Dwight FitzSimons
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Posts posted by Dwight FitzSimons
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Group 51 battery dimensions (LWH): 9.375 x 5.06 x 8.75" (weight: 28 lbs)
Group 3EE battery dimensions: 19.25 x 4.25 x 9" (weight: 42 lbs)
I suspect that a modern group 51 battery would be a better choice than a 3EE considering all factors.
I will soon be doing the same battery swap on a '63 Avanti.
--Dwight
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I believe the Honda battery number is 51. The dimensions should be available online.
--Dwight
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6 hours ago, TerryR2 said:
Again, thanks everyone for your input. I think according to Dwight in another post, Avanti gray cars in 1963 did come with orange interiors. Probably not many and I couldn't find a picture of one but may be an interesting combo.
I have a 1963 Avanti Color & Upholstery Selector book. According to it Avanti Gray was available with upholstery combinations 6, 7, 8, 9. 6 = black, 7 = red, 8 = orange, 9 = turquoise. A cool color (gray) and a warm color (orange) certainly do go together. Looks good to me!
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16 hours ago, TerryR2 said:
Thanks everyone for your input. It's nice to see a more realistic crowd in the Avanti world. I have a C2 Corvette that I'm also getting ready to restore and those people are nuts. I have to have the correct numbers matching shoes to wear if I want to driving it. I'm in full agreement with the color black, had a few cars in this color, thanks for bringing me back to my senses...Avanti Grey makes me melt. Great picture Dwight. Where do I find that exact match? How about interiors? mine came with Fawn/Elk but thinking Orange...Haven't seen it in person..is it too much? Does it take away or add to the class the Avanti exudes.
As far as a source for Avanti paint colors in modern urthane I would contact either/both Dave Thibeault in Mass or Jon & Mike Myer in Ohio.
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No bumper guards on the Avanti?
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Would dribbling 3 in 1 oil on the cable along its full length help lubricate the inside? Not all of the cable is accessible, but most is.
--Dwight
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10 hours ago, mfg said:
Modern base coat/clear coat urethane paints, with their 'wet' look, enhances almost any color...
I think it should be noted though that this modern deep, wet, appearance is definitely not how the factory lacquer paint jobs looked in '63-'64.
Maybe a single-stage urethane paint job would be a bit more authentic looking, while still giving the durability of urethane paints.
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Oops, wrong post.
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Dave Thibeault used to (maybe still does) sell HD front & rear anti-roll bars. If those don't bolt on without any major problems I am going to be very surprised.
--Dwight
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There is some (perhaps) useful info in this string from the SDC Forum:
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Avanti Gray is a beautiful color.
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12 hours ago, Nelson said:
Sounds like a good plan to me. It is all personal preference as to stick or automatic but the overdrive just changes the entire driving experience to the positive. As for expensive: I figure the older you get the richer you are as you have less time to spend it. Just do the OD automatic and enjoy it. That 3.92 axle would be just about perfect.
"I figure the older you get the richer you are as you have less time to spend it."
I like that attitude! I'll go with it.
My brother has a 3:92 TT diff. I can buy, and there is an excellent transmission shop near here also. I have a 200-4R and the trans. shop is willing to do the work.
Studebakers aren't short of power; they are short of gearing.
--Dwight
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I don't think that changing the color of your Avanti to another Avanti color will affect its value in itself. The color you choose will have some effect on the value of the car, with red probably being the most popular.
64studeavanti is right about the amount of work/money involved in painting an Avanti black. I once painted a '56 Continental Mark II black and my arm is still hurting from all of that block sanding. I had to paint that car twice (first time in sections) to find and correct all the imperfections.
Later I stripped a '63 Avanti to bare fiberglass and painted it Avanti Red (was Gold). Again, many, many hours of block sanding.
A local dentist had a black Avanti II from the years of Blake paint problems. I saw the car after he had the car stripped & painted. It looked like hell. I assume that he didn't pay enough to get a good job.
--Dwight (2 '64 Avantis)
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On 12/19/2023 at 9:34 AM, Nelson said:
Dwight. Ted Harbit had a source for replacements so I assume that information was passed onto Phil when he picked up the business. Have the heads ever been off your R3?
Yes, B69 was rebuilt 25+ years ago at WCD Garage in Mass. We have an excellent engine builder near here and I want to catch him before he retires. So, this winter my project will be to pull the short block and take it to him to deal with the rod bearings. Fortunately, I have helper to help me with removal/installation of the short block.
As an aside, my preferences re transmissions have changed (with age) and I am tempted to replace the T-10 with a THM200-4R. That would allow me to put in a 3:92 diff, have good acceleration, and still have reasonable RPMs at highway speeds. Expensive, though.
