Dwight FitzSimons

An R3 is considerably more powerful than an R2, all else being equal. I used to think it was fun to ease my R3 Avanti up over 100 on the primaries, then floor the accelerator and feel the kick from the secondaries kicking in (mechanical linkage). I don't do such foolish & dangerous stuff any more, of course, and haven't for over 50 years. These days I'm satisfied with just experiencing the feel of acceleration (and handling) without testing any limits. All my cars have high-performance tires, but I don't burn any rubber off them, I scrape it off in the corners. --Dwight

I grew up with PowerShift cars, so am partial to them. In the '60s I had an R2 PowerShift '64 Avanti. It provided all the performance fun I needed, for a time. I later put a crate R3 into it and that WAS all the performance fun I needed. My current R3 Avanti is a 4-spd, so, when I get it back on the road, I'll find out which transmission is more fun. At my age the 4-spd may become tiring. --Dwight

I believe that Dave Thibeault restores original VRs, but with modern electronic guts in it. He even puts a decal on top so it looks like original. The electronic VRs are much more reliable than the old relays. --Dwight

Yes, it seems like a bone-headed mistake to me. At least they woke up a year later. --Dwight

The car has no windshield wipers. --Dwight

They appear to be, although after all these years who knows what some precious owner did to them. Actually, I have two '64 Avantis and one loose antenna. The two Avantis' antennas are 42" and 48". The loose antenna is 52" long. --Dwight

I have two Avantis. One's antenna is 42" extended, the other is 52" long. --Dwight

There's nothing wrong with a 3EE battery, I just prefer a smaller battery (I use a size 25 in my '64). Modern technology has given us stronger, more reliable batteries in a smaller package, and I generally go with modern technology. Studebaker did, in '64, changing to a size 24. A size 24 is a car battery, a 3EE is a commercial battery. "Diehard" is just a marketing label. I don't know who makes their batteries for them. Actually, mfg has (I think) the ultimate solution: a gutted 3EE in the engine compartment and a size 24 in the trunk. Several of our SDC Forum experts have advocated relocating the battery to the trunk. To those who keep their '63 Avantis original, I say more power to them. I do like seeing all-original Studes at shows, with bias-ply tires, etc. I'm just not into 3EE batteries and bias-ply tires. --Dwight

I would think that's an even better option. I just don't want to go to that extent for a car that I'm going to sell. --Dwight

Thanks, it's good to have some confirmation that I'm on the right track. Actually, I'm just going to copy the owner of the black '63 Avanti in the pic. I have exchanged the 51 for a 51R and will start working on the simple bracketry needed and will have new cables made. --Dwight

I recently bought a group 51 battery for a '63 Avanti, but now wonder if I should have gotten a 51R (same except terminals reversed). I need to decide while I still have time to exchange it. The 51/51R battery is smaller and much lighter, is of modern technology, costs less, and lasts longer. What's not to like about a 51/51R (unless you're dedicated to originality)? The pic below shows a 51R installed in a '63 Avanti. Everything on this car looks well done, so I figure he knew what he is doing. He has re-positioned both hold-down posts and has made a bracket to move the fender-side post forward. It looks like these changes have made using a 51R battery a better choice than a 51, although it looks like either could be used. The 3EE battery is (LxWxH, inches) 19.3125 x 4.375 x 8.875 The 51/51R battery is ........................9.374 x 5.0624 x 8.8125 The 51/51R is ~0.7" wider -- should be no problem The 51/51R is ~ 0.75" lower in height -- no problem Comments? --Dwight

Walker makes a "Quiet flow" muffler that is supposed to flow better than a stock muffler, but be much quieter than a glass pack. They are available in different sizes, from the usual suspects. I haven't tried them yet, but plan to. --Dwight

