SeventhSon

Looks like it's running rich from that black soot on the plugs. An oil change is always appreciated by the car! What kind of oil are you using? What brand and weight? You say the engine has been rebuilt - what was done on the rebuild?

So it's been a little over a year since I checked in. I still have the Avanti, and have even moved it closer to where I now live. So it's 5 minutes away instead of 20 or 30. I have been driving it periodically - not as much as I used to but life and work keep me too occupied the last year or so. I had the old rocket ship out a couple of weeks ago and I hadn't been out but 5 minutes when I gunned it coming off a green light. She came on up the road like the champ she is, I had my right hand resting on the passenger seat when I felt like it was raining inside the car. A quick look showed at the heater control valve finally gave out altogether and the faster the RPM's turned the faster the coolant sprayed. Luckily the unit had been dripping a little coolant before this so I had a plastic tub already under the spot to catch coolant. I was able to limp on back to the storage unit without much more coolant coming out - as long as I took it easy and didn't act like I was waiting for green on the tree at the 1/4 mile track. That night I ordered a replacement unit from one of the Avanti parts distributors. I knew it was not NOS, not even for a domestic car, but I believe a Toyota. Ha, who knew that a Toyota part would end up in a Studebaker? The description with the part in the online catalog states, "Will replace original valve with minor modification". I'm not sure what sort of minor modification is needed, as no instructions for the minor modification were included with the part. And examining the part offers no easy or clear idea about said modification. No matter, after pulling the original part today and comparing it to the "replacement" I decided that the new part would be a temporary fix until the original unit can be either rebuilt or replaced. So I stuck the new unit in and moved the hose clamps into place. I didn't even bother trying to hook up the operating cable as I saw how easy it will be to just reach over under the dash and push the lever one way or the other, depending on if I want heat or not. I didn't have time to try it out, but next week I will give it a run and see if there any leaks. BTW, the date is incorrect on the pictures - I didn't change it to today's date.

Good to hear all is well with you Greg and the Fesers too. Surprise, surprise - look at the black beauty coming back to life. Great to see it - it looks beautiful!

I love the old Caddies. Is that one missing the windshield?

Wow, I'm surprised it wasn't making all kinds of screeching noises. Looks like that crankshaft journal has actually been worn down compared to the area next to it. Harsh.

This thread just keeps getting better and better! Keep up the great work!

I just logged on this minute to say if you are having a power source problem start with the power source, the battery. Get a new one, even new ones or almost new ones can be defective and have plates shorting out. Glad to hear you it sounds like you are on the way to solving this and aliens haven't taken over your Studebaker!

Way cool car! 😀

Is this car positive or negative ground? Polarity reversed? https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/6-volt-positive-negative-ground.99255/

I had a 4 cylinder Volvo that I replaced a head gasket on and started driving it around. I noticed some water vapor coming out of the exhaust a few days after the head gasket replacement and I thought, "Gee, I forgot to re-torque the head bolts". I drove it home and torqued the head bolts and no more steam in the exhaust.

Eric, have you replaced the voltage regulator?

Nice job, you sure work fast. Now, about those door panels.....

Cool car and cool video. 8 cylinders always sounds good. Enjoy it!

It's been a year - hi John!

Excellent score! Congrats!

Thanks, I was scratching my head about that steering wheel. Great work you do!

I have to ask, what's up with that steering wheel? Is that a stock option?

Very cool! That car will get lots of attention for sure. 👍

Monster truck. Street legal apparently. Yikes.

Olds Cutlass Salon. A survivor.

Cool Pontiac muscle car. I always have liked those.

This gentleman had an old Ford pickup truck with an attached trailer, upon which rode an old flathead V8. I honestly can't figure out what year the truck is, but it was a very nice restoration job. I was looking at the left side of the flathead V8 and wondering what the display did. I could see it was all set up to run so I figured it operated something. While looking at it the man, who was seated nearby, stood up and asked me if I wanted to see it run. "Sure," I said. He motioned me to come around to the right side of the engine and that's when I saw that that side of the engine did not have the head on it. I sort of chuckled and wondered what the game was. The man set the choke on the carb, turned the key and the engine fired and ran smooth as could be. The pistons plunged up and down with pretty amazing speed for an engine at fast idle and the valves opened and closed just like they are supposed to. I was kind of flabbergasted, as I had never seen anything like that before. The engine ran on the left four cylinders and gave any spectator the opportunity to see how an internal combustion engine works. I returned to the area several times and watched as people would approach and have a look and the man would get up and fire the old V8 up. Invariably the person watching would motion for someone else with them to "check it out". I watched one man call out to his teen daughter and show her how an engine works. She was very interested in it. It was all fascinating to watch, the highlight of the show for me I think. I also captured a video of the motor running - not sure if I can post it here but I will try..

And a beautiful 1962 Olds Jetfire convertible. Very cool.

Heavy duty 1947 Ford pickup. I like the old solid trucks.

Here is a 1950 Chevrolet, modified of course. Great car with nice lines.