63stick

I'm now starting the front brake overhaul and deciding whether to re sleeve my calipers which are in good condition with stainless while there out. or convert to a Taylor system. I'm not planning on using it a lot. I would rather keep it stock as much as possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also Any recommendations for someone that sleeves the old Bendix. One more thing, All the Superchargers I see are that lovely Studebaker orange. Mine is black from the factory, like the McCulloch on my Golden hawk. Did the color get changed early on. Mine is 1086.

Nelson 63 3186 R1 and I also have my original 63 1086 R2. I have to say, I'm really tired of the prices some of the parts suppliers are charging. My fault for not asking the price of every item. $90 for a pinion seal, 2 U joints $150. They are listed for $20 ea. Invoice comes in $75 ea. Can of fawn spray paint, Expiration date 2014. I'm used to ordering parts from my regular supplier for everyday vehicles. never had to worry.

I could use some help here. I have a NOS set of Avanti rear shocks Part # 1558550. They are adjustable, but I can't read all the instructions on the shocks. Very lightly stamped. I know there are 5 streps but can't make it out as of yet. if someone has the setting info, that would be greatly appreciated. would save my eyes for sure. I'm getting ready to start it after sitting since 1971. I completely tore it down and went through everything. Had tons of NOS parts that were purchased from Youngstown. I would like to drive it again before I die. Have had it since new. But years of sitting in storage with the cars worst enemy Mice, making it there Plaza hotel. it's been a challenge.

I found original speakers. The more I thought about it, the more I want to keep it the way it was when we bought it new in 63. One thing for sure, I would never cut holes where there weren't any. If it was any other year but 63-64, I would not have a problem cutting it up. I've put to much time, energy and money in it, trying to keep it stock. Putting in an upgraded radio was not a good idea with what my intentions are. Not having existing locations for speakers puts the kibosh on it. Rear speakers wouldn't be a problem; I have replacement deck I can cut up. Unless I can figure something out for the front, I'll have to let it go. It just came to me with what you said, I could fabricate the fiberglass console sides top covers. That would allow me to put descent speakers in and would be easy to restore to original. I think I even have fiberglass sheet and new carpet pieces for those panels that came in a carpet set, a guess for a later car. They have about a 2" rnd. hole in the middle. That puts a whole new light on the project. I think I will still put in the new original speaker with wiring should I or someone else want to restore back down the road. Thanks for mentioning about the door panels, It made me think about other places other than the factory location. Makes me wonder why someone cut holes in the tunnel and mounted unprotected speakers in a car I was looking at. Well, I guess it's back to spending money, even more since now I'm going to need 4 good speakers. It's not like the old days. I paid $4k to strip and paint one of my Avanti. $900 for all the chrome. I just paid $14k for stripping and painting and $3k for the front and rear bumpers and valve covers, and I have to wait 3 months for the chrome. Thank you again for your input.

regnalbob Your the best! Thank You

There you have it, CA. Fruits and Nuts

Every Paxton I see in cars is orange like the fans. Mine is original and gloss black. Mine is one of the first 100 built. Did the color get changed? Nobody has ever touched mine except to change oil.

Gunslinger, thank you for your input. I'm thinking, I only want to do this once\. So I looked at Custom Audio Sound. They sell the same head units as nostalgic sells, about the same price. Problem I am having now is, putting a unit like that in the car and not having any place for speakers. I haven't found anyone that make a stereo speaker to fit a 4x10 opening. I'm not modifying the inside for anything. I'll put a boom box on the back seat. I actually saw one that had 6" speakers in the console. They actually cut them into the tunnel and yes they were subjected to everything that got thrown up under the car. Anyway, I need to make a decision fairly soon. Funny thing, I was kidding about putting a boom box in the back seat, but It's not going to be driven much except to some local shows. I don't need to spend money on something I'm not going to be able to hear anyway. I took my radio apart and cleaned everything, including the pots and speaker switch. The speakers are in really good condition. I have a problem, I'm sure a lot of us have that same problem. I can always find a reason to spend money that I don't need to. My wife said what do you want for Christmas. Thought about it for a while, I said remember when you took that ride with me out of state to take some parts from my car to have worked on. Well it's 3k for chrome work. Love you. What a woman! I've had this car since new, somewhere along the line, I lost interest. New toys and interests. It was stored indoors. Well, the mice found their way into it. Up through that stupid 2 or 3 inch hole in front of the fuel tank. They built the plaza Hotel on top of the tank. Fortunately, sometime in the 80s I purchased a ton of NOS from the factory , including 2 fuel tanks. Some rubber products didn't fair to well. Sorry, I'm rambling now. Thank you for all your input. Merry Christmas and have a safe and heathy new year.

