R2 Avanti wont start...

[fmarshall]

I had a similar problem with my R2 last year. It turned out that the carb was letting too much fuel get into the engine and the plugs fouled. New plugs and a carb overhaul fixed the problem. I had severely bent metering rods.

I have my choke locked open, so cold whether starts after a couple days require a few encouraging primes ... until the engine is warm enough to vaporize the fuel well.

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63 Avanti R2, 4-Speed, 3.73 TT
Martinez, CA

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by 1961HAWK

Thanks Jack, i have rebuilt a few studebakers i am aware they have gears....
... I have never, but im know a few people have sheared their distibutor pins. ...

I had a pin shear in a "professionally rebuilt" Prestolite distributor in my '64 R-2 Avanti. It caused wild back-firing and other unpleasant things (but of course, no start).
I had a lot of trouble with starting my R-2. Turned out, one metering rod was bent and was letting the car run way too rich. On a cold start it was VERY easy to flood and foul the plugs and with modern Champions, once they are flooded, they are throw-aways. I had much better luck with AC 437s which are pretty readily available. Of course, fixing the bad jet made a huge difference too- went from crank, crank, crank, hope, hope, hope to two turns and roar .

[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/R-4.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64L.JPG[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/64P.jpg[/img=right][img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/Forum%20signature%20pix/53K.jpg[/img=right]Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine
1962 Gravely Model L (Studebaker-Packard serial plate)
1972 Gravely Model 430 (Studebaker name plate, Studebaker Onan engine)

[chocolate turkey]

Maybe a major vacuum leak? Changed some gaskets and caused this? Keep it simple......fuel and spark.

Brian K. Curtis,
1925 Duplex-Phaeton ER
1949 1/2 ton pickup
1963 GT Hawk custom
1966 Daytona 2dr

[larry r bunton]

Hello all.....good news!! Got the car to fire yesterday. Removed all plugs and just let her air out for several hours....cleaned the carb again..primed the engine a little and it fired off. Pretty sure that a piece of carbon came up and bent the spark plug, never seen that before.....cant believe how easily the Avanti floods and how hard she clears. Anyway, thanks to all for your input/ideas.

63 Avanti R2
Gone like a cool breeze