Quicksilver
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Posts posted by Quicksilver
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Here we go. I bought this car (RQ1634) in december 21. What with one thing and another, it finally got to my mechanic today.
Turns out it needs a lot more than i was led to believe.
Rear brakes, bushings, power steering pump, a/c compressor, wiring, etc. The biggest thing is the motor. the 305 in it is trash, and most likely the auto trans as well.
I had grandiose plans to fit an LS engine ad a 6L80 transmission, but according tho my mechanic, the motor won't fit. Not without a complete custom set of headers, mounts, etc. and the transmission tunnel is tight, so we need a smaller transmission.
So what have you all done? Has anyone done an LS, or later fuel injected chevy motor, and what difficulties did you encounter?
Am i best off just to find a small block 350 chevy and put an aftermarket Holly fuel injection unit on it?
And suggestions for a transmission?
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i have in my possession a 1971 Avanti. I bought it in November 21 and parked it in my garage. It is not running.
The previous owner refurbished the front end, replaced the engine with a 305 from a Monte
Carlo, and did a lot of body work. The hog troughs are good, and all the instrumentation is brand new. It has the Turner brake conversionHowever; it still needs a complete exhaust system, a radiator mount(it came with a twin fan radiator), some cleanup of the wiring, and complete paint job.
It was given to me with two late model Chrysler powered bucket seats.
As with many project cars, it has sat, untouched, for two years in my barn.
My original plans were to drop in an LS3 engine, a Mustang II front end, and a bunch of other mods, as well a a killer paint job.
Well, like many plans, it hasn't happened. Money and a poor economy has stopped me.
I finally came around to the following changes:
-fast steering arms; gas filled shocks; new high performance steering pump, new carpet, and a junkyard 6 litre GM engine. I found someone who will paint the car to a level that suits me for a very reasonable price.
Overall, the budget has dropped from upwards of 50 grand to around 20-ish canadian.
So here's the dilemma. I just came across a 1974 Avanti in northern Ontario, about 800 miles from me. Driving up to look at it, then coming back to get it another time is a lot of time and trouble.
From the pictures, I't looks in great shape, although i don't care for the colour; the owner said it would take nothing to do a safety certificate(required when changing ownership in Ontario) and that he would'nt have any hesitation to drive it here. ( he won't actually do it, but he's confident the car would make the trip just fine). Asking price is $17,000 CDN.
Should i mess around with my current Avanti, spend the money and get closer to what i want, or pay more or less the same money and get a ready made car that i don't have to fool around with with? Opinions welcome.
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It needs paint and interior. there's also a myriad of small stuff to take care of, but I hope to have lots of time to do it. The previous owner added the side exhaust rockers. Not sure if I'll keep them or not. Kinda growing on me
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I just turned 71. I have been drooling and dreaming and fantasizing over the Avanti since I was 13. Coincidentally, the same year they came out.
I have been watching Ebay for many years looking for just the right car for me. Out of the blue, my son found it on Kijiji and it was only an hour and a half away from me, in Coburg, Ontario. I hesitated, but after thinking for some time, I pulled the trigger and bought it!
It's a 1971, white on black, with some aftermarket stuff on it. Currently not running, but it's had a lot of work done to it. Apparently it needs only to have the exhaust and some minor tuning done and then it will run. We are driving up tomorrow to check it out and then next week I'll make room in my barn and bring it home.
Plans are to make a restomod out of it. New paint(candy red, emerald green, or copper: I haven't decided) and a new tan leather interior.
Im near retirement, but depending on finances it will eventually get a new chassis and a Chevy LS engine.
I haven't been this excited in several years!!
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Hi all. I am looking to buy a 72 Avanti. The current owner says he has all the parts to convert the car from rectangular to round headlights. HE considers these parts to be worth $2000 CDN. First, how much trouble is it to replace the front "grille", and second is that a reasonable price?
Is this conversion popular, rare, difficult? Thank you for your help
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On 11/24/2020 at 8:37 PM, Avanti83 said:
Since you asked, here's a couple of videos of my 74 after many years of reconstruction. Of course it started as a $3500 rough model but a ton of body/frame work, a 383 stroker motor, T56 six speed and a redone interior got it to here.
Just one thought, please don't even consider an upper grill on it.
I started this when I was about 70 and finished it (kinda) at 77, you can do it.
Very nice. The interior is very well done. Personally I'd keep the original dash profile but yours looks very professional
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Thanks guys. I am now leaning towards a 75 that's available locally.(I'm in Toronto, Canada). The car is a 10 footer, good shape mechanically, and the ask is $20 grand CDN. I'm hoping I can bargain him down a bit. Then, since I have a running driving car, I can start to do upgrades in stages. First, I think, would be to do up the interior and freshen it up a bit. A year or so later probably the chassis and engine, then eventually a killer paint job.
Doe anyone have pictures of Avanti's with some sort of customized front end? Different headlights, an upper grille, anything like that?
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Why is a 63/64 more expensive? PArts availability? other reasons?
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Hi again. I haven't posted much. This pandemic has given me so much more to do in my business(I'm a contractor) what with labour shortages and material shortages, that I just haven't had time. Anyway.
I am almost ready to buy my first Avanti. I have numerous choices but don't know which is the better way.I have heard arguments both ways
1] buy the best car you can and go from there
2] buy the cheapest you can find and start there.
I'm 70 now, and thinking to retire in a year or two. My retirement gift from my wife is a mid 60's-mid 70's restomod. Either finished before purchase by others, or a basket case that I have done myself, to my spec.
