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Gunslinger

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Posts posted by Gunslinger

  1. That's a smog era engine with a 3-speed automatic...excellent transmission it is...but that's probably about what you can expect from the combination.  Without knowing the rear axle ratio you might be able to squeeze out 16mpg if the car is tuned on a computerized machine.  Changing the transmission to an automatic overdrive such as a 200R4 or 700R4 will help drop the rpms and improve mileage.  

  2. I used the Mr. Goodwrench scissors jack I purchased from Walmart as I said previously.  I don't remember the handle it came with but since I used a donut emergency spare instead of a full-size spare tire I had no problems fitting the jack inside the spare tire well as well as other emergency equipment with room to spare.  

  3. It would probably be easier and cheaper to go to Walmart or Pep Boys, Auto Zone or other and simply buy a new scissors jack with its own handle.  They're not expensive.  While it's been some time, I purchased a Mr. Goodwrench scissors jack from Walmart for about $15.00.  It fits in the storage compartment the same as the original.

  4. The difference is offset and different runs of he Magnum 500 wheels by the manufacturer.  I put the Turner kit on the '70 I owned and two of the Magnum 500 wheels would contact the caliper and two wouldn't.  The difference was a very slight difference in offset between the two pairs.  I could only assume they came from two different production runs.  Avanti Motors didn't care or bother to check wheels as they were purchased as they only specified 15"x6" standard offset wheels and they easily cleared the original calipers so there was no need to check.  I'm sure it was simply an assumption that they were all the same.

     

  5. That car should have the same front brakes as the Studebaker Avanti.  I believe by the early '70s there was a change in rear brakes.  The Studebaker Parts and Shop Manuals are about all that's available.  Avanti Motors never put out anything to replace them.  

  6. The schematics available are for the Studebaker Avanti as already said.  For Avanti II cars...every year changed some in many respects and Avanti Motors make their own wiring harnesses.  There years with separate alternator/voltage regulators...years with alternators with integral regulators...different a/c compressors and locations for them...alarm systems options, etc.  When flashers were required by law it was an add-on flasher unit wired by splicing it rather than part of the harness.  Some years there were options that required an additional harness pigtail and eventually the pigtail was included whether necessary or not to simplify harness making.

    I've also seen different Avantis that have some options with activating switches mounted differently...sometimes under the left side of the dash and sometimes under the right side of the steering wheel.  My own theory is it depended on the various assembly persons...one guy would wire it one way and someone else wired it the other...very little standardization.  

    Be very careful when working with Avanti II wiring...mark and tag wires as you work in there.  

  7. GM changed its parts numbering system sometime during those years.  You might not be able to find a current part number to run down.  You may be able to match it up by finding an exploded diagram from a contemporary GM manual online.  Once you identify it that way a web search may be able to run one down.  If that doesn’t work, try a local Chevy dealer’s parts department.  They’re tied in to a nationwide inventory system.  It’s possible one or more dealers might have the part gathering dust unsold and could be willing to sell it cheap to get rid of it.

    I once had a ‘78 Corvette that needed a new a/c kick up solenoid and the local Chevy dealer’s parts guy found several dealers nationwide that had them in inventory.  I called one and talked to the parts manager who gave me a killer price if I bought the two he had.  I installed one on my car and sold the other on eBay for more than both cost.  

  8. While not an Avanti part...this book is written by Bob Morrison of Molded Fiberglass which made the Avanti bodies for Studebaker.  While not exclusively about the Avanti it does detail the experience his company had with Studebaker and the Avanti project.  $25 and I'll pay the shipping.  

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  9. It will help some but not much.  The quick steering arms were designed to restore the turning radius to the original design with the original steering box before the change to the forklift steering box.  Remember the Avanti is on what is basically a 1953 chassis and the comparison to modern platforms is huge in how ancient the platform truly is.

  10. If you plan on rebuilding your present engine…call Summit Racing and talk to their techs.  They will ask specific questions about how the engine is to be used…what is wanted from it.  They will give solid recommendations on the parts…intake, carb, heads, etc….regardless of brand to match everything together for best performance for the job.

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