Gunslinger

You don’t need to loosen the straps or tilt the engine. It’s a pretty straightforward R&R. If you don’t have a shop manual…get one. It has all the instructions you need. I’ve replaced fuel tank senders in a ‘63 and a ‘70…both identical installations. It’s hardest on your knees so get some kind of padding to kneel on.

You might call Summit Racing’s Tech Line and discuss it with them. They’ll give you solid recommendations as to carburetor recommendations. Be prepared to provide all the specs of the engine you’re building…cam specs…expected horsepower, etc. You can also call the techs at Edelbrock…they’ll give you recommendations as well but will be promoting their products but the Performer carbs are modern updates of the Carter AFB Studebaker used…so there’s some DNA there plus it might be a better fit for the R3 air box.

About ten years ago I stopped at Myer’s Studebaker in Ohio. Besides receiving wonderful treatment by the Myers there was a ‘70s era Avanti II in the shop being converted to the ‘63 style round headlights for a customer. I believe any Avanti II with the ‘63 front end treatment was done after leaving South Bend…either by customer preference or due to possible body damage. I doubt there were any factory round bezel headlight post-Studebaker Avantis until the 2000 era cars.

It’s a moot point as Type A hasn’t been available for many years as it’s made from whale oil.

Too many have listened to the other voice…”If it ain’t broken…fix it until it is.”

Different type fluids will make for different transmission performance in a Borg-Warner transmission. While not an absolute statement…Type F will make for firmer shifts where Dexron will provide smoother shifts. Mercon blends can be different as well.

First…is your transmission a Borg-Warner or GM Hydramatic? It could be either from that time period. If GM Dexron is called for..or whatever equates to that today. If a Borg-Warner…Type A Suffix A is no longer available and hasn’t been in a long time. Most will recommend Type F in its place or equivalent.

Unless you're determined to have an original correct jack and wrench...you can go to Walmart or other parts store and buy a scissors jack and handle for far less money.

That’s the same parking brake handle mechanism as for the C3 Corvette it was adapted from. Any shop techniques would “probably” be similar if not the same for repair. I say “probably” advisedly as Avanti Motors would adopt a part from another make and do what modifications necessary for the Avanti application.

I would have a qualified rebuilder test it and rebuild it if necessary it before getting an assembly line rebuilder do it.

Some LED bulbs are electrically directional…try reversing it in the socket and see if it works properly.

I’m 6’3” and the Avanti has legroom to spare. The issue can be whether you have big thighs…it can be a pain sliding your right leg under the steering wheel.

The last I had need to check…Studebaker International sells a complete king pin rebuild kit. The only thing not included is the labor involved to do it. I believe Studebaker International will want the old, rebuildable parts back so they can be put back in the food chain, so to speak.

My wife and I watched The Nice Guys on Netflix…a 2016 movie with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. It’s an action comedy…full disclosure…it has gratuitous nudity and violence. It takes place in 1977 and part of the movie takes place at an industry auto show for the 1978 models. Lo and behold there is an Avanti at the show. There’s a gun fight and Crowe and Gosling’s characters use the Avanti for cover. While no bullets hit the Avanti a Cadillac Eldorado does get blown up. I guess the Avanti was not replaceable as the Eldorado was. It was a pretty outrageous and funny movie. Having the Avanti in it was a bonus.