[Cylinder head, leaf springs, tires & shocks for R2]

Hello everyone,

I am so sorry to answer you so late but my job as a photographer for car magazines has kept me away from home and busy like crazy those past weeks.

It's been a while since I wanted to take the time to write to you and to thank you for all your advices posted on this forum.

I just hope there's still someone, here, to follow the thread...

Some of you have noticed the "V" at the front of my Avanti. I confirm the car was owned by Raymond Loewy in 1963 and 1964 but I will post a longer answer about this.

Regarding questions on the forum I searched various sources of information and I suggest submit you some of my thoughts :

Rear leaf springs :

I plan to order steel one to Eaton and make them deliver in NJ (I have an economical transport solution from there).

Tires :

Most of you advice 205/75R15

As much as I can, I want to keep the car with its original appearance then the only choices for high speed rating tires with white stripe that match the Avanti I found are :

Kumho 205/75R15 T (65 $ each) and

Hankook 205/75R15 T (184 $ each) (db)

(I can't find Pirelli P4000 with white stripe which look like original Avanti tire, can you ?).

or, in "S" speed rating :

Michelin and Cooper

Has anyone more source... ?

Shocks :

I am ready to change for Koni (8040 1017 / 1018) or Bilstein (feedbacks welcome). Koni are available at a very good price, here.

Where can I find precise informations for adaptation (list of parts, pictures...) ?

Cylinder heads :

I am thinking about buying new ones.

Thanks a lot for your contributions and sorry again for my late answer.

Greeting from Paris !

Daniel

[Cylinder head, leaf springs, tires & shocks for R2]

I live near Paris, in France and started last year, the mechanical restoration of my avanti R2. The work is not done by myself. I am a car photographer in France, I have little free time but a professional, highly competent, passionate and English speaking friend work on the car. We submit several questions :

- We are working on a complete repair of the engine and it appears that a cylinder head must be changed. This raises the question of changing the 2 to replace them with heads of R3. Does this pose a problem? Where can I find them (or just one for an R2) ?

- I would like to change rear leaf springs. It appears that the only one to supply them is Kanter. Last March, the price of a pair was $ 560, now, it is... $ 220. I am wondering what quality are those parts (Chinese?). Does anyone has any experience of this product ?

- Finally, I am looking for advices on the best choice of tires and shock absorbers. My Avanti R2 must be able to be safely driven (rarely..) at more than 130 mph. But I can't find tires of size 205 / 75 / 15 with a speed rating higher or equal to U (H, V. ..) if possible, with white stripes !

As for shocks, I'm told that given the performance of an R2, Gabriel were perhaps not enough. Koni used to make shocks for Avanti but they are no longer produced. Do you have other experiences with other manufacturers (Edelbrock. ..)?

I hope you understood my bad english and thank you very much for your attention and your help.

With my best Regards.

Daniel

daniel.chouin@aliceadsl.fr

[shock absorbers for R2]

Hello,

This is my first visit and my first message here. I am a french new owner of a 1963 R2.

First, I must say I am sorry for my bad english writting and my poor technical knowledge.

I bought my car to its (almost) first owner (he bought it to the Paris Studebaker dealer, in february 1965) and everything is 46 years old...

My mechanic is starting to work on steering, drive lines, suspensions and I need to decide what kind of new shock absorbers to buy.

I am not a drag racer but I don't plan to use my R2 just for cruising ! I've already bought HD sway bars, Turner brakes kits (front & rear) and will probably order

HD coil springs. What about HD gas shocks ? Are they not too much firm (even at low speed) or are they progressive enough to give a good confort

sensation for ladies transportation ? Can anyone give any recommendation on products and vendors ?

Thanks !

Daniel