The backstory. In 1963 when I was just 12, Studebaker came out with the Avanti. i immediately fell in love with it, and from then until my last move about 10 years ago I had an AMT Avanti plastic model car. I've lusted after one for all this time. About 10 years ago, I almost bought one, but it just didn't happen. Now, once again, I have a chance.
The choice is: do I buy a well preserved one, (price range 20-30,000 U.S.)and modify it, or a car in need of work(I have 4 on my list right now: one for $1500, one for $3000 (both run and drive) another for 6800(doesn't drive)and another for $8800(no motor, good body).
In an ideal world, It will get a crate engine, new interior, new front chassis clip(Art Morrison makes one specific)and of course a slick paint job. Believe it or not, my wife is ok with me spending this much money on the car ( I know it could approach 6 figures), provided I sell my daily driver (a 2016 Jaguar F-type ragtop)
I'm inclined to go for one of the cheap ones, since I'm replacing so much of it anyway, but I remember seeing Boyd Coddington and Dave Kindig, and Danny Koker saying get the best you can, you'll have less issues..
Of course, an Avanti is fibreglass, so the rust issue won't be there, so maybe the starting condition doesn't matter.I'm given to understand that most or al parts particularly trim pieces, are available. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
A caveat: I am better with tools than some, but very very far from what you might say skilled. The last time I did any serious mechanical work was probably 35 years ago. M plan is to do the dis-assembly, patchwork and body prep, cleanup, and then let the experts do the paint, interior and mechanical.
Looking for opinions, or experience or advice, or all 3
We are also planning to restore my son's 89 Foxbody coupe (we've owned it for 15 years, but have let it sit, literally in my barn, for 7 years), so I hope to have a busy retirement -
I do not like that one off with large rectangle lights.
Now that I see the difference I think I prefer the rectangular production headlights as in Bob Caser's picture.
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14 hours ago, studegary said:
Like other changes made during the 1983 model year, like dropping the "II", the 1983 20th Anniversary Coupes had rectangular lights. There was also one 1989 with large rectangular lights. Yes, the rectangular lights carried through the 1991 model year. All 1984 - 1991 model year Avantis, with the one example cited, had normal rectangular headlights.
I guess I'm simply not versed in Avanti minutia, What's the difference between large and normal rectangular lights?
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Just found it. It's an 88 and it's listed on Ebay
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Just curious. All 63's and a few early 64's had round headlights and covers.
After that they we were replaced with rectangular housings, although still with round headlight lenses.
Today i saw a picture of an 86 or 87 LSC (the longer wheelbase luxury Avanti) with rectangular headlight lenses set in rectangular housings. In all the years I've observed Avanti's I've never noticed this before. Is this a one off, or did they change the lights at some point?
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Thanks.
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On 3/8/2020 at 12:42 PM, 64studeavanti said:
Ccarspec, Barry Hackney, has a 76 in Houston on Ebay. May be a little far for you.
Have you by any chance got the link?
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I'm located in
Toronto, Canada.I'm 69 years old. I have some mechanical skills and plan on doing the disassembly and prep work. I have no welding knowledge, (although I've watched a lot of it on T.V.)
I've driven hot cars all my life. the only concession I've made to my age (69) (and the increasing gridlock locally) is that I gave up my gearshift car last year.(I did make sure all 3 of my sons can drive a stick, and my granddaughter will be taught as well.)
I will be retiring in a year and then the Avanti project becomes real. I have it completely built in my mind right down to interior colour
(tobacco and tan), exterior is still in the air. (either emerald green or candy apple red metallic).Im also undecided about round or square headlights. I'm happy to listen to opinions.
Art Morrison chassis, Willwood Discs, Ford 9 inch, Recaro buckets, Chevy crate engine with at least 500 horses.
And yes, I know im into upwards of $100 grand. I will likley have much of it built professionally.
Please forgive me for dreaming in public. I have wanted an Avanti since I was 13 years old and as retirement comes closer I can just taste it.
The picture below is my son's 89 Mustang V-8/5 speed. It was born a 4 cylinder auto. He and I built it together about 10 years ago. We still have it.
The otherv picture is me with one of my work trucks from a few years ago
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Thank you. I had a feeling they wouldn't be easy to swap. Personally I like the pre-84 bumpers and dash.
As far as rust goes: This will be a full on restomod with an Art Morrison Chassis and a crate GM engine and transmission, as well as a custom interior. So, the only thing I need to worry about is the body shell and the dashboard.. The budget is already approved by my wife and will be my hobby/occupation once I retire.
Yes, I do realize there is a lot more to the project than simply swapping out the chassis, and whatever my budget is (or have told my wife) it will be substantially more.
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Hi all. This is my first post to this forum. Thank you for allowing me to join.
I have been a car enthusiast since I was 12. I am now 69. My all time dream car from the day it was introduced, has been the Avanti.
Over the years I have had Mustangs, Supras, Hondas, and now a Jag F-type. They have all been my daily driver (I'm a contractor and I do around 30,000 miles per years), which is why I never bought an Avanti.
It is almost impossible to get insurance here in Toronto Canada for a daily driven classic. However, I am retiring next year and plan to build a restomod (believe it or not my wife has said ok to it).One question I have, which may influence which model years to look at: can the chrome bumpers be adapted to an 84 and up, or would I have to stay with the plastic covered ones? For that matter, can the original style dash be adapted to the later model years as well?
One more question: has anyone successfully changed or customized the front end, with different headlights/grille, etc? If so could you post pictures?
desperate help needed for 1971 Avanti II
in 1965-83 Avanti
Posted
Thank you. the body, frame, and hog troughs are fine. no holes, surface rust only. frnot end is rebuilt, the engine is the big problem