mfg

Also, another good idea if you live in a warmer climate, is to plug off the radiator’s internal transmission cooler, and install a quality remote transmission cooler in front of (or below if possible) the radiator. Your transmission, and your engine, will thank you!!

Just letting folks know there’s a second very simple option!

No need to open the trans to keep the lockup functioning…. A simple on/off toggle switch will do the job… Did this to my ‘83 Avanti ‘everyday driver’ about 15 years ago when I ‘deep sixed’ the computer system.

We need to remember here that when the Studebaker V8 was initially designed, future horsepower increases were to come from compression ratio increases….. not from a large expansion in cubic inches…. The engineers felt that high octane and ultra high octane gasoline would be available forever……. Studebaker V8 engines, considering their limited cubic inch capacity, were built considerably stronger than other period engines…. Designers of the Stude V8 were expecting compression ratio increases over 12 to 1…..possibly as high as 14 to 1 !

“Lower earth orbit”?… quite an exaggeration…. but I think what you’re saying is that Studebaker lessened the compression ratio on the R2 for warranty concerns… which I suspect myself! ( Once again….. has anyone actually heard of a stock Avanti R1 engine, which a standard Paxton ball drive supercharger had been installed on, failing?)

I’d like to repeat this question…. Since a ‘as new’ Avanti R2 supercharged engine (9-1 comp) was rated by Studebaker at 289 horsepower….What would Stude have rated the horsepower to be if that same engine had an additional 1 1/4 point higher static compression?

Yes, a great time to rid yourself of the ‘Computer Command Control’ system … Go with an Edelbrock carb and the earlier vacuum advance distrib!

All good thoughts (I got a kick out of getting your hearing checked!!) Here is food for thought…, If Studebaker did drop the compression ratio on R2’s due to warranty concerns, and that would be understandable,…What would they have rated the horsepower of a 10.25 compression ratio R2? The R2 we all know and love was factory rated at 289HP.

I agree that today’s sub par gasolines would probably be the big caveat here. Although, using the highest grade gasoline available, with a good brand of octane booster, might eliminate any pinging issue the driver may encounter. And this is with the assumption that any supercharged ‘63-‘64 Stude Avantis being driven today are strictly limited use automobiles!

Well, very sorry to hear that…. but thank you for sharing that information.

Avanti R1 owners who have desired to add a Paxton supercharger to their car have hesitated due to the complexity and relative unavailability of factory R2 heads… I’ve often wondered if the R1 heads really need to be changed at all? Period Paxton literature indicated that their standard 5 lb. boost supercharger was compatible with compression ratios up to 11 to one (using premium fuel) … and up to 12.5 to one with “the proper camshaft and fuel” Has anyone ever heard of an Avanti R1 engine failing after a Paxton was added to it (without changing the heads)? Did Studebaker make this compression ratio change strictly out of warranty caution? Opinions?

PS… those 400’s had so much torque they broke the frame under the engine mount on several Avanti ll’s!

I understand… but I did not mean to pull the engine trans together…Last time I did a job like that, I unbolted the engine from the trans, and left the transmission in place… Not too bad a job with the Chevy engine… a bit harder with the larger Studebaker V8! Ther 400 CI engines were factory installed as standard equipment in Avanti ll’s from ‘71 thru about ‘77… I’m guessing on the years.

Well that’s all in all good news!…..Your 350 should run smooth as silk with the 400 parts changed out…. Yes, the trans can be pulled back without engine removal, but if it were me, I think I’d pull the motor….Pretty easy with a Chevy in an Avanti!

Yes…A0136 is correct about that front damper if your Avanti originally had the 400 CI engine…and a ‘72 would have.

Is the new engine one of the external balance units?… If so, you may not be using the correct flex plate.

Very true….. Good luck with the project!

I’d imagine trying to replicate the ‘walnut’ paint look would be a real challenge… I’ve seen, on a few of the later Avantis, that Studebaker used a ‘straight brown’ color on the steering wheel on a few of their ‘walnut grain dash/console cars.

Resurrecting an older thread…. Years ago I saw a photo of an Avanti R2 engine whose owner had somehow installed a dual groove idler pulley to the right (viewing engine from the front) and slightly higher than the factory iron water pump pulley…….. This took all supercharger belt pressure off of the water pump bearings… although it required custom bracketry and longer supercharger drive belts…..Interesting modification I thought! PS… water pump was still turned by alternator belt.

Amazing that the fellow you bought your Avanti from was steering it using just the two spokes… I just can’t picture that!!

I think that you did an absolutely beautiful job on the original wheel… but I suppose you could have also just repainted the walnut wheel for the same effect? (maybe you did not want to ruin an original walnut Stude Avanti steering wheel!)

Once again, you are misinterpreting the INTENT of the question… Seems like all other responders understood… and then came Regnalbob!! I have an idea… how about you posting a few trivia questions of your own instead of continually trolling me? Wouldn’t that be a more productive way of spending your spare time?

That’s pretty cool Mark!

That makes sense….. Odd that Regnalbob couldn’t figure that out.

No… I wasn’t the doubter!