Avanti Hood Latch Trivia

[WCP]

I had been told, way back when I had Avantis judged, that the latch springs should be yellow. I just discovered that the springs of early Avantis (R1236) are lighter and painted black. The early cars got #1332073 springs, black .083" dia. wire, while later models got the standard #1353929 springs, yellow .096" wire, both with 7 wraps. I have the original latches from R1236 on the shelf and it is apparent that they have never been disassembled. The parts manuals give no indication when that change took place. I suspect the heavier springs afforded a more positive latch to keep the hood down in high speed runs. For those interested in judging minutia it would appear that black or yellow springs are acceptable.

[Thomas63R2]

Another one to add to the Avanti color list http://sterkel.org/avanti/index.htm

Thomas

[jlmccuan]

My Avanti 3152 has black as well. Got dinged 2 points authenticity at the 2011 IM for not having yellow. I've asked Andy Beckman to see if he can find drawings or Engineering Change Order to document this.

[63r2]

My Avanti 3152 has black as well. Got dinged 2 points authenticity at the 2011 IM for not having yellow. I've asked Andy Beckman to see if he can find drawings or Engineering Change Order to document this.

Jim
With the original condition and low miles of your car I would have thought the answer was obvious.
pb

[jlmccuan]

Well, Peter, it was obvious to me, but the judge's statement was "Just because it came that way doesn't make it right" -2 points, which by the SDC Judging Guidelines, is the correct ruling. In light that I had no documentation to prove otherwise, he did his job, I suppose. My mistake. Next time I will be ready with my entire library which will include the engineering drawings. Hence, this post.

It appears as though recall document "03/04/63 F-1963-7 Body Hood lock dovetail loosening" may contain such information. Does anyone have a copy?

[Corvanti]

FWIW, mine (1384) were black, also.

[JDP]

Well, Peter, it was obvious to me, but the judge's statement was "Just because it came that way doesn't make it right" -2 points, which by the SDC Judging Guidelines, is the correct ruling. In light that I had no documentation to prove otherwise, he did his job, I suppose. My mistake. Next time I will be ready with my entire library which will include the engineering drawings. Hence, this post.

It appears as though recall document "03/04/63 F-1963-7 Body Hood lock dovetail loosening" may contain such information. Does anyone have a copy?

Different issue, and no mention of the switch from black to yellow springs:

http://stude.com/F-1963-7.pdf

[jlmccuan]

JDP, you beat me to it. I finally found it, too and it is a different issue. The search for documentation goes on.

[jlmccuan]

WCP has advised me that the 1962 published parts manual contains the part number for the black spring, while the 1963 issue shows the yellow spring. Neither mentions the serial number changeover point.

For future concours entrants, "Forewarned is forearmed."

[WCP]

Jim, You have that reversed. The lighter spring was black and later changed to the heavier yellow spring. I'm sure that Studebaker would have used up the black spring stock first before introducing the yellow ones to the Avanti. The latch is the same as that used on other models but with an added hole drilled for the hood bumper bolt. Since no notes were made in the manual, I suspect the change may have been due to simple rationalization and could have occurred in mid '63.

[jlmccuan]

Bill, thanks for the correction. That's what I get for not working from my notes.

[Retired]

3621, March 1962 production, black springs.