Curious .. do You shoot for authenticity or modification?

[mfg]

10 hours ago, Hogtrough said:

How do you go about gutting the battery? Mine is 6 months old and already faltering, just a matter of time

Pretty easy… drain battery acid, then slice case open near the top. (mine had seam about 1” down from top )

Then slide out and properly dispose of internals, (saving top posts)

Then wash out case thoroughly, put top back in place and install a couple of ‘dummy’ battery cables, routed down the side of the now empty battery.

You’ve removed about 35 lbs of weight from over the left front wheel and put it where it’s needed… over the rear wheels!

I frequently open the hood of my Avanti at car shows, and no one has ever ‘caught on’ to this!

 

[64Avanti]

On 1/12/2026 at 11:05 PM, aardvark said:

 

And then... A acquaintance up the road is tearing His '63' down, putting a LS3, 600hp engine with Tremec 5 speed... Modifying the suspension and all Hi Performance upgrades. His intent is to go to the Salt Flats and surpass the 170mph land speed record..

 

 

What 170 mph land speed record?  There isn't a current 170 mph record that would apply to an Avanti with an LS3.

[64Avanti]

With an LS3 engine in the Avanti you are looking at being in an altered class (I am out of California at the moment so can't be specific.) and the record for that is way over 200 mph.  The current record for a supercharged Avanti in the classic supercharged class is about 199 and is held by Dave Bloomberg.  This class requires using the original engine which can be modified but you can't do an engine swap.  By the way it takes about 600 hp to go 200 mph in an Avanti. 

[64Avanti]

As to the question that was asked about stock or modified although I very much appreciate a well restored vehicle to original condition I have a habit of modifying cars.  I can't help myself.  In the end I would say it is your car do what you want. 

[aardvark]

64.

I can't speak for the classification my ''acquaintance'' is shooting for.

And I agree... We do whatever feels right.... that said... When I found my '63' R2 in 100% stock condition, I don't have the heart to modify it. (well except the brakes to ''Turner'' since I live in a mountainous area.)

[Dwight FitzSimons]

I am ninety-some percent an originality person.  I do make exceptions for safety, reliability, & drive-ability: wider wheels, radial tires, electronic voltage regulators, LED light bulbs, modern batteries, modern paint, etc.  I do like a Studebaker to look as original as practical.  One biggie: The paint color should be as close to original as possible, but I am never going to paint a car with lacquer again - urethanes are so much better.

--Dwight

[64Avanti]

7 hours ago, aardvark said:

64.

I can't speak for the classification my ''acquaintance'' is shooting for.

And I agree... We do whatever feels right.... that said... When I found my '63' R2 in 100% stock condition, I don't have the heart to modify it. (well except the brakes to ''Turner'' since I live in a mountainous area.)

He should order a rule book and determine what class he might fit into with the LS3 before he spends a lot of money to modify the car with a full roll cage, replacing side and rear windows, installing engine and interior fire extinguisher system, parachute etc. etc.

[Bob Preston]

9 hours ago, 64Avanti said:

He should order a rule book and determine what class he might fit into with the LS3

It’s possible that he has already done this. We really don’t know that much about his doings. 

[aardvark]

64... Not my concern. I have little interest in His high speed aspirations.