Dwight FitzSimons

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.

But the car is a 1985, not 1970 model. I don't think the Avanti factory worked on that prototype for 15 years before releasing it. --Dwight

How so? Please explain.