Gunslinger
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Posts posted by Gunslinger
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Avanti Motors used the Studebaker steering column up through 1970. If you can find a Nardi kit that interchanges with a Grant 4286 installation kit it's what you want. Besides Avanti's through '70, it's the same kit for a '63 Ford Fairlane and '63-'64 full-sized Fords.
For all I know the Grant kit may work with Nardi steering wheels. The Grant kit is available from Summit Racing for less than $20.
To make sure, call Jon Myers at Myers Studebaker. He knows more about these cars than anyone else I know.
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Check with the Studebaker National Museum in their museum shop. They have numerous films available and may have what you're looking for.
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It should be on the door jamb close to the lock receiver or whatever it's called. If you open the driver's door and look on the body by the lock receiver you should see it.
If the owner has a title for the car, I don't know what problem California would have registering it. If it came from a non-title state, I don't know what the procedure would be. Back then, few cars came with more than one VIN plate, I don't believe it was mandatory until a few years later, though a number of manufacturers did do it. I don't believe Avanti Motors did it until later.
If your neighbor can't come up with documentation to satisfy California or find the VIN, many states will assign their own VIN for the car and provide a VIN plate.
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There should be an ID plate on the driver's side body either above or below the door lock, along with a sticker of what government standards it either meets or is exempt from.
The only other one I'm aware of is there may be (don't know what year they started this), is an embossed label attached to the back of the driver's side of the padded dash cover. The unfortunate thing is you have to remove the dash to see it. I don't think they started that as early as '67. For a '67 the VIN will start with "RQ-A"
If the factory ID plate is missing, you're pretty much out of luck unless you have some documentation with the car. Engine numbers are basically Chevy codes, but they are recorded in the car's build sheet. That's saying the car has its original engine still. Build sheets are available through Dan and Betty Booth at Nostalgic Motors.
What's the reason? Are you looking at a car to buy that has no readable VIN?
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Sorry if I'm repeating -- still learning forum functionality.
I have wire wheels on my car. The brakes just seem very weak, maybe I'm comparing them to new car brake effectiveness. I have a local garage that I trust -- are Avanti II brakes unique enough that they wouldn't be able to check and repair brakes if necessary?
Thanks everyone for your generous advice. I'm new to Avanti ownership and this is all so helpful.
Tim "Kellerbear"
The disc brakes used by Studebaker and Avanti Motors present no problem to any good tech. There is some variation from other designs but nothing to cause alarm. Bendix licensed the design from Dunlop and they're essentially lifted from many Jaguars of the period as well as some Datsuns from the mid-60's. Actually, the calipers on my '70, instead of saying Bendix have Sumitomo cast into the caliper housings. It just shows the design was licensed to other companies as well and Avanti Motors must have purchased them from whatever supplier could meet the design specs.
I do understand what you say about comparing them to new car effectiveness. They do have a different feel to the brakes compared to newer cars, but brake design is far more advanced now. The disc brakes on these Avanti's were adapted from Jaguars which weight significantly less and gave a good safety margin. Put those same brakes on a much heavier Avanti and while the design is certainly adequate, the safety factor is less. Basically it's an adequate brake system, but toward the outer edge of its capabilities.
The stock system will do all that's reasonably requested of it. If you want to upgrade, have at it. Make sure your wheels will clear the upgraded calipers. If they don't, that's an expense that really boosts the total cost of the conversion.
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What wheels do you have for your car or will install? Before my '70 was redone, I considered the Turner or Steeltech brake conversions. Both told me their systems either would not be compatible or they didn't think their conversions would be compatible with Magnum 500 wheels, which my car has. I didn't want to change to a bigger diameter wheel as I had already bought new tires for the car and didn't care to do that again plus new wheels, plus I like the look of the Magnum 500 on an Avanti.
The stock brake system works well so I really had no need to change it, but had the Magnum 500's been compatible, I still may have done the conversion.
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Studebaker made 4643 Avanti's...plus a few prototypes with "EX" VIN's. I've never seen hard figures, but most sources I've read seem to feel that about one third were R2's. There were nine factory equipped R3's and none left the factory with R4 engines, though the option was available toward the end of production.
About the only way to get an actual figure is to examine the actual production sheets which I understand now belong to Dan Booth at Nostalgic Motors. I have no idea if those records are even complete.
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If you want to change the dash lights to red, places like Pep Boys sell a gel cover that slides right over the bulbs. They cost something like $3.99 for two covers. While not cheap, they're better than covering the bulbs in any kind of dye as they make all the bulbs give an even red glow. painting the bulbs gives an uneven color intensity.