--Dwight
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Does anyone have any suggestions for a source for R3 head gaskets (& intake, etc.)? Maybe Dave Thibeault? I have to pull my engine apart this winter.
--Dwight
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I have two '64 Avantis, one with the larger anti-roll bars, the other with the original ones. Both have 215/70-R15 BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires. The ride is the same on the two cars, but the car with the larger anti-roll bars definitely leans less in the curves and I much prefer that. I did not install them, however, so don't know about any problems. I can probably take some pix. I am tied up tomorrow (Sat.) and it's going to rain on Sunday & Monday.
--Dwight
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There's no other Studebaker whose trunk latch will interchange. There are a number of Studebaker parts vendors you could call. Jon Myer (Myer's Studebaker) in Ohio would be high on my list. Also, Studebaker International (Indiana) and Stephen Allen's Studebaker in Florida. There are others if you come up dry with those.
--Dwight
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6 hours ago, 8E45E said:
It would have had a sales-curve similar to the AMC Pacer 13 years later, had they been in stock and ready for purchase at the dealers like the Pacer was. In the first year-and-a-half, Pacer sales enjoyed over 100K units; a dream for any independent to achieve. But sales dropped off sharply after that, despite a new station wagon for 1977 and a V8 engine in 1978. I suspect the Avanti would have had phenomenal first model year sales (for an independent), but once their faults became known and made to the press reviews, sales would have tanked right after.
Craig
In 1984 the Pontiac Fiero sold just over 100,000 cars, but sales dropped sharply thereafter, dropping to 26,402 in 1988. The Fiero was a specialty car, a 2-seater with limited space to carry anything. So, that market was limited and they had saturated it. (It didn't help that some early ones caught fire.)
Similarly, the Avanti was a specialty car in a limited market, and was never going to sell a lot of cars. Plus, the Avanti had major competition: Thunderbird, Riviera, Grand Prix, Olds Starfire, and an all new Corvette.
There weren't very many faults with the Avanti; power window problems and a hot shifter are all that I can think of. They had production problems, though, that limited supply.
--Dwight
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1 hour ago, mfg said:
To me, it's kind of like striking a nail dead center...or striking it substantially off to one side...In hard, extended use, there just may be unusual wear issues.....
Of course, I could be wrong about that!
If your hammer strikes the nail at an angle that would bend the nail. But, if the hammer strikes the nail with the force straight down the center-line of the nail's longitudinal axis then the nail will be driven straight into the wood, no matter what spot on the head of the hammer hits the head of the nail. This is the exact same scenario, physics wise, as with the R3-R4's rocker pushing on the valve head.
If the above weren’t true then carpenters would have to hit each nail dead center every time. And, we know that they don't.
--Dwight
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30 minutes ago, Mel said:
The temperature sender on the block is basically a heat sensitive resistor which, as the temperature rises, decreases in value and sends higher voltage to the gauge which is essentially a voltmeter measuring up to 12v. On a very hot engine, the resistance value drops to 0 ohms allowing full voltage to the gauge which then reads (pegged) hot. I'd start by replacing the temperature sender, hooking things back up and going from there. Good luck.
He might also apply 12V. to the gauge and see if it reads full scale (240 deg.). In electronics we called that the "smoke test."
--Dwight
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14 hours ago, mfg said:
COOL!......You followed the car around!....
Did you have to wear a Groucho Marx disguise to get that second ride??
No, different people, so I wasn't recognized. My only regret is that I didn't follow it further, to Valley Motor Sales in Staunton, McGeorge in Richmond, Kern Motor Sales in Winchester, etc. I'll regret that the rest of my life.
--Dwight
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14 hours ago, mfg said:
Off center?.....
Probably not good long term.
I don't see how there could ever be any problem. The force applied by the rocker is still exactly straight down the center-line of the valve stem. So, wear on the valve guides will be the same as a regular Studebaker V8.
And, the rocker itself operates the same as a regular V8. So, the wear on the rocker shaft will be the same. The rocker arm itself is not going to break.
--Dwight
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In 1962 Studebaker transported Avantis around to dealers for a short display/demo at each. Having seen the advertisement I went to Foley Motors in Harrisonburg, Va and got a ride in a turquoise/turq. '63 R2 Avanti. A couple days later this same car was at Mason Motor Sales in Timberville and I got another ride in it. This must have been late summer 1962.
--Dwight
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9 hours ago, mfg said:
PS...does the contact area of the rocker arm really hang way to the side of the valve stem..instead of it being centered to the stem as on 'regular' Stude engines?
The valves on R3-R4 heads are set farther apart, but the rocker arm assembly is the same as regular Studebaker V8s. Therefore, the rocker arm hits the valve stem off center.
--Dwight
1963 R2 exterior paint color
in 1963-64 Avanti
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I am looking forward to seeing pix of it.
--Dwight