Avanti Clearance!

[mfg]

Necessary clearance to install Chevy V8’s under the hood of Avanti ll’s was achieved by shimming the body up from the chassis about 2”, and  also redesigning the engine fan shroud…True?

[Zedman]

I reckon the Fan Shroud might well have needed tweaking so Ill say yes to that, but two inches of shim..... I'll say no to that.

[mfg]

5 hours ago, Zedman said:

I reckon the Fan Shroud might well have needed tweaking so I’ll say yes to that, but two inches of shim..... I'll say no to that.

Zedman… Happy Holidays!… The 2” came from a pretty knowledgeable Avanti restorer… but I included “about” to leave some wiggle room…..

But assuming “about 2” is correct, would you say TRUE or FALSE to this question?

[Nelson]

Ive owned a few of the Avanti II s but never worked on them much. I know they did jack the body up off the frame at the cowl about two inches  maybe a little less but that would end up being more up at the radiator. As for the radiator shroud I would think, like Zedman, that some tweaking would have been done at the radiator shroud but I could be wrong.

[mfg]

1 hour ago, Nelson said:

Ive owned a few of the Avanti II s but never worked on them much. I know they did jack the body up off the frame at the cowl about two inches  maybe a little less but that would end up being more up at the radiator. As for the radiator shroud I would think, like Zedman, that some tweaking would have been done at the radiator shroud but I could be wrong.

I believe both you guys are on to this… concentrating on the reworked shroud is the key here!… Well done!

The actual answer to this trivia question is …False… Because in addition to the reworked fan shroud, a 1/4” filler panel or ‘shim’ was needed between the top radiator mounting and the reworked shroud to give just enough fan clearance.

[Zedman]

On 12/28/2025 at 5:45 AM, mfg said:

I believe both you guys are on to this… concentrating on the reworked shroud is the key here!… Well done!

The actual answer to this trivia question is …False… Because in addition to the reworked fan shroud, a 1/4” filler panel or ‘shim’ was needed between the top radiator mounting and the reworked shroud to give just enough fan clearance.

 

On 12/28/2025 at 5:45 AM, mfg said:

I believe both you guys are on to this… concentrating on the reworked shroud is the key here!… Well done!

The actual answer to this trivia question is …False… Because in addition to the reworked fan shroud, a 1/4” filler panel or ‘shim’ was needed between the top radiator mounting and the reworked shroud to give just enough fan clearance.

Ahhh- so that's the masonite peice...   I have counted about 8off  1/8" shims at the outrigger mounts under the hogtroughs of my  '18 Avanti II so I figured 2" is too much and would say False to the original question.  

[bob caser]

As you are probably already aware it is not necessary to raise the body in order to install a Chevy Engine into a Avanti. The Altmans did not like the raked look  of the original Avanti . I have a 64 Avanti that has had a Chevy engine in it since 1967 , no body shims , air cleaner or exhaust issues. It does have a Avanti II fan shroud.

[mfg]

8 minutes ago, bob caser said:

As you are probably already aware it is not necessary to raise the body in order to install a Chevy Engine into a Avanti. The Altmans did not like the raked look  of the original Avanti . I have a 64 Avanti that has had a Chevy engine in it since 1967 , no body shims , air cleaner or exhaust issues. It does have a Avanti II fan shroud.

And a gorgeous Avanti it is!!

[R5335]

Based on Bob Johstones Studebaker Resource website, it would say False. According to his information, the front was raised 3". At least 3" above the front wheels and the front fender.    

Newman - Altman spent 1965 re-engineering the car for the GM engine, upgraded upholstery and other amenities. There were no official 1965 models. Any cars titles as a 1965 are rare, most are regarded as '66' models.  In '65, the R-series engine options under Studebaker also disappeared and the vehicle numbering system went from "R-xxxx' to 'RQA-xxxx'. They adapted the GM 327 Cubic inch/300 HP through a custom bellhousing and coupled it to the existing Powershift (FMX type) transmission. The remainder of the car stayed, as Studebaker had produced it, with the exception of the emblems.< The installation of the new engine required the body to be pivoted upward in front, in order to accomodate its dimensions. This was accomplished by using varying thicknesses of steel shims along the frame mounting points. The resulting, additional, three inch gap between the fender and top of the wheel was remedied by installing filler pieces at the top of the wheel opening.