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SBCA96

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Posts posted by SBCA96

  1. Thanks Wayne and Joe for the kind words, yes Wayne I am "in production", but at the moment I

    am waiting for feedback on fitment from the first two sets sent out. I want to make sure that the

    tolerance between Studebakers allows for the measurements I took off MY Avanti. Just because

    they fit MY Avanti, doesnt mean they will fit all Avantis/Studebakers. I am also waiting for some

    measurements promised to me from one of the first two. Also, it should be pointed out that the

    Mustang GT brakes WILL fit inside a 15 inch wheel, though I would suggest trying your current

    rims on a friends 94-04 Mustang to make sure they clear the caliper to the face of the wheel, not

    the wheel rim. Mustangs are everywhere, so even ask someone at a car show. ;)

    It is interesting to note that from the install instructions on Turners website, the wear indicators

    must be ground off the pads in order to clear the Turner install bracket, so much for the modern

    early warning conveinence.

    As for lowering the Avanti, if you did a combination of lowering the body on the frame, and also

    cutting the springs (or buying some Eaton lowering springs http://www.eatonsprings.com/) that

    should lessen any ride issues. When we lowered my Dad's '69 Avanti II (Wayne's old Avanti) it

    was done by only cutting the springs. This resulted in a bumpy ride, as the lower arms will now

    hit the rubber bushings. We also cut the fenders out, Avanti II's are known to crack fenders on

    a turn/bump. :o

    Tom

    There is no sound warning when the pads are getting thin (like there is in many modern cars), so you do have to check them occasionally and replace them when they get worn down.
  2. Thanks Joe, yah Mark ... I am in the process now. Also Dan can help with

    finding the manual parts, as his Avanti was an auto.

    If you have a Studebaker bellhousing, "Dan Giblin" over on the SDC page

    has a kit to install any T-5, TKO/TR-3550 or TKO500/TKO600 trans. I have

    bought his kit to install a TKO/TR3550 into my Avanti and sold my T-56 off.

    I am doing a install proceedure on SDC, and Dan is working with me on a

    few tweaks to make my install easier (since I have a recent clutch).

    gibbs_r1@yahoo.com. Price is $279.

    My install thread :

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...?TOPIC_ID=13734

    Dan's original thread :

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...?TOPIC_ID=13212

    Tom

    Mark: Talk to Tom (SBCA96) about options for manual transmissions mated to a Studebaker engine. He recently let go a T56 in lieu of a TKO unit. Hope this helps, Joe M
  3. Thanks Ward, its an uphill battle keeping the car on the road, so many things tend

    to break when a car sits for so many years. Since these pictrues were taken I've

    gone through the entire power steering system. I posted the process on the SDC

    forum, but quite frankly I need to get with Lew and get him to add them as some

    "stickies" here. I also might get Sonny over at Racing Studebakers to do the same.

    I hate to see people asking the same questions over and over and not being able

    to find the info that has already been provided.

    Tom

  4. Hubcentric wheels didnt start turning up until the late 80's, this was due to extra

    vibration that exists in lugcentric applications. Ultimately the lugs support the

    weight, since obviously force becomes a sideload on a turn. Also, after my trek

    into brake design for my Avanti, I found that the hub casting isnt even machined

    concentric! Spin your wheel and watch the hub! Both of mine wobble like crazy

    and I sure wouldnt want my wheels to follow that motion.

    Tom

    The hub is supposed to support the weight of the vehicle, not the bolts. I'll keep looking.
  5. I have been detailing the rebuild process on my 63 Avanti power steering

    rebuild on the SDC forum. I need to get with Lew, and maybe get a tech

    sticky of each on this forum. SDC refuses to use stickys, and the same ol

    questions get asked over and over again. Lots of GREAT info have been

    lost on page 15. Its a real shame. Bob Johnstone has been transfering a

    lot of what I have done to HIS page :

    http://www.studebaker-info.org/

    Tom

  6. Is this a Silvertone system? I have been considering the 2-1/4 inch setup.

    The dimensions I got from "T-bow" for the mufflers are :

    "26 inch overall 2 1/4 center in 2 1/4 center out. small oval can."

