Fuel System: Supercharger Noise Complaints?

[SN-60]

I always thought Studebaker made changes to the air filter housing on supercharged Avanti models
between '63 and '64 to quiet the supercharger inlet's noise level, but was it really changed in hopes
of taking in less extremely hot air radiating off the exhaust manifolds? Thoughts? (R-2 model Avantis)

[64V-K7]

I'll have to go with the cooler air intake. The supercharger itself inherently, adds heat by compressing the intake charge. The more heat you have the less effective the supercharger is. So, any help on that point would probably be put into effect as soon as practical.. The whine from the Paxton was generally a "brag". I don't think they'd want to muffle that, much more than it was...

[studegary]

.. The whine from the Paxton was generally a "brag". I don't think they'd want to muffle that, much more than it was...

That whine is something that really bothered me when I was younger. I did not like to drive a S/C Studebaker or Packard Hawk for any distance. I guess now that my high pitch hearing is gone, I may not mind them.

[bezhawk]

My complaint is that they aren't loud enough! ....just kidding, but I think it's part of the charm of owning a supercharged vehicle.

[63 R2 Hawk]

My Erb built Paxton is pretty quiet. Maybe it's broken???

[Warren Webb]

When I bought my Hawk I asked the prior owner about the missing supercharger. He said he didn't like the noise so he removed it all & sold it to someone in Paramont. AGGGGGGGGGGGG! It took me 3 years to get everything I needed to put it back to its original condition. The only things he had left (fortunatly) was the oil pan & alternator bracket but I had to get a complete engine from San Antonio in order to have the correct water manifold. I LOVE the whine the blower makes!!

[SN-60]

I'm definitely 'on board' with the superchargers unique whine, but Studebaker engineers redesigned that air filter housing for some reason, and I just wondered if anyone really knew what their thinking
was for making that change? (R-2 model Avantis)

[R2Andrea]

There are 3 air cleaner assys. cataloged for the R2 Avanti. As far as I've been able to determine, the change in design from the (early) open element design to the closed element design had more to do with United Specialties (the vendor) than with Studebaker. There is some quieting effect with the closed type element because there is a sound deadening pad in the snorkle. All the R2 air cleaners draw directly from the engine compartment so there is no advantage to either type as installed. Only the R3 air cleaner assys. drew cooler air from outside the engine compartment. The third design of the Avanti R2 aircleaner incorporated a hook up for the sealed PCV system which became compulsory equipment in California and New York State.

[SN-60]

To: R2Andy,------ That's good info. But the inlet for the '64 style 'closed' housing does face up towards the hood and away from the direct exhaust manifold heat though. It's reasonable to assume this
air may be a few degrees cooler. (R-2 model Avantis)

[R2Andrea]

Both styles of air cleaner are still subject to direct radiation from the right exhaust manifold. The open element air cleaner is drawing air in a 360* arc, only a relatively small portion of which is in a direct path of radiation from the exhaust manifold. There is just no area in the upper sides of the Avanti engine compartment that is cooler. Without ducting cooler air from outside the engine compartment, there is no advantage to the closed element with regards to a cooler intake charge. The original Lark R2 air cleaner design was very similar to the original Avanti design. This open element Lark unit was never installed in production. 15 days after the release of the second design of the Avanti air cleaner (the closed element style), the first production Lark R2 air cleaner was released. Both the second version R2 units were very similar. By changing to the closed element air cleaner design across the board, the vendor could streamline production.

[bezhawk]

The R3 was a combination of the designs. It has the snorkle with the sound deadener . Mounted in front of the radiator. There is room to put in taller elements making it open