Mark L

Yes, the photograph helps. I double-checked today, and mine are installed like yours.

Yes, the shortest leaf is against the axle pad. I guess it sits lower. This is the first Avanti I've owned, so without having a correct Avanti sitting next to it, I have nothing to compare with it. It's currently on jack stands, so I can't do any accurate measurements at the bumper, etc. I'll post some photographs later.

While I've been working to install the disc brake conversion on my rear axle, I've been looking around at other things to get more familiar with the car. One thing I noticed is that both rear leaf springs are currently oriented like a rainbow, with the ends lower than than the middle where they are bolted to the bottom of the axle. The long leaf with the bushings on the ends is on the bottom, and the smaller leaves are on the top, between the long leaf and the axle. It doesn't match the orientation in the parts manual. I think mine are installed upside down. My impression is that either someone did not know the correct orientation when they were installed, or someone intentionally flipped them over to lower the rear of the car. I'm going to fix them, but will there be any long-term problems driving on them like this until I can get them right side up?

That's why I sprung for Jim Turner's deluxe kits, because they included everything. Other than having to identify the interchange numbers for the rotors so I could buy the correct drilled/slotted rotors, there was no work on my part assembling the parts.

I bought my master cylinder from Jim Turner. I bought my brake lines from Inline Tube. I haven't installed them yet. I bought the drilled/slotted rotors from Brakeperformance.com. Jim Turner only provided plain/smooth rotors in the deluxe kits. He doesn't sell drilled and/or slotted rotors. I'm still working with the rear brakes, primarily trying to get the emergency brake sorted out. Jim's instructions indicate the stock rear cable will be too long and needs to be shortened. I measured it and shortened it, but when I reinstalled it, I found that I didn't need to shorten it at all. I'm now waiting on a replacement cable to be shipped.

I'm right in the middle of doing a 4-wheel Turner disc brake conversion. While I'm at it, I'm installing a new dual master cylinder, new brake lines, new brake hoses, and installing flanged rear axles shafts from Myers Studebaker. I'll probably also install a mechanical brake light switch while I'm at it. I'm doing this on evenings and weekends, so I hope to be done by this coming Labor Day (US) weekend. When I'm done, I plan to sell all of the removed parts, plus sell the new, plain rotors that came with the deluxe kits. I upgraded to drilled and slotted rotors.

Indianapolis 500 winner Rodger Ward's Avanti R1 is now up for auction on Bring A Trailer. This is the one he requested instead of the R2 that Studebaker originally planned to give the winner of the Indianapolis 500. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-studebaker-avanti-61/ If owning just any 1963 Avanti is not enough, this one is even more special.

They're still being advertised as of August 10, 2024: https://portland.craigslist.org/yam/cto/d/yamhill-1963-studebaker-avanti-projects/7769668273.html

Plus, they had a 4-cylinder engine in development in the early 1960s. If a decision had been made to put it in production, that might have also helped the company when the gas prices shot up.

Is that a Jaguar or a Corvette in front of the Avanti?

Found online, not mine. There's a package deal for two Avantis for sale west of Portland, OR. One is a restoration project, a 63 R1 with automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, and radio. White exterior with turquoise interior. The other is a parts car. [see post #4 below for an updated link]

Now that I've had an opportunity to do more research on this topic in both this Forum and at the Studebaker Drivers Club Forum, I've decided it will be better if I first find someone with a late 64 Avanti or early Avanti II with the tilt option who will allow me to sit in the driver's seat of his or her car and see for myself if it gives me the improved access to the driver's seat that I want, before I go to all the labor and expense to make the swap.

Yes, that's correct. I drove my Lark with an automatic shifter on the column much more than I did my Avanti before I sold the Lark last week. I wasn't thinking. Thanks for the reminder.

If possible, I'd like to swap out the straight steering column in my 1963 Avanti for a tilt column from a 1964 or Avanti II (whatever would be as close to a direct swap as possible).