    I would be interested in pictures of your exhaust, maybe you can take a

    few of it snaking through the X-member while the car is on a lift?

    Tom

  7. You must upload the file onto the web somewhere and then put the proper

    syntax at the start and end of the link. I can send it to you in an email,

    but if I post it on here, the forum will input a red X thinking I was actually

    posting a link incorrectly.

    Tom

    Uh oh! Added file - don't see it. What do I need to do to add attachment?
  8. The 700R4 doesnt have a vacuum control, its a TV cable hookup. Older TH350

    transmissions had the vacuum, but I am pretty sure later ones went to a cable

    as well. Regardless, this topic was done to death on the SDC forum and some

    very good points were made. The point thats worth repeating here is :

    Its NOT worth going through the cost and hassle to put a TH350 trans into an

    Avanti with a Powershift transmission. The Powershift is a better transmission

    in just about everyway imaginable. The rebuild kits are available and any tech

    thats ever rebuilt an older Ford BW unit can do the work. There are also a few

    Studebaker vendors that will do it for you. The ONLY reason to go through all

    that work and money is to reap the cost savings of a GM OD trans. If you do

    not drive the car enough to benefit from an OD trans, you wont have to worry

    about rebuilding your Powershift ever again. ;)

    Its interesting you mention a 2nd gear start, unless I am mistaken the PS is a

    1st gear start trans. So if yours starts in 2nd, it might be a plain Flight-O-Matic

    in which case a TH350 would be an improvement. Info here :

    http://www.studebaker-info.org/rjtechx3.html#Transmissions

    Tom

  9. Keep in mind that once you lower the front, you might want to cut the fender

    out to get the correct top of tire to fender opening distance. The Avanti II

    had a fiberglass filler glued in. I cut this out on my dads '69 with a template

    made from a Studebaker Avanti.

    Keep us posted .. and get those pictures up! ;)

    Tom

  10. Ditto to what Wayne said, and I stress the caster adjustment.

    Once you take care of the worn parts (dont forget the bellcrank), there is

    an adjustment in the rear of the control valve. I just rebuilt my whole PS

    system and upon completion was VERY unhappy with how it darted back

    and forth. The cap is held on with two screws, and there is a 1/2 selflocking

    nut on a shaft. This is the PS sensitivity adjustment. Loosen this one to

    two flats (NOT TURNS) and write it down (or mark it). Drive the car and

    see if its any better. If this part was recently replaced, rebuilt or messed

    with, it could be set wrong. I turned mine 1.5 flats and it made a HUGE

    difference ... like a new car. Also, there is an adjustment on the pitman

    arm ball that can take up slack there. It requires almost a complete tear

    down though. If you can FEEL movement up and down in the bellcrank, it

    can be adjusted by taking out the slimest shim and bolting it back up. on

    mine this made a nice change also. I put the shim under the nut so the

    cotter pin can go into the same hole as before. The shim does not effect

    the end play unless its on the shoulder of the pin, and holding the washer

    away from the housing.

    Tom

  11. I can't imagine there are many Avantis around here, I wonder if you are

    the person the story was about. Details are different but its like the game

    "telephone" where the message changes. I am in Santa Barbara. Where

    was it you were failed?

    Tom

    I first failed due the Avanti printed label on the engine indicated there was a EGR valve, but the inspector could not find it and he failed me> Iwas sent to a state referee at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.
  12. If you live in California (or other pollution controlled State) be careful when

    buying an Avanti. Check with the DMV. A friend of mine who used to be in

    the Smog course at the local City College was recently told by his friend who

    runs the Smog Rep station that an Avanti came in the other day. He had to

    turn the car away as a FAIL (means cant be registered in Ca) because it did

    not have the proper smog documentation. Apparently Avanti leaves the info

    that Ford put under the hood, but its NOT being registered as a Mustang so

    the stickers have the "wrong" info. Bummer.

    Tom

    However, does anyone know if they have produced/sold any 2007 cars? I did meet a fellow in South Bend who had bought a 2006 in May from the factory in Cancun, but he said at that point no 2007s had been built.
  13. Congrats on your purchase.

