VIDEO: Avanti R5089 Startup after a 40+ year hibernation

[lschuc]

After about 40 years of silence, Avanti R5089, the first of nine production R3 Avantis, comes to life. Enjoy these three short videos. More fine tuning will take place in the coming days, and now, the rest of the restoration can continue, ie: interior, glass and trim. See Avanti Magazine Fall/Winter 2015 (Issue 172), page 36-37 for more details of this historically significant Studebaker Avanti.

Brad Bez worked this week to check the engine and wiring for Randy Rapp's Avanti.

After about 40 years of silence, Avanti R5089, the first of nine production R3 Avantis, comes to life.

The first production Studebaker Avanti gets tuned and run-in to break in the new cam and lifters after a 40-year hibernation.

[lschuc]

Avanti 5089: Idle time & first run

[Avanti83]

Thanks Lew, Looks like a real brain trust at work. Post some more when it completely together and on the road.

Beautiful car. Bob

[mtgibby]

Lew,

Really cool! Next time give me a call and I will bring the donuts!

Mike

[lschuc]

We can always use donuts!! Especially Brad!

[mfg]

Great video!...And it's real nice to see one of the nine factory R3 Avantis on its way back to life!!....Kudos to Brad Bez!

[RQB1820]

Having never owned a supercharged car, is that whine typical of the supercharger, or is there a pretty bad vacuum leak somewhere?

[lschuc]

The blower whine is normal when the hose is not connected to the carburetor box. Once hooked up with the hose, little if any whine is heard. It doesn't hurt anything just running at fast idle. The blower was freshly rebuilt. What you don't want to do is blip the throttle, since it would probably cause the ball drive to slip.