I don't get this one. And I think John Lennon may have said: Most Peculiar, Momma.
I understand the importance of A/C to someone living in SoCal. I also understand that, back in the day, A/C was not available in a supercharged Avanti. But I would not have expected Andy G to recommend an r3 engine w/o its supercharger in this circumstance. Instead, I would have expected Andy to recommend an r4 engine. Wouldn't an r3 engine w/o S/C have lower compression and one less carb than an r4, and substantially less HP than an r4?
Is it possible that r3 engines were available at the time but r4 engines weren't? Even if that were the case, if he had the parts, it would have been easy-peasy for Andy to swap out the heads and intake manifold, and turn an r3 into an r4? Maybe I am missing something (as usual)?
I think it is crying shame that the Avanti in question doesn't have its supercharger. It seems there are a good many supercharged Avantis that have a modern A/C system in them these days, and I think that is the route folks ought to go.