aardvark

thanks again, Ron.

I have to ask,, Ron....Since You've been keeping data on thee cars... Is that car a stock color? To me it's a horrible option.

Mark63Avanti Yer spot on about not messing with the Oil Co's chemistry. ........................... Depending on what kind of vehicle You us as a Daily, todays engines are very particular about viscosity. I was told to never up the viscosity in my Ford 5.4 engine since the galleries couldn't handle the increase w/o ruining the engine. They spec 5w-20w max. So at 300k miles I guess they're right. No smoke and the engine runs like new. Fpllow Mfg'r's Spec's and You should be fine.

as in other Oil discussions on other forums, there is no single answer or general agreement. Everyone is an expert and in reality NONE are Chemical Scientists. Thus all I have ever had to go on is personal experiences. After owning some 65 vehicles, I've NEVER had an engine failure due to Oil. Add to that I run vehicles until the bodies fall off for rust or other failure like head gaskets and warped parts or tranny failures. I run em to death and over the 200k mile mark... Many to 300k. One went over 400k.. So add or chemically modify as You see fit, but I'll trust in a good oil company ((in my case Castrol )) and their Scientists testing their products for longevity/ I won't mess with their chemistry.

Good answer.Dwight. I'm a Castrol user and won't deviate from the brand. I think going synthetic with it's slickness pretty much eliminates the need for zinc, but then again, I'm not an expert. Still as said, I'm running my V-8's well over 200k miles and many times to the 300k mile point.

Wild... the Shell brand is scientifically blended by Shells Scientists, thus they likely can be trusted... Good Choice. BUT...I have to ask.. If ZDDP is such an ''engine savior'' why then isn't it in ALL Motor Oils? After all, all Oil Companies have a stake in long life engine data. That's why Synthetics have become popular...Longevity. My F-150 now has 300k miles and doesn't smoke or burn oil except the acceptable amount of a 1/2 quart per 5000 miles on standard Castrol Synth. same with my Hummer H2 at 175k miles...And this is not unusual for my vehicles. I change oil every 10-12k ish miles..The advent of synthetics either as a 1/2 1/2 mix or full synth has changed the necessity of oil changes every 3000ish miles. I held to that 3000 mile parameter for decades and then 15 years ago (about 10 years after Mobil1 was introduced) I followed the science and converted my F-150 over slowly to full synth (after 3ish oil changes with a 50/50 mix.).. I'll hold to not messing with an Oil Companies research and chemistry balance. Their Scientists are of a better pay grade than '''any of us''' at deciding what is and is not good in the mix. These discussions are commonplace on ''most any'' Vehicle Forum and everyone comes at their decisions from a different angle. My angle is ''Multiple Vehicles'' running well past the 200k mark. As commonly said... "Your Mileage May Vary!"

I've heard arguments from all sides, but what made the best sense is these Oil Mfgr's have done all the science and chemistry that we as Pikers just don't even have a clue to. STP changes the entire chemistry and viscosity of what the Oil Co has designed and is a crap shoot to much with that. So me personally, I've gone Castrol Synthetics on everything I drive. On V-8's I'm getting 250-350k miles on my daily drivers. One went over the 350k mark. I sold it, and I saw it on the road some 2 years later. Do as You wish, but realize these Oil Mfgr's are pulling out all stops for engine longevity...Wanna mess with the mix... Not Me!

That's what concerns me. This succa is floating around everywhere

Personally I would start with making sure all mechanicals are up and working in a '''''dependable''''' manner. Then the cosmetics can be addressed. Still there needs to be some common sense with the Pricing. At $40k it seems high. but is then a crap shoot to see if the rest of the work needing done can be done at a reasonable price... I'm somehow thinking it will take $10-20K just to get it back to perfection. Yes the Car has only <200 miles on it, but a car that sat these many years is basically a mess to begin with.

I've seen this thing up ''for sale'' now for 4 to 6 months. So is this a scam? Is this car been sitting too long and become crap? I've decided. it likely isn't worth the headaches. You do as You see fit.. I have a '02' with 40k miles.. minimal wear. I wouldn't let it go for less than $60k..in fact I would prefer $65k. Am I out of line in my asking price? Likely so, but there is no rush to sell and the values seem to be increasing. Add to that the rarity and lack of ANY of these coming up ''For Sale''. So I'll hold to my (fictional) asking price.

Thanks Ron. Looking forward to final results.

RonManfred This question was out before You likely purchased Your car. Would You like to Chime In on the topic? I do know from Ron how many were made in Jade Green, but am unsure about the Convertible Numbers of the '02' year.

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.