Look under the car and find the rod that the clutch pedal works.  It
can be adjusted to provide the free play you want.  Should be
approximately 3/4".

Contact Phil Harris at Fairborn Studebaker at 937-878-1576 or stude6 at
yahoo.com    He has Hurst Competition Plus Shifters that will make a
world of difference in shifting.

Contact Tom Covington in Midlothian, Virginia.  He has a four speed
Avanti and has had it for years.  Email me and I'll send you his phone
and email or you probably can find his number in a Richmond phone book
as Midlothian is almost in Richmond.

Ted

 Normally, the point where the clutch engages follows from the free play
adjustment.  See the instructions in the manual.
 Check that there is 1/2" clearance between the bellcrank and firewall, at
the pedal end, with the pedal released.  Adjust that with the pedal to
bellcrank link.
 Adjust pedal freeplay for 3/4", under the car, at the bellcrank to
operating shaft link.
 If you don't have the pedal to bellcrank adjustment right to start with,
clutch linkage geometry can result in odd clutch action.
 Some people have had problems with the bellcrank to operating shaft link
bending.  I think there is an improved rod available.
  Sometimes the levers come loose on the operating shafts.  They fit over
splines, and were only soldered, to keep them in place.
 The neutral "gate",  in the shifter, can be adjusted; at the shift rods.
I  found the stock shifter "OK", for daily driving, if it's in good
condition.
 The "buzz" is probably the shift rods vibrating.  Clutch linkage can do
that, too.  Hurst sells a neat spring clip, with their bushing kit, that
replaces the cotter pins, and keeps the rods from vibrating.  You may have
to drill the holes a little larger to use their's.  A smaller size may be
available, as a hardware item.
                                                                      Mike
M.

Matt-
Your transmission problrems and what I had in my Avanti
sound identical.

A great solution to all those problems you listed, is to replace the BW T10
with a BWT5.
It is a 5 speed out of a late model mustang, and is not difficult at all to
accomplish.

Jim in Tulsa

Matt-
Your transmission problrems and what I had in my Avanti
sound identical.

A great solution to all those problems you listed, is to replace the BW T10
with a BWT5.
It is a 5 speed out of a late model mustang, and is not difficult at all to
accomplish.

Jim in Tulsa

 I just got back from a 20 mile drive in my stock '64, 4 speed.  The  HD
clutch takes a little extra effort, but is otherwise unremarkable.  I guess
it begins to engage about 1/4 off the floor.
 I changed to the appropriate "Red Line" trans lube, some time ago, after a
change or two of cheaper stuff, to clean it out a little.
 It shifts smoother, especially into 2nd, with the "Red Line".
 The stock shifter is mostly the same as GM used; so new parts to rebuild
it should be available.  I cut down a couple of 1/4" bushings from the
hardware store; and used a few parts from an old Hawk shifter, to repair
mine.
 There is nothing particularly bad about the stock trans or shifter.
 An OD fifth gear would be nice; especially if you drive it a lot.  I
suggest you keep it stock; but if you want to sell the stock 4 speed, I can
pick it up.
                                                          Mike M.