Nelson

Dave had a failure on an R4. He was able to sleeve the cylinder and save the engine.

WhenStudebaker received the shipment of R3 rods they failed inspection for the wrist pin diameter was at the high limit. The rods got approved with a deviation permit. I know of several failures due to the wrist pin broaching the cylinders. With possibly 50 of 110 or so engines using the R3 rod, several is a pretty high failure rate.

I didn’t know they had an oil pump problem. I know Lionel Stone tried making R3 pumps out of standard pumps by boring the gear pockets deeper and using six cylinder pump gears. Dwight, didn't you have a failure on one of your R3’s using this setup?

Wrist pin?

Just to make sure all is ok, it might be a good idea to pull the plugs and see if the starter spins it over faster.

Just a thought but did you overhaul the engine while it was out? If so, are you sure it’s together right and spins freely with a torque wrench with plugs out? Probably not the case but it’s always best to check now before you reinstall.

i think there are over 50 reservations so far so attendance may be pretty decent.

Just wondering how many here will be going to st Louis for the AOAI Nationals in mid June. Rooms at the meet headquarters hotel were reopened for awhile so if you are going it might be a good idea to make a reservation to get the discount price? It is a substantial discount over their standard fare.

It looks good, Brad. The steering wheel looks a little different than production units.

Well the pack rats sure seem to like that one. Looks like it could be southern Arizona or California? Air conditioning so maybe R4 or maybe just an R3 tach. The turquoise sure is nice. Must be somewhat of a refresh as the seat belt material looks too new.

Dwight. What’s the story on the Avanti in the photo? I notice it has a very early R3/4 tach.

Anthony63. Please check your mail box. I sent you a PM.

Dwight, do you still have the seats?

Dwight. Those wheels emulate the 63 style Halibrand small window kidney bean wheel. The ones on this car won’t accept the correct spinner which would be the same as a 64 style. The center tower is not high enough either. I think these on this Avanti are also two piece wheels. I sure hope the 63 style get reproduced. I think they look great. The wheels on that Avanti may be called “salt flat” wheels? I bought a set about 20/25 years ago.

First time I saw this post. The floats probably will interchange but under high boost the R2 float has the potential to crush under pressure. If you take an R2 float apart you will find a honey comb support structure inside the float to prevent it from collapsing.

I assume the early Avanti II used the Late 64 seat bottom and back. Eventually the seat back acquired the built in head rest. Was the head rest simply an add or weld on to the existing Studebaker design? In other words, could an early Avanti II seat back be re conformed to the original late 64 style? I would like to find or duplicate a set of late thick back buckets to reupholster and install in a 64 Avanti.

If you do paint the original it is best to use a dry wall primer first then the vinyl dye. Places where the original paint is gone and the brown cardboard is showing is where the primer really comes in handy.

The way I read that is the close ratio transmission is required with the R3 and it will cost more money. Is that what you are thinking? R5546 is close ratio. Maybe the wide box could be special ordered with the R3?

Bob. You could be right with the R1 and R2 cars but all the R3 4 speed Avantis did have the close ratio box. It must have been standard equipment for the R3 cars in general and you would need to special order the wide box.

I agree, gear ratios. Early box is close ratio 2.20 low and later are the wide box 2.54 first gear. R3/ R4 cars had the 2.20 box.

I’ve heard that but never from someone who was there. Do you know that for fact or just heard that through the grape vine like me?

Anthony. What do you know about the number 8 Avanti? Was it run at Bonneville at all.? If not, why?