Welcome to the Nostalgic Motor Cars Technical Library. For nearly 50 years, my only full-time job has been the service and preservation of 1963-1985 Avantis. These articles are compiled from my personal experience and original Studebaker factory blueprints to help you maintain the safety, value, and authenticity of your car.
Solving the Avanti "Hammering" Mystery: A Guide to Heater Control Valve Replacement
Does your 1984 or 1985 Avanti sound like "somebody is building a house in the back seat" when you turn on the heater? You aren't losing your marbles—you're likely experiencing a factory engineering oversight. In this article, Dan Booth recounts how he discovered a reversed valve installation that caused a notorious hammering noise in new Avantis, leading him to modify over 100 factory units.