Living near the mountains is what has scared me into replacing the front brakes on my all original '64 Avanti. For me, the deciding factor is the fact that one cannot stop a Bendix-Dunlop disc-brake Studebaker if one loses the booster. That can happen if the booster simply goes bad, or the engine quits, or the check valve goes bad. (If the engine quits you have 1 or 2 stops left.) Jim Turner has a new-design front disc-brake conversion kit. He now uses the caliper from late model Chrysler minivans. The cylinder size is the same as the GM calipers, so the stopping power will be the same. (The cylinder size is what determines the stopping power, not the pad size.) Hot Rods and Brakes also sells a kit for Studebakers. It also uses Ford rotors and GM calipers, but IIRC costs about $150 less than Turner's kit ($550 vs $700). Turner also sells a dual M.C. kit for Avantis. So does Dave Thibeault. The original Bendix-Dunlop disc brakes will do the job if everything in the system is perfect. Keep that in mind when making your decision. --Dwight

Just from memory that sounds about right. R3/R4 engines were built precisely and with loose clearances, so I assume those facts would mean the break-in time could be shorter. I'm not sure that I waited, though, with R3 no. B-86 back in the late 1960s. Well. I'm off to Morgantown! --Dwight

Aha! With a 2.20 first gear I can see it. BTW, R3s (& R4s, I assume) can indeed rev beyond 7000 RPM. --Dwight

Calculating this would require stipulating the engine RPM at which we would wind up the engine. I would pick 6200 RPM, the red-line on the tachometer. Without actually doing the calculation I will guess 60 MPH. --Dwight

Not to get off subject, but tires make a big difference too. The "sedan" Firestone tires that were on my '64 Avanti when i purchased it were far inferior to the B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires that are on it now (in terms of handling). I know, I know, some of y'all can't live without your whitewall tires.

I suspect the Studebaker employee's exact words were "oops, rats." Below is a pic of my '64 Avanti R2 engine number. As mentioned these engine numbers apparently were hand stamped and irregularities occurred..\ I notice that the two engine numbers used different fonts. --Dwight

I may be able to answer that question. I have two '64 Avantis, an R2 and an R3. Both have near-new B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires on 15 x 6 wheels. One can conclude that the two cars are identical in terms of handling except for the anti-roll (aka sway) bars. The R2 has the original anti-roll bars; The R3 has the larger bars like Dave Thibeault sells). I live on a very curvy road, which is a good "test track." Both cars handle well, but the improvement with the R3's large anti-roll bars is quite noticeable. I am a fan of handling: I have BFG ultra high performance tires on my 2015 Buick Regal and enjoy its great handling. So, I am probably at least a fair judge of handling improvements. --Dwight

Studebaker did offer a more sedate, or grand touring, version of the Avanti, but not as a package, and not advertised as such. One could order an Avanti with R1, AT, PS, AC, power windows, quiet mufflers, AM/FM (in 1964), tilt column (in '64), etc. In fact, as I've gone from young to old my tastes have changed from R2/R3 and 4-spd to just the kind of grand touring Avanti that I have just speced. Perhaps Studebaker could have stolen a few Rivera and T-bird buyers by advertising such a GT Avanti.

I have successfully dyed carpet in the past (long past). You might try your local auto paint supply stores. A lot of them carry SEM vinyl dye. That is a good product for vinyl. What I don't know is whether it is appropriate for carpet or not. If the vinyl dye cannot be used on carpets perhaps the store will have a fabric dye for carpets. --Dwight

All Avantis have a floor shifter, so a steering column for an automatic car would be the same as one for a manual transmission car. --Dwight

Whatever the reason (owner preferred black?) it doesn't help the value of the car. One can fairly easily change the interior color on a '63, but it would be very difficult and expensive to do so on a '64 (with solid-color interior). The seat upholstery looks like factory original, so it's a puzzle how this came about. In any event I personally would return it to original. --Dwight ('64 R2 Avanti, red with black interior [unfortunately])

Yes, correct.

So, obviously, one could go in one direction with this bellhousing swap, but not the other.