aardvark

Well, its what this car logically needs. I wish I could go a different direction , but the cars value plays a hand in the decision. As said, I'm not against anyone Modding their vehicle. Done so all my life with many vehicles to achieve what i wanted.

It's not that I disagree with a better battery, but if a 3EE turns it over, I don't care about a 30-40# weight increase in the front end. My Wife throws off the balance by 125#'s. and it's all incremental . How much do you and I weigh? Are we after track timing by the second at a time? As said, I love Retro. I love Mods.. I'm in a scenario where originality is key on this vehicle. It's just a destiny on this one. I've had a SB Vega with a 400ci and turbo 400 tranny... and many other vehicles that would curl your hair and straighten it in the same run. Each vehicle needs approached for it's value and fun..

Well MFG/// They got rid of the 289 as well, but while Originally Studie (63-64) the 3EE was used (as best I know) I'm not all about being 100% original, but IF Your car is one of those untouched by changes or mods, it behoves You to stick with OEM parts. It would be a different thing if the 3EE wasn't available or highly expensive , but it is available and not priced much different than any other option. Mine, (below) is 100% Stock cept the Aluminum Wheels but I have a new set of the Stock hubcaps in the trunk. I don't like the brakes and am in the process of upgrading to Dual Master and new Turner disks.. ( I live in the Mountains and braking is paramount). BUT I will keep the Original Brake Part for the next owner if they want to revert back. But I am sorta envious of the later models with a Chev Small Block. That was a good upgrade and a 383 stroker could be done and it would look stock.

Nah.. It's missing a few later years, like mine,( and yours) an '02'

I have to ask... whats so wrong with the 3EE? It's original and the same price as many other options. They are finicky but buy a $10.oo trickle charger and there will be no problems.

Gun... I bought my '63' last year for $16k. Condition is a 8-9 out of 10. It has 89K on the clock.. I have a few $thou in it and still have a power steering leak. It's NOT #3..but a good survivor. I don't do major resto's anymore at age 70. I buy em right and when tired of em... sell em. It's all a Business Transaction and I LOVE This Car. So someone else put the money in this vehicle, and I paid near full asking price. Both parties were happy.

I'm looking at this from strictly a $$ figure. I really have no choice in my purchases. reason being is ANY vehicle in my life is a financial decision, and allows the ability to move on to the next purchase. No big bank account here, no financial windfalls, no lotto winnings... Just an average Joe trying to make ends meet. So when I buy or take on a project there can be no losses. That doesn't mean I'm not a total Auto Freak..That was inbred into me. I own a number of vehicles (5 collectors and 2 dailies). The Dailies I run to death and their usage pays for themselves. The Collector stuff is a Business Transaction, and I don't like to lose in Business. On this particular vehicle? It's a Crap Shoot. There will be 1 to 2 years of resto... what is Your time/labor worth? ... Next is the parts list... Massive. To someone with the perfect Shop Setting, it may pay off. To me,, Not a chance in Hell. .......... I might add, People who restore out of Love, end up losing at time to sell. Instinctively they are even aware of that fact. I'll be first in line at time to buy.

Man... That car was a mess. I'm uncertain if it's rarity is worth that price. Car #3 was without actual firm verification (according to the seller) Avanti History shows 1 Avanti "63' that sold for $110k. I don't know what was special about that particular car. ... Most sell in the $30-40k range with some at far less. Does the rarity and the $22k price support likely a $40-50k restoration to bring this car near that level of value? Seems like a risk to me.

Mothballing is still in place for my cars..... A Helene Hurricane Update!! They were out there Blacktopping again and the roads are pretty good. The weather is beginning to cooperate. Temps are in the 50s and 60's over the next few weeks. So the New Administration is in place with promises of aid. I expect good from Him, but suspect He'll circumvent FEMA...(YES!!) All repairs, Housing and aid is basically from the Locals and some "out of State" sources. Religious Orgs are on it but overwhelmed. Franklin Graham was born and raised right here and even His Org is outside of Asheville. So this is personal to Him. So enough of the Politics.. This place is still a mess and will likely be a few years before the place shows good recovery. And back on the Car Topic... I soon will be on "The Road"! .... Car Shows are still in the planning and I'll be ready to attend.

stock is gloss.

Nice. work Ron.

thanks again, Ron.

With the roads “Soooo Tore Up" after Hurricane Helene and being either muddy or dusty after the Storm, these cars are going into storage for the winter. My '63' Avanti is already in the Barn being worked on, so it's already ''off the road''. There is NO WAY I’ll get these vehicles messy. Clean up takes forever under the hood and throughout. Just not worth it. There is a stretch going North on my road that is a ~2 miles run that was not touched by the Storm. So I can take em out for a ''warm up run'', but that’s it. So… The fun ends for this year. These Cars are being Mothballed for the winter in hopes that next Spring the roads will be re-paved. ’02’ Avanti and ’82', 928 Porsche.

Ron... see last post. Mind you, I'm a little frustrated. John Hull has been Helpful to a degree and I thank Him. I have a 2002 and John told Me I owned 1 of 33 that year. I quickly photocopied that e-mail and put it in my Avanti File. But what about further info ?? When You buy a Car and want specs showing rarity and limited production number on most any vehicle, the info is available... info like paint colors, (theres a thread right now on how many black 63-64 Avanti's were made) engine sizes and options, Hardtop vs Convertibles.(add t-tops in our case.). These and many other items play into finding out the rarity in numerical order of wether a car is rarer than the next of the same year. It plays into valuation. If I buy a 67-69 Camaro . I want to know if it's an SS/RS a Z-28, Convert or other, Do numbers match thruought and so on. The same goes for these cars and they are FAR RARER than any Camaro or Mustang.. The frustration Is We Have Little To Go On! Y'all here have been VERY helpful but we're all left lacking.

So one day 3 weeks ago I went out to start My 63. R2. It was up on jackstands since I've been doing other things underneath. I hit the key.,..and it clicked. but the starter didn't throw out. After many tedious hours to get the starter out I bench tested the Starter with a 75amp blast... Still it wouldn't extend. Trying to find a replacement Prestolite starter turned into a near impossibility. Finally I was directed to a guy in Asheville NC who had a business of rebuilding Starters and Alternators (a rarity to find someone in that Business anymore). He determined it was just gummed up and cleaned it down. He then bench tested it in front of me...Good to go.. $50.oo... I was happy. I got it back in there car and "click!" Huh??? ...Ok, 6 months ago I had a new 3EE Battery that I installed... I took it out and had it tested... Near Dead. I had just charged it for 10 hours and nothing??? Now I'm frustrated,... no... I was Pissed Off... Being under warranty I had the Battery replaced (By the way, Diehard makes one) Try again... Battery in and "Click"... Now I'm not pissed anymore but stunned. Starter back out (now for the 4th time) and I noticed a little green corrosion on the cable from the solenoid to the starter. Ok, No More Fooling Around... I bought up what was needed to make a new cable AND a solenoid thinking I'm going to rebuild this entire circuit. ... First I installed a fresh cable . VROOM!!!! Y E S !!! Y'all..This was frustrating and since these are part time hours I've been at this for 3 weeks. I figure I had 20 hours sorting this out. Moral of the story??? "Even a Blind Squirrel will get an acorn now and then !" Sheesh!!!... Now I can continue doing the items on my list to get it on the road for the Spring.