aardvark

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.

I bought a copy of this book...Avanti, The Complete Story!... and have mixed emotions on the factoids presented. Understand I own a '63' and an '02 model. Fist off, the '63' '64' models it was sparse on photos of the Production Models. A lot of Prototype Pix;s but lacking on the actual Production cars. The written info was good but could have gone further. Then the 2001-7 info was also a little lax. I was hoping for actual production numbers regarding the '02' model. They had one page (the last page) dedicated to those numbers but it was broken down into a 2001 category and then skipped to the 2004 model... No mention or understanding of what happened between these years. Seems 53 models were made between '01' and '04' but it's not broken down as to how many per year. Didn't anyone take a tally of what was made and when? Seems this would be common practice and actually essential to Us as Collectors. I'm interested in Your feedback on the yearly production numbers and overall take on the Writings of this book..