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Gunslinger

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Posts posted by Gunslinger

  1. Front or rear?  I think a P215/70R15 is about optimum for the front…the rear can take more.

    Also…are you using the standard 5” wide rims?  70 series are a bit too wide for them…6” width would be fine.  Plus…factory rims may be problematic with radial tires.

  2. You’ll see similar in other car groups…Mopar…Corvette, etc.  There’s always tension between purists and those who modify.  There are some who don’t accept any but Studebaker built Avantis as the genuine article…later cars are factory resto-mods to them.  Some believe the Avanti is little more than a factory custom Lark.  If you want to drop a grenade to start a flame war with Mustang aficionados…just say the Mustangs is a re-bodied Falcon.  There’s some truth to those but it was a time before the term “badge engineering” was coined.

  3. Looks good.  Back in the day spoilers and air dams weren't all that understood outside of maybe aeronautical and auto racing circles...and even then you didn't see them that often.  If the aerodynamic and cooling effects were understood it's possible Studebaker might have added them to the Avanti not just for performance but engine cooling effects.  The Due Cento had a full belly pan to help negate underbody air turbulence.  If the Granatellis knew enough about spoilers and such that would have likely been an easier and cheaper way to go for high speed runs.

    I had a Saturn air deflector on the '70 Avanti I owned...it made a real difference in engine cooling...for very little money and effort without changing a thing mechanically.  

  4. Wear mechanic’s gloves…it’s a dirty and greasy job.  Outside of that it’s a pretty straightforward job.  Another tip…do one side at a time so you can refer to the other side if necessary.  I learned that one the first time I did drum brakes on a car.

  5. Not knocking the Edelbrock camshafts in any way...much to offer as they're designed to work their own products....but you might look into Lunati Voodoo asymmetric camshafts...a bit on the pricey side but offer a great deal of power without the rough idles associated with higher lift cam profiles.  

  6. Adding an air deflector under the front end is a big help...it directs air up into the radiator that would otherwise be wasted plus the deflector helps move air around the bottom of the engine bay and bottom of the vehicle where it otherwise cause turbulence and aerodynamic drag.

    Of course while sitting still the deflector is of no help but at speed it drops the engine temps at least ten degrees in my experience.  Before Saturn was discontinued by GM they had a deflector that was a very easy install and worked and looked great.  Unfortunately I don't have the part number anymore.  It attached to the underside of the radiator saddle right where it would do the most good.  

  7. The ‘02 I had had b/u lights in the rear bumper.  I’ve seen photos of a Villa Rica car with the lights in the trunk lid.  My car was #20 or 22 depending on documentation.  

    I think earlier cars received varying types of accent treatments.  Mine had blacked out headlight buckets…I’ve seen at least one other with body color headlight buckets.  Mine had chrome Avanti emblems…some apparently had black emblems.

  8. 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.  

  9. 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.  

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.  

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