Gunslinger

I looked at a crossover chart and the XR4 is equivalent to a Champion RJ14YC…I think that’s a bit too hot. The XR5 is closer to the proper heat range but crossover charts can be inaccurate when it comes to heat ranges.

No…full timer here.

Not simply the costs of a Ferrari engine itself but the shipping costs…the time and expense for engineering changes to properly fit the engine…transmission changes and changes to the driveline geometry…plus costs and time for things not even considered. Given time and money it was probably doable…but in the end would have made no difference.

From RQA0057-RQA0257 Avanti used a Holley carburetor but I don’t have what model Holley. Beginning with RQA0258 Avantis were equipped with a Rochester Quadrajet. Prior to RQA0057 Carter AFB carburetors were used.

I don't know exactly when the change to an impact absorbing steering column was made...but the '70 Avanti RQ-B I owned had the original design steering column that Studebaker used. Avanti Motors...being a small volume producer...received a temporary exemption from some safety standards from the feds to phase in compliance with safety standards. My car was built in September 1970 so it had to be after that date...likely around 1971 or possibly even 1972 before the change was made. Does your '72 have an impact absorbing steering column or the standard Studebaker unit? An option is to buy a modern, custom steering column through Summit Racing or Jeg's. That would be a brand new unit rather than one that might require refurbishing.

Contact Jon Myer at Myer’s Studebaker. He has a number of Avanti parts cars.

I had a manual for the 2002 Avanti I owned. It was nothing more than the GM manual with an Avanti Motors cover on it.

Can you trace the wires and see where they’re connected?

I've seen that more than once...having to undo what past owners have done before doing it correctly.

John Hull was a principle in Avanti Motors for maybe two years early on...not the entire run until the doors closed. The records he has would be incomplete at best since he left and would have little if any further access to such records.

Did the problem begin at the same time with the two motors? If so there might be some kind of cross-connection in the wiring creating an overheating issue requiring the circuit breakers or fuse to trip/blow. I would check all the ground connections as well as connections to the fuse box. After so many years the connections could be corroded making for overheating of the wires. The motors themselves might need overhauled...maybe the wiring harness itself has become suspect and required replacing.

Contact Dan Booth at Nostalgic. The man believes in service after the sale.

Look for numbers and letters on the lens…there may be a DOT number. Do a web search on that number and the application may come up. Your photo didn’t come through I can’t tell whether there’s any numbers on the lens. If there’s no numbers on the lens there may be one on the back of the assembly.

You might try and get hold of John Hull…he was an officer in Avanti Motors early on. He may have copies of the drawings for such parts…or have an idea where they may be found.

It's probably something Avanti designed and made for the car. Can the arm that attached it to the car be removed and taken to a fabricator out of metal?