Distributor Vacuum Part for a 63 R1

[Paul K.]

Are the vacuum advance units for a 63 Avanti R1 available from chain parts stores? Does it share an application with another make of vehicle? Would like to fix the car today as opposed to waiting for a part. Thanks!

[Gunslinger]

I don't believe vacuum advances are universal enough to simply walk in and buy one off the shelf. While GM or Ford might have used the same vacuum advance across many product lines, I doubt if one for a Prestolite distributor would interchange...but it's possible. Never say never as Studebaker used many parts common to other makes...especially if those parts came from common industry vendors.

The Avanti Prestolite distributor used the same points, rotor and condenser as contemporary Mopar Hemi engines with dual points. It's possible that the vacuum advance was the same but I really don't know. You might check into it by asking for the Mopar vacuum advance if the Studebaker Prestolite is listed by the parts house. Even if it fits the same it doesn't automatically follow it's correct so keep that in mind.

Parts houses today are generally computer based and applications like Studebaker are not included more often than not. It may take an old time parts house that saved their old paper catalogs to find the answer for this...or an old-timer who has knowledge stored between his ears willing to help.

[mfg]

I agree with Gunslinger.....but if you're really 'stuck', you might ask for an advance unit for a mid fifties thru early sixties Plymouth----Dodge---Chrysler V8....The distributors on some of these were identical to the Studebaker Avanti unit.....(For example, a 1958 Chrysler Imperial used the same dual-point distributor head as Stude Avantis)

[Paul K.]

Thanks MFG, great place to start looking. If not, I'll just have to order one.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Paul K.