Thank You regnalbob, That's awesome, Looking at the wire, I knew it had to be factory supplied and figured dealer installed. Only thing that made sense was that it was a bypass for the resistor, but I didn't want to take a chance. What I still don't understand is why it's so long. I wrapped many wraps around the harness. I guess what I can do is just run it along the harness and then wrap it and zip tie it under the shielding. Those service letters are fantastic. Thank you again

Gunslinger, Sorry, I was just kidding about static, talk shows because there is nothing on AM that I would listen to. Had been going back in forth about upgrading the radio. I like my car original, It still has the original Stereo magic Reverb in it the dealer installed when it was new. and as I mentioned in post, it's not going to be a daily driver. I overhauled the original radio and it works fine. I just thought that now is the time if I am going to upgrade or it won't get done. Once I drop the dash back in, I don't want to go in there again. I also don't want or need to spend a lot of money on a head unit if I don't need to. My hearing is so bad, I don't need really good equipment. I am not cutting anything out to add speakers. If I could find a rear deck, I would, I did find one but they want $150 shipping. I would probably be better off to use mine for a templet and make one. I have a roll of the original viny that's doing nothing but collecting dust and making a home for mice. Any speaker that you know of that fits the front. Thanks

I have a green wire with black tracer that I had bagged years ago when I took the car apart. I wrote on bag, goes from starter solenoid across fire wall and for whatever reason I didn't say where it went. It's a lot longer than needed to go to coil. I wrapped it around the harness along the run. I don't like how it looks if it does go to coil. I think maybe when I was taking the car apart, I wasn't concerned as everything is in a harness. It's a factory wire as it has the 90 degree push on terminal for the solenoid. The other end has an open connector. My R2 doesn't have it. I have seen on a few cars on BAT the wire but can't see where it goes. No mention in shop manual of it. I was thinking maybe it would go to coil, bypassing the resistor for start-up but don't want to assume that. That would only be possible if That terminal on solenoid is momentary, energized when key is in start position. Any help would be appreciated, Thanks

Getting ready to drop my dash back in and though I was going to keep original radio in it, I thought last night of changing it out. I don't want to go crazy as car is not going to be a daily driver but it would be nice to be able to listen to something other than talk radio over static. Any suggestions on make, model #. I'm not going to install anything that would require modifying the dash. Also speakers that mate up to existing mounting holes. Thanks

Conversion package , R1, DS dr, nos calipers and drums sold. still have rear with 4.10s PS dr, booster, and gauge package.

It's been sold

Have one orig. 4 speed trans left for sale. Also, one complete shifter and linkage minus knob.

I have a complete package to convert to standard from automatic, all original parts. Any interest, contact me. Also have complete R1 motor, rear differential, doors w/ manual windows, brake parts, etc.

When did they stop using the BW and what took it's place?

AFTER THE BORG WARNER used in the early Avanti 2s, what trans was used, GM 350? I would have thought that the Avanti's with the 327 would be more desirable than the Avanti's with the 305s. Much better performance I would think.

Paint is way past saving. covers went bad and water laid on it and the paint is flaking off. I may just put it up for sale as is. Someone who needs a project. I don't. I have two 63s I'm restoring now, and don't have time for them, much less another. Thought it would be fun as a driver with a half descent paint job on it. This probably has the stude trans, it's an early one. Did the stude trans bolt to SBC without an adapter.

I have always owned 63s. My friend emailed me from Bosnia, yes Bosnia this morning about this 66. # 074 out of 377 produced. Contacted the present owner, who said car was all original. Owner passed away 5 years ago. car had a cover on it which rotted off then another that also rotted off. Hasn't run in 5 years, car is turquoise, with a turquoise dash, turquoise seats with black inlays, stock wheel covers. P/W, A/C, Am/Fm. Comes from a salt free area, so hopefully troughs are good. I purchased the car today, Because, it is an Avanti, all original. If it's not worth restoring, I'll break it up, but I really hate to do that. Thought, the fact that it had the GM drive train, it would be a good candidate for a rod, still has the ultimate body style, but with the cost of a GM power plant and trans. Maybe when I get it home, I'll see whether i want to tackle the job or offer it for sale to someone who has more ambition, time, and money than myself, with all my projects. I hate to see any Avanti become a donor, especially for a complete original car. If there is any interest in it, please feel free to contact me. Love to see it be saved.

Is the 66 Avanti a desirable car for restoration. Do they have much of a resale market. Thanks

Anybody have trouble with clearance of the pressure plate forks and the disc. I have an original Borg an beck pressure plate and disk. They had no mileage on them but being i had the motor out for painting, thought I would replace the disk. Bought a new disk from an Avanti parts dealer. I installed it and something didn't seem right. It's been awhile since I installed a clutch and never in an Avanti. But just before I dropped the engine in, I switched it out with mine. I compared them closely when both were laying next to each other. Mine has 5 springs and the Sachs disc had 10. 5 with 5 over. When the other disk was in, I had about 3/16 between the fingers and the springs. There was no way you could depress the clutch without the fingers hitting the springs. My springs were about the same dia. as the inner springs on the new disc. The outer springs were the size of GM valve springs. With my disk in, Clearance is fine. Contacted seller and he said He hadn't had any problems. He took it back. Just wondering if anyone has seen that before.

Thank you for the input. I just bought a set of NOS xr45s and a set of ap85s. For the price, what the heck.

The R2 takes different plugs though. I talked with Jon Meyer the other day and I think he said HR5. Unfortunately the piece of paper I wrote it on got brake cleaner on it and no more writing. I hate to call him back up.

did you sell the plugs