New Avanti Owner - 63R1406 R3

[avantibngrant]

Hello everyone. I recently purchased 63R1406, an R2 Avanti. I can't stop looking at it! I never thought I would own one. I have a few questions foy you more experienced Avanti owners.

The Disc brakes are original and have been overhauled in the last 12 years or so by the previous owner. The brakes are leaking as there is no fluid in the Master Cylinder. The previous owner had bought the Turner Brake economy kit to change to the turner brake system. Question is, while the brakes are being serviced, should i go all the way and install the full Turner system or simply get the originals working?

I bought a new fuel pump for the car as it would only run with gas poured in the carburetor. The guy I bought it from said I shoud install an inline filter on the inlet side of the pump to catch any sediment before it goes into the pump. Do you guys think that is necessary? He was saying sediment in the pump could cause it to put out to much pressure, but I would think it would only hold one of the valves open which would result in less pressure.

My Studebaker experience is somewhat varied. I owned a 52 Champion for 24 years and a 63 GT Hawk for 16 years. I enjoyed them both and am looking forward to enjoying the Avanti.

Regards

Neil

[Gunslinger]

Rebuilding the entire brake system is a priority...new hoses, rebuild or replace the calipers and rear wheel cylinders, new pads and shoes...everything! All the metal brake lines should be closely inspected or simply replaced as well...if the system has been empty that long there could be lots of corrosion inside the lines just waiting for some brake pressure to blow out. It's your call whether to install the Turner kit but it is an excellent thing to do. There's nothing wrong with the original system but replacement parts are expensive other than the cost of disc pads. If it turns out you need new rotors or calipers, go ahead and do the Turner kit...you'll be money ahead. You should also install a dual master cylinder for safety as well.

It is a good idea to install a fuel filter between the gas tank and fuel pump. Some car manufacturers did that but many didn't. It's not a mandatory thing but it does serve to keep crap out of the fuel pump. I don't know if it could affect the pressure but sediment would certainly not be good for the diaphragm. It's usually a pain to replace fuel filters located before the pump but you don't do it that often so it's not tough to live with.

Another thing to do after your brakes are taken care of and you have the fuel line and filter done the way you want...take a can of Seafoam and run it through the induction system. The best way is to disconnect the large vacuum hose from the brake booster and slowly pout the Seafoam into it as the car is running. You'll smoke up the neighborhood but it will clean out the carburetor, intake manifold passages, valves and combustion chambers. After you do that, you'll need new spark plugs so go ahead and tune the engine with whatever else it needs...points, condenser, rotor and cap, plug wires if necessary, adjust the valves...then set everything to spec.

Hope you enjoy the Avanti!

Edited October 5, 2010 by Gunslinger

[Red63R3]

63R1406 - I have 63R2552 and have been restoring it the last year. Added a low pressure aux electric fuel pump ( for carb fitted cars @ around 4-5 psi - not injection

spec's pumps which have much more pressure ) at the tank when it was pulled for boiling/re sealing. Have a hidden switch at the dash that kills the pump but have found

I leave it on all the time - it has an internal filter and the extra pressure prevents vapor lock which can be an issue in SoCal temp's. Good luck.

[avantibngrant]

Update on Avanti 63R1406:

Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and are lookingforward to a happy New Year! I have done quite a bit on the car since first posting, First off, thanks to all the repies I received. I think i have done quite a few things suggested.

First, I have replaced the fuel pump with a new one I bought from Dave Thibeault. This was part of the problem for sure. Next, I found the outlet to be blocked coming out of the tank which caused me to take the tank out. Next move was to get the tank cleaned on the inside. When it cam back, I got my son to paint it on the outside. The fuel gauge sender was RUBAR'd (Rusted Beyond All Recognition), so I ordered another one and change it before putting the tank back in. I changed all the gasline hoses except the return line at the tank. When that one started to drip and stink up my whole garage I changed it too. The steel lines seemed in decent shape as the previous owner said he had changed them during the 12 years he had the car.

Next move was to buy a kit for the AFB on ebay. I studied the repair manual, then took the AFB off and then took it apart. I took the wire from a tie wrap to pass through the openings so carefully and also used compressed air. I cannot use the strong cleaners as I have a lung disease which makes me avoid such things. I put it back together and started it up. It ran very lazily and seemed lean. I though about what might be the trouble and thought maybe it is only filling one side of the carburetor. So I carefully took the screws out and lifted the top off. Sure enough, that was what was wrong. Before I lifted it off, I took out the two stepped metering rods to avoid damaging them. I put the new neddle and seat valves in and reset the floats and checked them for squareness as per the manual. I then put the top back on and very carefully put the stepped metering rods, pistons and springs back in. I then started it up and it ran very well. The only bugs yet to get out of the carburetion are the linkage to set the choke - I did not get it together right and I need to rotate it by hand to set it, and the accelerator pump and seal need to be worked on. I ordered and accelerator pump for an eldebrock carburetor, but it is to big to work. I have an email into studebaker International to see if I can get one there. The check valve on the inlet side of the pump - I am not able to get it out of the carburetor base, but it seeems ok.

It has been a fun time working on it. I consider myself very priveldged to work on such a special car and even more to own it.

The end result of all this good work was the Avanti got demoted from the garage to one of my back sheds to spend the winter. I am looking at changeing the torque boxes next to the CE SS multi piece ones. Then it will be painted. Both of these jobs I will farm out.

Next will be new carpet, then the Turner brake conversion (I have all the pieces now except the pads and calipers) then the dual master cylinder (already ordered and received). Incidentally, when I first got it, it had "Brakes by Toyota" (none), but I added brake fluid to the master cylinder and with a few pumps, they came back and are ok for moving around the yard.

The next moves will be safety check, apraisal then licensing as well as new carpeting. I hope to have it on the road by spring with the Ontario antique vehicle plates - something that limits its use some, but cuts the insurance costs a lot.

It has been a pure pleasure to work at and I am definetely looking forward to driving it and making it just a little better every year.

Regards

Neil

P S I also posted this on the SDC forum for the SDC people.

[Twnchgr]

[quote .

It has been a pure pleasure to work at and I am definetely looking forward to driving it and making it just a little better every year.

Regards

Neil

Sounds like your making good progress..

Karl