This is a link to a pdf file with part interchange information from the Bob Johnstone website. Shock absorber information is on page 9. Pay attention to the notes under the table. In some cases, minor modifications may need to be made to get a particular brand and part number to fit. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://studebaker-info.org/Tech/njnagel/interchange2.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjTzs3S5OCGAxWQBUQIHXSbDtcQFnoECBwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2dNLeK8hfODO9dA1zEmjYV

My apologies for taking so long. I was not able to find the KYB part number for the front shocks I installed on my Lark. Good sources of data will be the Bob Johnstone Studebaker information webpages and the Studebaker Drivers Club website. Similar questions have been asked and answered.

Some others may want to confirm, but I've seen some discussions on the topic that Koni or Bilstein shocks are a good choice. They are more expensive, but are also much better quality. Someone who has installed Bilsteins may be able to provide the front and rear part numbers. I'd actually like to know that answer because I need to replace the front and rear shocks on my Avanti. My rear shocks are really worn out. A few years ago I installed KYB shocks on the front of the 62 Lark Daytona hardtop I just sold this past weekend. They are good shocks and were still working well. I'd provide the part number for them, but I gave all the maintenance records to the new owner. I might be able to dig up a receipt in my email when I get a chance to look.

There's a low mileage 1964 Avanti R1 currently available on eBay. On the SDC Forum, user 6hk71400 said he was familiar with the history of the car up to about 10-15 years ago. At that time it was known to have 12,000 miles. It is currently showing 19,000+ miles. https://www.ebay.com/itm/387063397768?itmmeta=01HZRCQ8A74T9HSRR2D9Y5G1K9&hash=item5a1ec6bd88:g:lL8AAOSwQvNmYfbf&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwPNcK%2BWjJQXybF7NYRCPo4zoGKDdEmHPVp2QhID91lm9fIMBSPOaEnsFHzcUIJuRMFMGgAkKnttPpCIhAClo4Rriq%2FS2m5jMfteY2EpIkDA3sV%2FuSxT6Zec1sely6JCCd2nsZuzEqYxgK3fONeHXPrdnVmVBV37jWloTsBtm24BvBHO7m0NsNHmU4ag%2BsQ8FDUjkfIrgKv7Xd%2FbIHd47uhJwPR2FKTHYrSBxNxQ%2B%2Fa51LdC08ejm1M1tqN3NNfXGKA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5aF3Yz-Yw

Five gallons

Wow, hardly any surface rust. Very nice.

The graphic from the manual that 64studeavanti provided shows a fuel pump for a R2 supercharged engine with three fittings. The R1 only has two fittings, the one at the bottom left is the supply from the gas tank. The fitting on the right side is the output from the pump that sends gas up to the carburetor and to the return line back to the tank. The nipple that points to the right is the one that connects to the return line back to the tank.

If it's adjacent to fuel supply line, it appears to be a similar issue I recently had on my 63 R1. Some of the parts are listed in the parts manual, but they are not illustrated. A 1/4 inch inside diameter fuel hose should connect from the T on the output side of the fuel pump to that line. At the T, there is a special 1/4 inch hose nipple that threads into one of the 1/8 NPT ports on the T. The inside of the nipple is plugged with solder and a small metering hole drilled through it to control how much gas gets routed back to the fuel tank. I recently ordered a replacement nipple from Myer's Studebaker Parts in Ohio. Without me asking, they also sent a new T and a new flare fitting for the supply line to the carburetor that connects to the other port on the T. All three parts with shipping was about $40.

Yes, that's him. I was in southern California on a business trip last year, so I was able to inspect 63R-1204 in person at his home and took a lot of photographs before purchasing it. I recognize the backdrop landscaping in the BaT ads.

I bought 63R-1204 from him last year. I've not met him in person, but we spoke and texted during the transaction. He is an AOAI member, but I don't know if he is active on this Forum. He is a personal friend of Silverplate. He really likes Avantis. He likes finding them, putting some money into them to make them better, then moving them to those who will enjoy them.

I chatted with Stuart. Even though there are always several for sale all over the US, he would prefer to inspect the car in person before the purchase, which will limit the choice to those available in the Pacific Northwest. He'll find one, but it will probably take longer since the pool will be smaller.