If you do decide to make the bulbs red (or any other color...the gel covers come in several colors), use all new bulbs. They're inexpensive and you don't want to go rooting around under the dash any more than you have to.
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You shouldn't find a lug wrench in the spare tire well...it's kept to the left of the spare tire well under the carpet in a spot molded in the fiberglass for it. Just lift up the carpet on the left side of the trunk floor and you should see it...if it's still there. The molded area for it should be quite apparent.
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I happened to remember that if you look under the spare tire cover, there should be a tire changing instruction label glued or stapled. It tells you the appropriate jack locations.
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Look behind the front tire and you can see a good place under the frame rails to locate the jack. Some Avanti's have steel lift plates under there...at least the '63 I used to own did (my '70 doesn't). Make sure you leave space enough for jack stands to support the front end.
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The '63 R1 I used to own had the large, rectangular plate with the body number. Outside of the photo here, I've never seen a Stude Avanti with anything but the larger rectangular plate for the body number.
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To the best of my knowledge Panasonic was never a factory installed item, unless possibly a customer specially ordered it that way. About the only way you can find out what the oe radio was is to order a copy of the build sheet from Nostalgia Motors. My '70 was originally equipped with a Blaupunkt stereo but it had a partially-functioning Pioneer when I purchased it.
First, chuck the one you have...it's simply not worth repairing. Then you have a couple of options. You can find a radio that fits the factory opening...not tough. You won't be able to upgrade with a stereo/CD player as the dimensions for the opening simply won't allow it. The best you can do is get a stereo with built-in cassette, but you can find one with connectivity to a remote CD player.
You can try Custom Auto Sound for a unit like that. I have never had experience with them, and I have heard mixed reviews of their stuff, but it is something you can look into.
Another option is to take your dash out, and have the radio opening modified to fit a modern stereo/CD player. It is a permanent modification and has to be done carefully. I would let a qualifed auto stereo installer do it. I had that done to my car and it looks and works great...I much recommend Alpine...probably the best stereo dollar for dollar out there.
If you want to simply do an r & r with a similar radio, it's not too bad if you don't have air conditioning...you can go through the evaporator section of the console. I don't know if a radio will go out the speaker opening...maybe it will. Radios now are much more compact than the units designed when the cars were new.
As far as your antenna, the first thing to check is antenna grounds. An antenna needs a ground plane to receive properly and fiberglass bodied cars don't provide one. The antenna...whether a stick antenna or a glass mounted one, will need a ground wire going to the car's frame somewhere. Without that, your reception will be very limited.
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The three pairs of rocker switches are all identical. Try switching the headlight pair with the blower fan pair and see if the problem goes away. If so, you know it's the switch...if not, you've eliminated it from the list of potential causes.
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You have several options. Contact Phantom Auto Works...they specialize in Studebaker interiors. You can check with Kantner Auto as well. They don't specialize in Studebaker, but carry many, many parts and interiors for many makes of cars.
If they can't help with leather, go to a good auto upholsterer. A good shop can match and make from scratch a leather interior using your original upholstery as a template. It will likely be a better job than buying pre-made covers.
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In AOAI issue number 101 there's an article on servicing and repairing the Dana speed control. If that's the one you have, and don't have that issue, send me a PM and I'll make a copy and mail you the article.
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The dash lights and headlights are on two different switches, so it doesn't seem likely that the swtiches themselves are the problem. Since they're both affected, it must be somewhere in the common wiring that's causing the problem.
Follow the wiring to see if there's a circuit breaker instead of a fuse for them. I would think the circuit breaker is bad and trips when it heats up and then works properly when it cools down. That happened to me years ago in the '63 R1 I owned with the power windows...the circuit breaker was in the engine bay and couldn't handle the heat...in fact Studebaker had issued a service bulletin to relocate such circuit breakers.
If there's no circuit breaker, look for the relay and replace it, but it sounds more like a circuit breaker.
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BillyBob...
I happen to be looking through some older issues of the AOAI magazine looking for some other information and ran across some info you can use.
According to some interchanges listed, the cruise control bellows is a Mopar Jeep-Eadgle unit...part number J3226540.
The cruise control switch for the turn signal lever is Speedostat #250-3020.
Another interchange with no part number is that the "cruise control unit" is the same as American Motors units during the same years.
I don't know how good those numbers are or what their availability is, but it's a starting point.
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The '63 I used to own had the red lighting and said "Studebaker" on it. I can't think of ever seeing an original radio saying "Avanti" on it. There is an aftermarket radio/cassette player that says "Avanti" but that's all I'm aware of.
