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thanks! - I will try that.

put more air in the front tires. Try 45 psi for a start.

The Studebaker Lark I sold last year was originally equipped with power steering from the factory, but sometime before I bought it, it was converted to standard steering. To make steering at low speed a bit easier, I learned to anticipate which way I was planning to turn after a stop. I did as much turning while the car was still rolling, and avoided turning the wheel when the car was stationary.

Hi mfg and Hogthrough, thank you for your recommendations! - I will try both. Probably it's the tyres as you mentioned. I just checked and it has 215/70VR15 90W front and rear. They were on when I got the car and I had not really focused on the tyres, yet.

When you consider how many were wrecked or scrapped, that is an amazing percentage you have accounted for- probably 90%! Thanks for the years of diligence in doing that

What you describe is simply what non power steering cars are like. But as mentioned elsewhere, narrower tires and a grease job can help a lot. Be sure to hit ALL the fittings including the center link one. Top off the steering box lube. Make sure the tires are fully inflated (35 pounds should be OK depending on tire), and go with 195 tires if they are ready for a swap. This made a lot of difference on my Silver Hawk. My Avanti has power steering, which is fine when it works but my driveway may soon be condemned by the EPA if I don't get the leak fixed!

I saw some pictures of those online, looked like a good sturdy system.

Paul, I have Magnums like yours on my Avanti…. however my center caps are much deeper, (or one could say ‘taller’ than yours) Too bad you can’t find a set of caps like mine, as they are retained by a cone shaped inner bracket, with two 1/4” short bolts passing through the cone and into the back of the center cap…. Bulletproof, and very easy to remove & install. ( sorry my comment doesn’t really help with your issue!)

A really good grease job on the front suspension may help some… paying particular attention to make sure the grease comes out both the bottom & top of the king pins… sometimes it’s a struggle to get the grease to come out the top around the needle bearing.. but it’s a MUST that it does.. rotating that needle bearing with vise grips will help to work the grease into it. Also… I wouldn’t mount a tire any wider than a 205 on an Avanti with manual steering.

Getting ready to put on a new (new to me, not brand new) set of Magnum 500 wheels, and noticed that all the center caps are loose. Pulled them all off, and found two different methods of holding them on. One method was using the flat style 'speed nut' to hold the cap to the retainer; it appears that the speed nut was just pushed down until it bit into the stud, but there was really no way to tighten them uo: The speed nuts were a bear to get off, they did not 'screw' off, finally just bent the tabs. The 'studs' on the back side of the cap on this one was pretty bunged up. This was the worst one, but the others were not too much better: Two of the other caps were held on with what were similar to 'Pal' nuts, but are actually called thread cutting nuts, made to be used on studs with no threads: I figure these thread cutting nuts were the original method of holding the caps on. On one of the retainers, someone in the past had glopped on silicone to help hold it to the wheel; this was actually the tightest cap, hardly any movement -- but the nuts still were not able to be tightened properly: So, finally to my question -- given the condition of the 'studs' on the center caps, the thread cutting nuts don't tighten up properly. Not sure if new ones would improve that or not (but doubt it, especially on the worst condition studs). And the sheetmetal speed nuts I do not want to use, they for sure don't tighten up and are a bear to remove. Has anyone had this issue, and found an acceptable solution and/or modification (besides buying a set of reproduction center caps)?

Hi everyone! I got my 1963 Avanti R2 now finally registered here in Austria and had my first drive on the road - a great feeling! What a great car. One thing I struggle with, however, is that the steering wheel is quite stiff. So getting out of my garage with reversing several times is really hard work because the steering wheel does hardly turn when I drive at such low speed as when driving out of the garage. On the road with normal speed it is fine, but when revesing it is a real hazzle. Does anyone have recommendations how to improve that? Or should I retrofit power steering? (as it was originally without power steering I would rather avoid that if possible) Every input appreciated!

Just a thought, it wouldnt be hard to repair the cut out with fiberglass. I would lay up several layers of glass on a flat surface, flat card stock coated in wax or packing tape. You can then cut out shape to fit and glass the piece in place, I have used this technique extensively on both my avantis. The photo shows where I used this technique to repair area where ft bumper mount goes thru body. Some idiot felt the need to cut it up in order to replace A/C hoses.

Use this stuff... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X9X7JWP?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Based on all the info I could find, I thought the Elk color was way off. If it's even close I'm happy. Also, note that you can install the shoulder harnesses by simply drilling and tapping the roll bar- it's that thick. Not quite as thick as a nut, but thick enough

Thanks Steve! Appreciate the information Don

If u are still looking...this gentleman gave his info on the Avanti Facebook page a few years ago & said he had Avanti convertible tops. Give him a call. Ernest Loga: 715-829-3357. Steve

Try to contact them thru Ebay, If they don`t stock them, they may be able to get you one.

I tried to find an Avanti radiator on the kool radiator ebay site, no luck and no phone number to call, any suggestions? Guy

It served a purpose… but truly was a monstrosity!!

Mine is a 1981 and had it. I just finished cutting them off and it looks 100% better!

If you did, you would need a 48 Volt system to run the compressor. But I think it`s a great idea if it could be worked out. I had even thought about it before In installed mine.

It was made for the Avanti. It also came with the cooler connections for the automatic transmission if you have one. It was a first class radiator.

Just thinking out loud, has anyone tried to adapt a/c from a hybrid or full EV car?

Thanks for the link. I wouldn't use vinyl dye on a sat-on surface unless that was my only option. The vinyl dye isn't going to crack or anything like that; it'll just gradually wear off. Your seats look great; the Elk color is right on and the covers were well installed. I would guess that those are the seat covers that SI sells. I have those on order. I like your shoulder belts too. That's something I will copy. --Dwight

For those of you who collect physical ephemera, I am giving away an almost complete set of AOAI magazines, from volume 1 issue 1 up to about 2017 or so. They are currently in three large boxes. When these were given to me a few years ago, I went through all of them and put them in order. A few individual issues are missing. There are some duplicates. These are free to anyone who wants them. No shipping. I'll drive up to 3 hours one way from Seattle to meet you somewhere halfway to transfer ownership.