes Dwight, after I pumped out the bad stuff, I immediately refilled with new fluid, rotated blower, then pumped that out… then, I once again refilled with new fluid…After a week or two I’ll once again pump out both superchargers… then refill.

I also used the ‘F’ type fluid…. although the container specified it met the requirements of almost everything else!

Well, I’m ashamed of myself! After postponing changing out the supercharger fluid on my ‘63 R2 Avanti for WAY too long, I finally did the deed this morning………. I actually changed the fluid in two superchargers today, the other being a McCulloch ‘57 Golden Hawk system…. The fluid I pumped out of both blowers was BLACK!!!!… Not good… however, when checking, the fluid always looked very clean on the dipsticks of both units. Anyway, both blowers seem to be working OK…… but from what I saw today I’d recommend to anyone who owns a supercharged Stude to change its fluid at least once every two years…. or annually if you drive your car a lot!

Brad…. Does the newer ‘gear drive’ Paxton produce the same scream as the older ‘ball drive’ SN-60 type…. More/Less?

I replaced the rear window in a 1983 Avanti about seven years ago. At the time, the heated rear windows with integral defroster wires were readily available, however the earlier non- heated windows were (at the time) very hard to find. (that situation may have changed)

Since you’re fitting new troughs, I think running fuel & battery lines through them is an interesting concept… Never heard of anyone doing that before, and it seems, to me, an excellent idea! Please keep us posted on this.

Yes.. exactly… probably about 22… and I will never forget that deep air sound! But the sound a wound up Paxton makes on my Avanti has much more of an ‘angry’ sound.. at least to my old ears!!

Kind of surprised your R4 didn’t ‘trumpet’ better than the R1…. but perhaps the 305 inch R4 was a bit ‘gagged’ with those two big Carters! Speaking of carb “symphonics”, to my memory the best I’ve heard was a friend’s ‘65 GTO with it’s 389 and triple carbs… The only word I can think of to describe the sound those opened up ‘trips’ made is … AWESOME!!!

I’ll toss in my two cents….. In my opinion the answer may be the 1963 Avanti R2…. Reason being, from my own experience, the scream coming from the supercharger is LOUD at anything above 3500 RPM… (the factory air filter setup is basically unsilenced) Although the R3 Avanti is more powerful, it’s supercharger’s air filter is located in front of the radiator, which would quiet the supercharger noise compared to the R2 under hood setup. As far as the R4’s engine song, I’ve ridden in a 425 horse 409 Chev (dual carbs) and although the two carbs, when opened up, were very loud, (sounded great in car!) I don’t think the sound was as ‘strong’ as a wound up Paxton.

Other thoughts on this burning question??

Interesting… and the ‘64 R4 indeed could be the ‘ noise king’! Your ‘67 327 sounds like a great ride!!

Good points… however, I was leaning to the sound of the engine itself from inside the passenger compartment. (if it’s actually possible to ignore the sounds the exhaust system produces!!!)

OPINION!…… Which of the following Avantis would probably make the MOST raucous, powerful, ‘60’s type’ engine noise, when under hard acceleration, with observer being inside the vehicle? 1) 1964 Avanti—R3 equipped 2) 1963 Avanti—R2 equipped 3) 1964 Avanti— R4 equipped 4) 1967 Avanti—327 Chev equipped All four listed vehicles equipped with 3.73 rear axles, auto trans, windows rolled up, quiet exhaust system, and radios turned OFF!! OPINIONS????

A Studebaker 340CI engine build, using as many authentic parts as possible, would certainly be a HISTORIC achievement in our world of Studebakers/Avantis… I only wish Bob Palma was alive to witness this!