Jump to content

Dwight FitzSimons

AOAI Forum Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    451

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Dwight FitzSimons

  2. Carpet color for an all black interior?

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    It may not be relevant to this discussion but all 1963 Avantis didn't come with salt & pepper carpets.  Some came with black carpets, depending on the exterior & interior color combination.  For example, a '63 Avanti with gold exterior and Fawn & Elk interior came with black carpets.  Source: The Avanti Color & Upholstery Selector book.

    --Dwight

  3. Tires?

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    On 9/27/2022 at 5:45 AM, Dunkin said:

    Did a search at Discount Tire, and they said that the 215/70R15 don't fit, but the 205/70R15's do. are you sure about the 215 size? Thanks  

    Absolutely.  Both of my '64 Avantis have 215/70-R15 BF Goodrich Radial TA tires on 15x6" rims.  There is no problem with that size tire rubbing anything.  Discount Tire is absolutely wrong.  Try Tire Rack.

    --Dwight

     

    1964 Avanti R5255 20220928 (1).JPG

    1964 Avanti R5255 20220928 (2).JPG

  4. Tires?

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    If you are going to go with a 70 aspect ratio most of us use a 215/70R15 so the height is closer to the original.  Also, they provide a little more tire patch on the road for a little bit better handling.

    --Dwight

  5. Looking for Starter Bolts for 1963 Avanti

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    I assume you are looking for the two bolts that hold the starter onto the bellhousing?  Those bolts don't have a screw slot, they have a hex head (3/4 - 13/16").  They are rather large, closer to 1/2 inch in diameter.

    In order to not have them your starter would have to not be on the engine.  Sorry, I don't have and loose starter bolts, just thought I would pass on some info.

    --Dwight

  6. R1 with a/c engine fan blades and color

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    2 hours ago, Fourward said:

    FWIW  I thought all Avanti engines were black. <

    I'm going to paint my 1963 A/C engine before it goes in....black?

    All R1 & R2 engines were black (block, heads, intake manifold, water manifold, water pump, oil pan, pulleys, brackets, etc).  The original fan blades were orange.  See picture below of a '63 Avanti R1.

     (It doesn't apply here, but R3 engines were red, and R4 engines were blue.)

    --Dwight

     

    1963 Avanti R1 sn_63R-2906 20220628 (12).jpg

  7. Trivea

    in Avanti Trivia

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Nelson said:

     Correct. The small holes around the bottom of the breathers were silver soldered shut. Sort of odd when it could still vent around the clearance between the breather tube and the breather.

    In theory I assume a PCV system would draw some (metered) air into the rocker covers through the breather caps in order to help the engine pull crankcase fumes into the intake to be burned.  But, in reality, with the loose clearances in an R3/R4 fumes might be pushed out through the breathers.

    --Dwight

  8. Trivea

    in Avanti Trivia

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    On 9/6/2022 at 10:42 AM, Nelson said:

    That’s true, Dwight. What I was referring to was the valve cover breathers.

    Oh, so it must be open versus closed breather caps.

    --Dwight

  10. Wanted. Speedometer

    in Avanti Parts

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    Studebaker vendors used to have NOS 140 MPH and 160 MPH Avanti speedometer dials for sale (just the dial).  I don't know if these are still available but you might try Studebaker International, Stephen Allen, Dave Thibeault, Jon & Mike Myer, etc.  Maybe that dial would fit a modern aftermarket speedometer.  When I added a supercharger to my R1 Avanti years ago I had a speedometer shop exchange the 140mph dial for a 160mph one.  So, it's not too hard for them to do.  Dave Thibeault handled the work.

    If you can't find an original speedometer the above might help.

    --Dwight

  11. R1 with a/c engine fan blades and color

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    All the fans were painted orange, whether AC or not.  Probably the reason for the orange is that it is much more visible than black.  Studebaker Corp. didn't want us to get our hands near the fan.  I have always heard that Chevrolet orange engine paint (available in spray cans) is a good match for Studebaker's fan color.  The same color is a good match for the superchargers.

    --Dwight

  12. Trivea

    in Avanti Trivia

    Posted

    There are two kinds of "tubes" that attach to the right side of the oil pan, one capped off with an open breather cap, the other with a male fitting (3/4"?) for a hose to attach to.  That hose would feed into the intake system somewhere.

    --Dwight

  17. Engine Compartment Color

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Leo B said:

    Hi, I have R2 1963 Avanti Gray. When I took the engine off and checked very close what the engine compartment color is. I noticed everywhere same gray but not iridescent glossy. I saw the color even very near cluch tunnel. Yes same but more matt than exterior. Looks very original. There is no paint layer under this colour.
    Should the compartment color be exact same iridescent avanti gray or more matt like I have?

    I agree with Gunslinger.  I believe the engine compartment was painted when the rest of the body was painted.  One thing I have noticed is that the fiberglass was not finished smooth in the engine comp. -- one can see the strands in the fiberglass.  So, that may account for the lack of gloss that you see.  Also, the painter may not have worried as much about getting a smooth, thick (paint) build in the engine comp. as on the exterior.

    --Dwight

  19. Avanti Manual

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    Stan Gundry's book isn't better than the factory shop manual; It is a supplement to the shop manual.  It includes tips and fixes that evidently weren't known at the time the Avanti shop manual was written.  IMHO all Avanti owners should own a copy of Stan Gundry's book.  (No, I'm not Stan Gundry.)

    --Dwight

  22. OEM replacement wheel for my 1964 Studebaker Avanti.

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    On 7/21/2022 at 3:29 PM, 1inxs said:

    Dwight,

    Yes, I would like to keep with all OEM Studebaker Avanti wheels. I have one the got buggered up on the inside and I would feel better if I just replaced it. I would be interested in getting one or two from you.

    Thanks

    Robert

    Hi, Robert,

    I will dig two of them out and examine them.

    --Dwight

  24. Year model information needed

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted

    One source (Bob Johnstone's website) states that Avanti R-4835 is considered the first 1964 Avanti.  That car is a round headlight one.  Your R4387 falls into the 1963 model year range.  But, some 1963 Avantis weren't sold until 1964, and were titled as 1964s by the state in which they were first registered.  That kind of thing happened back then.  It might be possible to get your Avanti's title changed to 1963 if you were to take the required documentation to your DMV.  I would think that doc from AOAI would be essential.

    --Dwight

  25. Avanti Summary

    in 1963-64 Avanti

    Posted · Edited by Dwight FitzSimons

    7 hours ago, Nelson said:

    Dwight. I used to wonder why there were round light Avantis after 4892 but I’m pretty certain I figured it out. I believe body shells or partially fitted or partially completed Avantis were pulled from the assembly line and put into repair bays due to assembly issued or lack of certain optional parts etc. These cars languished in a repair bay until the required repair was done or part arrived. Some round light 64’s are almost all 64 ie post 4892 and some are practically all pre 4892. This tells me there was no pool of round light bodies they needed to get rid of.

    From what I have read Studebaker built bodies and stored them in a warehouse and pulled them for final assembly of the automobile in a LIFO order (last in, first out).  Bodies were assigned body numbers as the body was completed, just before storage.  This was probably true of all Studebakers, Avantis or otherwise.  The same must have been true of frames, with the serial number plate spot welded to the Avanti frame as it was built.  So, with the LIFO retrieval system of bodies and frames the serial numbers got out of order with the body numbers.

    A repair bay may have accounted for some of the oddities too.

    --Dwight

×
×
  • Create New...