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Supposedly the factory is shut down and everyone let go. At least one member has said the dealer in Atlanta is shut down as well. From the government's case against Mike Kelly and others it's alleged that Avanti Motors was the beneficiary of illegally obtained funds. So for the time being it appears until things are resolved in some way Avanti Motor Corporation is in limbo.
I wonder if the government can operate Avanti Motor Corporation...the precedent exists...the government operated that brothel in Nevada when they seized it for back taxes.
If (and where) there's any unsold cars left is a big question mark.
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When I ordered my leaf springs from Flex-A-Form, the guy I talked to told me there would be a delay of only a few days and they were delivered when promised.
Hopefully what you're experiencing is abnormal and it's corrected quickly.
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I have no idea if the cruise control used is a stand alone system or tied into the car's electronics. Being a '77, there are likely no electronics to speak of, so my guess would be it's stand alone. That would make it easier for finding and using parts.
You'll have to determine if the steering column used was GM, AMC, Ford or Mopar to get the proper turn signal stalk and wiring. I would check with Dan Booth at Nostalgia Motors...he lists a number of different turn signal stalks, depending on the year. Whatever manufacturer the steering column came from should give you an idea of where to source other parts.
If the cruise control is an aftermarket that Avanti used, all bets are off on finding replacement parts. The maker may or may not still be in business.
You can always buy a new aftermarket cruise control...they are available.
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Depending on their construction, servos can be rebuilt. I had a '78 Corvette that had a bad servo and found rebuilt servos (for a Vette) are very available.
I would think a lot depends on whether the cruise control in your car is an aftermarket system or one from GM or some other major manufacturer. If an aftermarket system you may be out of luck. If a GM system you can probably get a replacement.
If your cruise control is a GM unit, try looking at companies like Corvette Central, Ecklers, Late Great Chevies, Year One, etc., and you may be able to match one up.
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Have to keep working to get the instrument lights painted with a red that'll last more than a week.
You don't have to paint your bulbs red. Several companies have red, as well as other color heat resistant covers that slip over the bulbs. My new Auto Meter gauges came with the red and green bulb covers and I've seen the covers themselves for sale in Pep Boys. I think the brand Pep Boys carries is Pilot Motorsports...do a web search and you should find them.
Another bonus to using them is they evenly distribute the red light...not brighter and dimmer as the red dye doesn't even cover the bulbs.
Replacement Parts
in 1965-83 Avanti
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On the a/c compressor, it depends on what make compressor your car has. It could be a GM A-6 compressor, which is the very heavy and long unit, the GM R-4 radial compressor, or possibly something different yet. I would suspect it's one of the GM units. If so, you should be able to buy a rebuilt replacement at many auto supply stores like NAPA, Pep Boys, Advance Auto, Auto Zone or a GM dealership. Also be advised once you open your system up the receiver/dryer needs to be replaced. Even if your car might have one of the old York compressors, they're available as well.
I'm not familiar what expansion tank an '82 uses for the cooling system. Does it have the modified Stude tank or the plastic tank mounted in the corner by the hood hinge? If it's the plastic type, there are universal tanks on the market that will fit.
I'm also not familiar with what washer fluid reservoir an '82 uses...the vinyl bag that hangs on the right inside fender apron or the plastic one mounted on the cowl behind the brake booster? The vinyl bags are available from Studebaker International...they're also interchangeable with some Ford and American Motors cars of the '60s. The plastic tank...don't know a replacement source but if it's cracked, there should be some repair stuff on the market. Try J-B Weld you can buy in Wal Mart or similar stores. You might also check with Eastwood...they have many products for automotive repair and may have just what you need.
Repair of tach...contact Stewart Warner for advice. Also check the AOAI magazine. There are vendors advertising in there that repair gauges. It may not be the gauge itself...it could be the sending unit if it has a separate sending unit like in earlier Avanti's.
Replacement brake cylinder...contact Jon Myer's Studebaker, Dan Booth at Nostalgic Motors or Studebaker International. Any of them should be able to fix you up.
Replacement radio...that car is sooo obsolete for radios that fit. Custom Autosound makes a drop-in radio with cassette, but I've heard little good about the quality of them. Your options are somewhat limited for a modern radio. There are rebuilders out there as well as specialists who can convert your radio from AM/FM to stereo, etc. A web search should find some of them. Otherwise you'll have to modify your dash opening to receive a modern slide-in stereo/CD player. That would include removing the dash. While my car was being rebuilt, I had the dash out anyway so that's when I had mine done. There are also those who have installed a drop-in type radio wired to a remote CD changer in the glove box or trunk.