Jim S

I do have that. I just wanted to have the original (or reproduction) of the factory serial plate with company name and location.

The VIN sticker is missing on my 87 convertible. I don't even know where it originally was placed. Does it go on the door pillar or on top of the cowl? In any case Does any of the vendors sell a reproduction blank sticker for the 87 South Bend models? I'd like to get one. This is my VIN: 12AAV2220H1000059 and I think it's a South Bend model, but I am not sure. Thanks

Thank-you to everyone with all the good tips. I solved the issue. I did a voltage check where the starter switch wire attaches to the solenoid. Whilst my wife turned the key, I measured voltage and found when it did not engage, I only had 6volts! So after tracing the three red battery wires from the big square connector on the top of the cowl, I found the issue. Down behind the distributer, the previous owner had 4 wire breaks butt connected poorly and corroded. One of them even had a short piece of 16 gauge wire in between the butt splices! All of course hidden under electrical tape. I re-spliced, soldered and sealed with heat shrink. And wallah! Strong perfect starts every time. Finding hidden masterpieces of these hot messes is never ending!

Yes, the starter was a completely new assembly (not a rebuilt) with solenoid and drive. All the ground straps around the engine and bell housing I cleaned and tightened too.

My 87 has intermittent problems engaging the starter when I turn the key. I have replaced: the battery, new Delco Gold starter, new Delco ignition switch, new ignition lock, new battery cables new neutral safety switch and I replaced the terminals on all the starter switch to solenoid wires. But every now and then, when I turn the ignition key, I hear the solenoid click but the starter does not turn. After a few more tries, the starter will engage and the engine fires up. I don't know what I could be missing that makes this starting system unreliable.

It's at the bottom of the steering column near the firewall (interior side) It's also the neutral safety lockout switch.

Found it!

I'm installing a new shifter in my 87 and for the life of me I cannot locate the back-up light switch. Is it the connector on the left side of the transmisson by the linkage? Or is it on the steering column? The wiring diagram is useless. All it says is the wire to the lights is lite green. Thanks all.

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Great info Thanks! I have done pretty much what you have done at this point. The only thing I did not do was bending the clamp at the shifter to lesson the bind at park. I will look into that and see if I can make that adjustment too.

Thanks for the info Jim. Glad to know I'm not alone in this issue. I'll look forward to hearing how your new cable works. I just did some searching and it appears the shifter is a mid 80's Camaro/Firebird shifter. And the cable for that is 29" which would be a bit long for the Avanti. It also has a stud instead of a loop at the transmission end.

I have gone through 3 shifter cables in a month! They pull apart at the ferules when going into Park. I was left stranded in Phoenix, AZ last week on a cross country road trip. I had to take the car to a repair shop since I did not have my own tools and a jack! The guys at the shop noticed the bracket that holds the cable on the transmission was set too far back. So they cut and welded it so it was forward about an inch. It goes into Park OK, but not first! I can live with that, but I like things right if I can manage. Does anyone know what vehicle and year the shifter they used came out of? Mine does not even have a gear indicator or a light, so one has to put it in gear by feel. I was sleeping and my wife drove 150 miles in third gear! $3.75 a gallon for gas, ouch!

Thank-you!

As far as I can see, there's no fuel filter on my 87. There is solid fuel line from the tank to the pump and from the pump to the carburetor. Apparently, someone took it out or it never had one. Can someone tell me where they placed it if it in fact had one? Thanks.

Between the heater hoses coming out the firewall, the intake manifold and the cruise control stuff, there's few areas to move it.