Independent Rear Suspenion Kit?

[Jfast]

Does anyone know of an Independent Rear Suspension kit available for my 1966 Avanti II?

Edited August 27, 2015 by Jfast

[Gunslinger]

One member has installed a Jaguar IRS, but I've no idea how much engineering went into it.

To the best of my knowledge there's no bolt-on kit available. It only takes engineering expertise, time and deep pockets to design one.

[Charlie Kile]

The nice thing about using the Jag rear suspension is that it mounts in a separate sub frame. It might be relatively easy to mate the sub frame to the Avanti frame.

But maybe not.

Charlie RQB3921

[plwindish]

Try Heidt Automotive in Lake Zurich IL. I don't have a number, but the Hot Rod Power Tour has stopped there twice in the past two years. The made up a IRS for a Nova on one of the recent Phantom Garage episodes. The width on a Nova has got to be close to an Avanti.

[Jfast]

Thanks....I emailed Heidt Monday and hope to hear from them soon. Any idea on what year of Jaguar people have used?

[ron@crall.com]

I have seen one or two that used XKE components, however the installation raised the rear of the car. Ride/handling may have improved but aesthetics took a hit.

I think all XKE's had pretty much identical components regardless of year.

[wildfelr]

HI RON...rqb3263...I have used mid 70 to mid 80 Jag in two hotrods very successfully ...there great ..bullet proof and can take all the power an avanti has to offer....Do away with the Jag subframe sheet metal ...period ...its gotta go...its only in the way....when you come to visit ill show you on my 27 roadster its a great conversion and i have some mag articles on someone else who has done it on an avanti (frame off).....its been done many times on classic hotrods ...,,,,BILL RQB 3263

[silverstude]

I've seen Jaguar rear setups and also the rear truck from a C5 Corvette nicely matched to the Studebaker frame.

[Geoff]

http://nbeaa.org/local_evs/heacock/suspension.htm

C4 Corvette Dana (36 or 44) with what the Corvette guys call the "batwing" fits inside stock Avanti rear track with some shortening of components and a little frame engineering. The C4 line (inc. ZR-1) and the Viper both used the Dana 44. I look at it like, "If it's good enough for them …"

This is the route I prefer, though I wouldn't shorten the Corvette stuff, I'd widen the Avanti's body with some bubbled fender flares (modeled after the Mid-Ohio endurance Avanti, which also used an independent Dana 44). Mid-Ohio car information and pictures here: http://www.aoai.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=917

[PackardV8]

One of our old members, Nick from SoCal, has been running a Jag rear for thirty years.

Jack Vines

[wildfelr]

RON....WHEN YOU come to visit me we can go visit a shop here in Gainesville that has an IFS and IRS in progress....In an Avanti....id like to see it also....just remind me ....BILL RQB3263

[wildfelr]

RQB3263, To whom it may concern ... Today I visited CLASSIC CARS INC ...in Gainesville fl.one of there specialties is IRS AND IF Systems on avantis...very impressive shop and the finished chassis were awesome beyond my wildest expectations...there ph is 352-328-3124....and web site is ....cruisincars.net ...bill

[BRitz]

RQB3263, To whom it may concern ... Today I visited CLASSIC CARS INC ...in Gainesville fl.one of there specialties is IRS AND IF Systems on avantis...very impressive shop and the finished chassis were awesome beyond my wildest expectations...there ph is 352-328-3124....and web site is ....cruisincars.net ...bill

Here's the link....http://www.cruisincars.net/studebaker-avanti-chassis-conversion/

[SBCA96]

You might be interested in this site, they are building the IRS designed by Ford for the 1st Gen Mustang.

This was rejected by Ford when it was decided that it made no improvement (and was costly). The early

Mustang is the same size as the Avanti (some say Ford used the Avanti in some of their design) so this

should fit fairly easily.

http://mustangirs.com/pdf_articles/Hot_Rod_Magazine.pdf

Their site :

http://mustangirs.com/products.php

Tom

[64Avanti]

The first Avanti I saw with Jag IRS was in either 1972 or 1973 at the SDC meet in South Bend. I was at both but don't remember which year I saw it.