Leo B Posted January 5, 2022 Report Posted January 5, 2022 (edited) Hi! Please help. If I know what kind of Coil Spring and Rear Leafs I have to order from Eaton, I will be happy. How much + or - comparing standard. I love this.š https://www.tradeuniquecars.com.au/readers-rides/1808/1963-studebaker-avanti-supercharged-r2-reader-ride Owner says "couple of inces" lower. Both Front and Rear 2 inces or...? Eaton / Avanti 1963 Choices: https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/db/es-partsinquiry2.php?syear=1963&smake=Studebaker&smodel=Avanti&sbody=2+DR+Coupe&seng=V8+4.7L+-+289cid How about this? Is this with standard Rear Leafs and Front Coil Spring? I need to ask because my leafs and spring are old. Maybe originals. Ā Edited January 5, 2022 by Leo B Added one question and photo.
mfg Posted January 5, 2022 Report Posted January 5, 2022 Yes, the Studebaker Avanti in the photo has what I believe to be a 'perfect' nose down-tail high original 'rake'......Gorgeous car!!!
pantera928 Posted January 9, 2022 Report Posted January 9, 2022 On 1/5/2022 at 6:03 PM, mfg said: Yes, the Studebaker Avanti in the photo has what I believe to be a 'perfect' nose down-tail high original 'rake'......Gorgeous car!!! I wish my 1980 could have a similar stance.š
mfg Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 1 hour ago, pantera928 said: I wish my 1980 could have a similar stance.š Well, it actually could if you want to go to the trouble of 'unshimming' the body...and set it on the frame the same way a Studebaker Avanti body is set onto its frame. It's been said the Chevy engine sits higher than the Studebaker engine, however, many have also said that isn't the case, and Nate Altman simply wanted to 'level' out the Avanti ll body. It's been said that Mr. Altman really didn't like the Studebaker Avanti's nose down 'rake'! To each his own I guess!
studegary Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 2 hours ago, mfg said: Well, it actually could if you want to go to the trouble of 'unshimming' the body...and set it on the frame the same way a Studebaker Avanti body is set onto its frame. It's been said the Chevy engine sits higher than the Studebaker engine, however, many have also said that isn't the case, and Nate Altman simply wanted to 'level' out the Avanti ll body. It's been said that Mr. Altman really didn't like the Studebaker Avanti's nose down 'rake'! To each his own I guess! My understanding is that the market that they were aiming for preferred the body to be level, so they made it that way.Ā Besides unshimming, you need to reopen the wheel wells.
mfg Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 2 minutes ago, studegary said: My understanding is that the market that they were aiming for preferred the body to be level, so they made it that way.Ā Besides unshimming, you need to reopen the wheel wells. Very true!...big job all-in-all!
Dwight FitzSimons Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 (edited) 10 hours ago, studegary said: My understanding is that the market that they were aiming for preferred the body to be level, so they made it that way.Ā Besides unshimming, you need to reopen the wheel wells. Only the front wheel openings, though.Ā George Dimitsas used to make front wheel opening "lips" to open up the front wheel openings (on Avanti IIs).Ā My opinion is the same as George, that Avanti Motors needed to close up the openings somewhat, but not nearly as much as they did.Ā IMO the Studebaker Avanti front wheel openings are too large.Ā On the other hand some Avanti IIs actually sit higher in the front than in the back.Ā Those cars look awful that way. --Dwight Edited January 10, 2022 by Dwight FitzSimons
Leo B Posted January 10, 2022 Author Report Posted January 10, 2022 (edited) Hi! If the Turquoise which you see in my previous first post is standard stance/rake, then the other which is in the Trade Unique Cars -article ( which has been lowered), my conclusion is the article ones front is 2" lowered I think. My choise will be standard back and 1" lower front. Images are edited by me. Not for commercial use. Ā Ā Edited January 10, 2022 by Leo B
Dwight FitzSimons Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 I think there are two objectives to setting the stance of a '64-4 Avanti: (1) A slight-moderate rake, and (2) No big gap between the front wheel opening and the tire (oops, tyre).Ā The turquoise Avanti and the gray Avanti above left are perfect to me.Ā My '64 Avanti has a sllght rake, but sits up too high because of new springs front & rear (installed by previous owner) Correcting the stance of an Avanti II is more difficult.Ā At least, the front should be lowered on most if not all of them to effect at lease a little rake. --Dwight
Dwight FitzSimons Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 Below is my '64 Avanti, which, IMHO, sits a bit too high. --Dwight Ā
studegary Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 Dwight - I believe that the incorrect tire size and profile exasperates the problem/appearance.
pantera928 Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 I am thinking that I might be happy with even lowering it just 1" to give it a little rake and maybe still have adequate clearance without modifying the fender openings.
Dwight FitzSimons Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 6 hours ago, studegary said: Dwight - I believe that the incorrect tire size and profile exasperates the problem/appearance. True enough; that's a result of my obsession with handling.Ā Lowering the car might help with the appearance of the tires in the wheel openings.Ā Maybe 1" in back and 2" in front. Along that line I wish that the Halibrand rims were reproduced in 16" or 17". --Dwight
silverstude Posted January 11, 2022 Report Posted January 11, 2022 Playing around with the body shims to lower the front end can cause some headaches. Ā If you don't calculate the correct height of the stack on the radiator core support, you will definitely wind up with a stress crack across the fenders parallel with the firewall. Ā There are no other body supports between the radiator and the firewall, so the weight of that nose is cantilevered on the cowl unless properly supported at the front. Not much room for error either. Ā I could never visualize how they mounted that body and spread the weight evenly across all those mount points. Ā Moreover, the Avanti II's have more shims than Studebaker Avantis. Ā
Jred Posted July 16, 2022 Report Posted July 16, 2022 Iām reading through all the ārakeā threads and I think Iāll try cutting down new coils to lower the front a smidge but Silverstudeās last comment here, caught my eye.Ā My 1970 Avanti II with a sbc350 came with stress cracks in the paint, not in the fiberglass that I can see, on the fenders near the firewall. Is this somewhat common in Avanti IIās. Thereās no modifications to the spacers that I can tell and the previous owners werenāt the modification types.Ā
Jred Posted July 16, 2022 Report Posted July 16, 2022 Hereās a picture of the crack. Definitely could be into the fiberglass Ā
Gunslinger Posted July 16, 2022 Report Posted July 16, 2022 Check the radiator mounting bracketā¦if itās broken or cracked that side of the body will flex more than designed and the fiberglass can crack in the area of the wheel arch. Ā If thatās the problem the proper fix is to first repair the radiator bracket then cut out the fiberglass and lay in a new repair. Ā If all thatās done is to file or sand down the crack and fill itā¦the crack will come back.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now