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Grant, thanks for the info. So did your car already have the 1” swaybar and you are just replacing the bushings? I’m going from the stock 3/4” to 7/8” front on my 83. I know the new bushings are tight but haven’t tried gooping them up. Anyone have any experiences or thoughts on going with bigger bars? Mike

Grant, have you reinstalled your swaybar, and how big of a battle was that? I have a new 7/8” for the front of mine, and my new bushings need to be opened up also. Mike

I’m 6’5” with size 14 feet and in 73 I drove my 64 Daytona R1 4spd from Spokane to Portland and back in one day, over 600 miles, and I don’t remember any issue with the pedal placement. And, there were four of us in the car! Wish I knew what happened to that car. Mike

Sure like to think it was one of the first three, but……

Beautiful Stefan. Interesting rear view mirror, haven’t seen one like that. Mike

Dan Booth at Nostalgic has info on sealing the windshield, you might give him a call. Mike

Just out of curiosity, are there any three speed manuals out there?

Well there may be someone somewhere who knows but apparently they aren’t on this forum. Mike

I have a set of black 25th anniversary dash pieces for my 83. The instrument panel is flat and needs to be bent. Something one needs to get right the first time! Mike

And how did you get the bends in the dash panel? Or did you cut them and glue them?

Sorry, I don’t remember the brand. Think I got them off Amazon a few years ago. Seems like there are lots of choices at Amazon and even auto parts stores. Kind of a trial and error thing. Maybe someone recently replaced their bulbs without radio issues and flasher issues that can weigh in. Mike

Ron I replaced my tail/brake lights with LEDs, even converted the backup lights to 1157s and replaced the front turn signals. No radio interference. I did have to put resistors on each side as the NAPA LED flasher didn’t blink. A fairly simple trial and error test might be to install a different pair of LEDs. Mike

I came across the original Owner Service Policy and some other original paperwork for 63R2696. Originally sold in LA, Bob Johnstone lists the last owner as Roland Vardon of Ontario, Canada. White, R2, 4spd, 410 TT. I’d be glad to mail the stuff to the current owner if he can be located. Thanks, Mike

I wanted more brake/tail light presence on my 83 so I replaced the backup lights in the trunk with red lenses and bought a couple lights off Amazon for backups. I maybe gave up a little originality for what I hope is a little more safety. The backup lights are way more effective that the originals.

Thanks Dwight Sounds like a worthwhile project. I’ve heard that replacing the front bar can be a challenge, but sounds like the rear can be too. One thing we really don’t have in the Avanti world are how to YouTube videos. The workshop manual helps but YouTube has saved my butt many times on different projects. Mike

Grant, got any photos to go with your project? Mike

You just have to wonder what could have been if Studebaker had held on for a few more years. Getting Avanti production smoothed out and with their economy minded Larks with the looming gas crises on the horizon maybe things would have been different. Mike

Article on brake fluid. https://www.nostalgicmotorcars.net/uploads/1/2/4/8/124888690/tech_article_brake_fluids.pdf

Thanks Grant. Let us know how it goes. I have a set of bigger bars I’d like to tackle. Will you be able to drive your car to see the difference the bars make or do you have other work to do? Interesting to hear from anyone who has installed the bigger bars if they like the results. Mike

Hey Grant, any luck on your bushing search? I acquired the larger set of bars for my 83 and was told the larger bushings were not available. Could they be forced on with silicone lube or maybe carefully hogged out with a Dremel? I was also told that replacing the front bar was a challenge. Mike

So Jim, when you removed the cap over the bulb, does it still identify which gear you are in? And after the above comments I’m wondering if the heat is coming from the bulb or the transmission? Mike

Has anyone replaced their shift indicator light with an LED bulb that reduces the heat output? I’m thinking another option would be to install some kind of cup holder over it to keep my coffee piping hot! Mike

I’m sure we can all look back at a car we once had and kick ourselves for selling because of what they are worth today. I wasn’t really thinking of an investment when I bought mine, I had just always wanted one. They are a unique car with an interesting history. The video shows one chapter, part of the Blake era. Too bad we don’t have one for the Studebaker era, Newman/Altman, Cafaro and Kelly to go with it. Good find Desert Driver!

Anyone see the result of yesterday’s BAT auction for this 63 R2 auto? $56k, wow!

I visited his shop once. Dan has an amazing inventory of parts and is very knowledgeable (yeah, and opinionated). I’d love to attend his seminar at AOAI 24 get together, but not in the cards for this year.