Desert Driver
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Posts posted by Desert Driver
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20 minutes ago, Mark L said:
Desert Driver, thanks for asking the question, because that's what teased out all the information.
Recently my driver's outside mirror has become loose. I've discovered that somewhere along the way, someone used plastic sheetrock / wallboard inserts in the fiberglass instead of the correct well nuts. The screws are tight in the inserts, the inserts are loose in the fiberglass. Fortunately, the holes in the fiberglass are still really small. It looks like I'll be buying the correct well nuts very soon.
Mark
...at the risk of being voted off the MFG Island, you might hit those plastic anchors with a dab of Gorilla Glue. They aint gonna budge no more!
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On 6/12/2025 at 1:49 PM, Kane said:
Thanks guys. I just wasn’t sure where to start. My car looks like an amalgamation of parts. Ignition switch (and key) look to be of Chrysler heritage.
Engine/Trans is GM. Frame is Studebaker! It’s interesting!
cue Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors" and you'll understand Avanti sourcing.
I think I responded to your inquiry on FB, but if someone missed it: I bought a plastic gas cap at AutoZone for around $12. Fits just fine, but you have to align it to clear the chintzy keyed lock Mr Blake put on the filler door. Don't get me started on other oddities found on Blake Avantis 😵💫
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Many thanks to all who provided the info I need. Looks like I'll be drilling at least one hole as I'm off by a lousy half inch! 😵💫
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13 hours ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:
So, the issue is the screw spacing of the repros, isn't it?
--Dwight
Yes. I'm trying to avoid drilling more holes in the fiberglass. Soooooo...if someone could grab a tape measure and let me know. Much appreciated!!
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If you've purchased NOS Strato Vue outside mirrors, please let me know the screw spacing. I'm thinking of ordering left and right hand mirrors to replace my stock mirrors. The screw spacing on my car is 3.5 inches (center to center hole). Sure would be nice if the Strato Vues lined up with what I currently have.
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If you've purchased NOS Strato Vue outside mirrors, please let me know the screw spacing. I'm thinking of ordering left and right hand mirrors to replace my stock mirrors. The screw spacing on my car is 3.5 inches (center to center hole). Sure would be nice if the Strato Vues lined up with what I currently have.
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Well done. I agree with your assessment about the dash looking too Mustang for an Avanti. I also am not crazy about the shifter and the large steering wheel hub that houses an airbag. Having owned a 2006 Mustang GT, I wasn't too crazy about the latter two either! You did a great job 👍 👍
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13 hours ago, mfg said:
Fasten seat belt light used on earlier Avsntis, and then discontinued by ‘84 and left in harness?
Could be...sounds logical. But if it was pre '84, wouldn't that be a feature installed on Newman-Altman Avanti's?
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This is the underside of the console cover for the five adjustable levers on my '84. At the top of the photo is a cut out hole. At the bottom is a light fixture I found tucked well into the the console itself. It's part of the lighting harness for the console cover.
Here's the finished side of the cover, aligned to its ultimate placement. The knockout would be at the bottom of the photo, but it wasn't drilled through on the covering plate.
I'm thinking the tucked away light would have provided illumination for the A/C controls. But because of it's placement on the cover, the light probably would have been very distracting for the driver at night.
Anyone else have some insight into this Blake befuddlement?
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Great photo...even greater memories!
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On 2/16/2025 at 3:04 PM, Gunslinger said:
Chevrolet didn’t need to do anything to harm Avanti production…Studebaker really didn’t need any help in destroying themselves. I doubt if Chevrolet…or other carmakers…gave Studebaker much thought as Studebaker had such a small market share.
The problem had less to do with Chevrolet than with Studebaker requiring MFG to supply complete, assembled and painted Avanti bodies…which MFG had no experience doing. Corvette bodies were shipped to Chevrolet in sections…far fewer sections than in an Avanti body. There are many horror stories about the MFG production issues and what Studebaker troubleshooters found when they went to Ashtabula to smooth out production.
Chevrolet didn’t to do anything to hurt Studebaker…all they needed to do is sit back and watch.
Spot on analysis IMHO. Avanti was a great design, but production was a big problem. So many things were rushed due to Egbert's desire to get this halo vehicle into showrooms ASAP and attract new buyers for Lark, Hawk & Champ. Classic case of woulda, coulda, shoulda.
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Haven't seen this one before, but they really don't make the case that Chevy subverted Avanti production at MFG.
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Light at the end of the tunnel! Jon Myer suggested I swap out the under hood brake linkage with new. The brake booster sent didn't work, but the new linkage did and now the quirky pedal response went away. It's on to bigger thing$ now.
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On 1/15/2025 at 9:30 AM, mfg said:
Sure would have been interesting if the 400+ cubic inch Packard V8 was kept in production and ended up under the hood of the Avanti!!
With that beast under the hood, you wouldn't need to turn on the heater to keep warm during a midwest winter! Store it in the summer.
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Bit the bullet and purchased a rebuilt brake booster and attached master cylinder from Myer's Studebaker. One thing's for certain, the replacement master cylinder is a lot shorter than the one on my '84. I'm hoping this replacement will take care of the quirky pedal response I've been experiencing. (anyone notice "quirky" has the same number of letters as A _ a _ _ i?)
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Cadillac's advanced styling and the ability of GM to move buyers up from their own divisions helped drive nails into the coffin. And of course Packard's decision to purchase Studebaker (who was in much worse financial shape), didn't help matters.
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Worth a shot, so I'll try both suggestions. However I wouldn't think a pressure switch and idle solenoid would cause the fuse to blow. 🙃 Thx
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Beyond baffling on my '84.
With the key in the IGN position (engine not running), the evaporator blower and radiator fan run when I turn on the AC. However, once the engine is started the 30a fuse blows after approx 4-5 seconds. All electrical connections to the Delphi compressor have been pulled. I've gone thru at least eight new fuses trying to figure out what's going on. Any suggestions?
(the thermostatically controlled electric radiator fan is fused separately and functions properly)
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Beyond baffling on my '84.
With the key in the IGN position (engine not running), the evaporator blower and radiator fan run when I turn on the AC. However, once the engine is started the 30a fuse blows after approx 4-5 seconds. All electrical connections to the Delphi compressor have been pulled. I've gone thru at least eight new fuses trying to figure out what's going on. Any suggestions?
(the thermostatically controlled electric radiator fan is fused separately and functions properly)
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Many thanks for all the info. Good luck on the flex hose...it's just one of things that makes you wonder what they were thinking! 🤬
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Any idea what brand or numbers stamped on your master cylinder?
I see your flex hose to the air cleaner is off and chewed up. They're a bear to reinstall 'cause the round hose does not like being made into an oval.
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My '84 has paid a visit or two to Hackville. I have reason to believe the original master cylinder was replaced with the one pictured. The outfit that rebuilt my booster pump thinks it's off a Corvette and may not be simpatico with the booster. Anyone know what Mr Blake put on his Avantis at the South Bend plant?
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Bottom line - it's your money, so do what the heart desires. A 383 is a good alternative to stock, with probably fewer issues than the LS. But if you've had all the fun the car can provide...sell it with the stock engine and move on.
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I've got an '84 and looks like the same set up as yours. The thin vacuum line is ported off the rear of the carb and heads toward the passenger side firewall where it enters a wiring loom. It then exits the loom and is connected to the sensor (shown in your photo). There are all kinds of vacuum hoses in the engine compartment and tracing them down can be challenge. Hope this helps!
1983 Avanti newly listed on Hemmings vs 1953 Starliner, which would you keep.
in Avanti's For Sale
Posted
Starliner, hands down. Those wide white walls are da bomb!