mfg

OK that’s interesting… perhaps Brad Bez or Nels can shed some light on this?

No thoughts here?

Yes… B9 was the first Paxton ‘B’ engine number!

No, the magic number isn’t B1!

Years ago a friend of mine whom owned a Stude Avanti ‘transition model’ with the R2 supercharged engine, paid someone to change the water pump…. The mechanic, not knowing any better, purchased & installed a standard duty, non-flanged water pump on that Avanti… The pump indeed failed about six months later.

Good question!…. Owner states “1st production frame built by Studebaker”.. which could be interpreted as built by the Budd company.. but not by Midland Ross, as the ‘EX’ Stude Avantis frames were.

Good guess, however, B6 isn’t the number!

No opinions here?

A bit of controversy here John…Another noted Avanti collector, whom I’m sure you have met, has stated that one of the above listed Studebaker Avantis was the first Avanti equipped with a frame produced at Studebaker, South Bend. Any other thoughts on this question?

The tinted glass on this Avanti looks nice against the ‘Avanti White’ exterior paint!

Sounds like a plan… Good luck friend!

It still would be a pretty good deal… however I’d have to factor in the cost of finding another place to live after my wife found out I’ve purchased another Avanti!!!

Not sure… Texas to Massachusetts is pretty far.

Stude Avanti R3 engine serial numbers (Paxton numbers) started with engine # ……?…… 1) B1…..2) B6……3) B9…..or…..4) B10

Studebaker factory oil filters for the Avanti ‘R’ engines were finished in …..?….. different color variations. 1) One…..2) Two……3) Three…. or…..4) Four

Studebaker claimed that their 1964 disc brake equipped models stopped in a …..?….. shorter distance from 40 MPH, when soaking wet, than drum brake equipped models. 1) 20%…..2) 30%…3) 30%….or….4) 40%

The Studebaker Avanti carrying the first production frame built by Studebaker is serial number…..?….. 1) 63R 1001….2) 63R 1002….3) 63R 1003…..or…..4) 63R 1004

I’d definitely be interested if it were closer… I have an ‘84 ‘nose’ that would be a perfect start for a rebuild.

Was the Royal Bobcat a 421?…I’ve heard they would switch the 389 out for a 421.

And the many present day Studebaker and Studebaker Avanti owners who have been able to obtain a copy of the PO for their cars really appreciate the work your father did!

Yes… that water pump thing… it did seem extremely common for water pumps to fail on Studebaker Avantis…. Some owners felt that, on R2 models, and R1 with A/C versions, too much pressure was applied to the water pump bearings from the supercharger and or A/C system system. Personally, I think the frequent water pump failures happened because of Avanti owners replacing the original water pump with a standard duty non-flanged type, which really wasn’t designed to be strong enough to take the extra pressure.

A Shelby Cobra at eighteen….WOW!!

You’re welcome!… Good luck!

Yes…. If the engine was removed from my Avanti, I would have probably pulled the heads off and cleaned things up. And yes… that ‘KD’ tool is the one… A decent tool similar to it can be purchased at Harbor Freight.

I like using the ‘two legged’ valve spring compression tool…. Easy to use, and relatively inexpensive if you don’t already have one….. Pulling the rocker shaft gives you more room to ‘operate’, and doesn’t hurt anything as long as you re-torque the four head bolts.