    On 83 Avanti would be the 20th anniversary, its possible there was a Paxton option. Your Chevy 305 is a

    dog no doubt, but I have to take issue with comparing it to the R1. An '83 305 is lucky to have 120 hp, the

    R1 came with 240 hp. We have a 305 in a 78 Camaro, the word "dog" doesnt even come close. The dual

    hood bumps sound quite odd, a picture would be appreciated.

    Also your 305, if setup FOR a blower, will be even MORE of a "dog" without it. You might have a TH700R4

    transmission in that, I remember reading 83 was the first year. Unfortunately its the bad 700, but would be

    easy to update to a newer 700 or 4L60.

    You might consider installing an LT1 into you Avanti to get some REAL power. The lower intake would also

    allow you to drop the body on the frame to get the Studebaker rake without suspension travel loss. The

    upgrade to an LT1 would also give you the option of a 4L60E or T56 6 speed.

    Tom

    The 83 has a Chevy 305 for power, and it's a dog - like the original R-1. Mine has a Paxton blower which was off the car needing overhaul when I bought it.

    And a curious item. This car has both the normal Avanti driver's side hood hump, plus a matching one on the passenger side. To me it neither looks better or worse than the normal hood, but I'd never seen this before. Anybody have the story on it?

  14. http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...?TOPIC_ID=11570

    The above link has a link to a thread that has measurements from my Avanti

    and also Karls Avanti. In the above link there are some dimensions from a

    source I am not familar with, but you can contact the individual. First I would

    make sure that there are no spacers between the spring and the control arm

    and the spring and the frame. There are Avanti II spacers that will fit a Stude

    Avanti and raise the car. Once you know that there are no spacers, check to

    see if you have extra spacers between the body and frame. I am at work at

    the moment so I dont have access to my Avanti to count them, but maybe it

    will be posted by someone else before I get home later. After you know there

    isnt any outside force causing the height issue, then yes the springs must be

    changed to lower the car. The only other possibilty is that the suspension was

    assembled wrong. When the front end was rebuilt, did they drop the car on

    the wheels to settle the suspension before tightening the ruber bushing caps

    on the upper and lower control arms?? If the caps are tightened with hanging

    suspension, they CAN hold the car up until forced down. This is NOT a good

    thing to do, as it CAN destroy the new bushings. All bolts should be torqued

    to the proper specs EXCEPT the end caps, and those torqued while sitting on

    all four wheels at ride height (or equvilent).

    Tom

  15. What you are describing could range from worn wheel bearings to tierods, to a

    controld valve, etc. Its very hard to narrow down, unless you get under the car

    and actually force parts back and forth to find slop. One of the main places to

    check is the bellcrank (or center pivot). This has a tendency to move up & down

    rather than just rotate, which can cause quite a lot of play. I am currently doing

    a complete rebuild on my power steering and documenting the process in a few

    threads on the SDC site. I might check with AOAI and see if they have a tech

    section that can utilize "Stickys". Anyway .. here is what I have done so far :

    Pump:

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...p?TOPIC_ID=8527

    Control Valve :

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...?TOPIC_ID=10694

    Steering Ram :

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...p?TOPIC_ID=9935

    Hoses:

    http://www.studebakerdriversclub.com/sdc_f...p?TOPIC_ID=9936

    Bob Johnstone has a great amount of resources on his page of what to look at

    for wear and repair. Rather then retyping here ..

    http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/loosesteer.txt

    Section :

    http://www.studebaker-info.org/rjtechx3.html#PowerSteering

    Tom

  16. I just picked up the first two sets from the CNC shop with the engraving,

    it came out pretty nice. These already have owners, so I will be able to

    get some feedback as to how well Studebaker kept their tolerances. They

    go with me tomorrow to be checked on the surface plate for all the critical

    dimensions. Things are moving along now.

    Changes from the "First Article" set include, the "key hole" shaped grease

    trap to a "cam lobe" shape, and of course - the engraving.

    Development has started on the GT rear caliper mounting bracket, and it

    will soon follow with a Cobra rear caliper mounting bracket.

    FirstRun_005a.jpg

    Tom

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