Gunslinger
-
Posts
3,849 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Posts posted by Gunslinger
-
-
9 hours ago, pantera928 said:
So since i have a 1980, you are saying that i have the "forklift" steering?
Yes...you do.
-
Actual air pressure depends on the tires. Look at the tire's sidewall and see what the maximum cold air pressure is. Personally I like to keep tire pressures near the maximum. Some tires traditionally used a 32 psi max...some use 35 psi...some 44 psi and some even more. You may have to decide what gives you the best balance of smooth ride and handling but I still suggest 4 psi in the front over the rear for an Avanti.
-
When Avanti Motors ran out of the original Ross steering boxes the best they could find to fit was a unit from an industrial fork lift. It did fit but was not good for the car's steering circle. After Steve Blake purchased the company he had the shorter, quick steering arms made to return the steering back to the original performance. The quick steering arms are not conducive for earlier cars with the original steering box...they make car handle different...very "darty" in my opinion...for no appreciable improvement in handling.
If you have the steering box from a fork lift in your car...the switch occurred sometime in the '76-'78 time period...the quick steering arms will help some. For easier cars...don't waste your money.
-
Small hands.
Add to that...if you're changing any of the bulbs...change them all at the same time and get LED bulbs. Their brighter with more consistent light...use less power...and put out less heat. You can get them in red, white or other colors.
-
You can experiment a bit and see what you find works best for you but I found that a 4 lb. difference front/back works best.
-
When I had my '70 I had a speed shop fabricate a 2.5" exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers. You have to be careful as pipes that size have to be slightly flattened or squeezed when routed through the clearance openings in the X-frame so they don't strike it and rattle.
When it comes to getting more sound...that's more a function of the muffler design than pipe diameter. I considered Flowmaster mufflers but previous experience with them having a loud raspy sound led to me Magnaflow as they have a more subdued burble that open up with the rpm's.
-
The headers used by Pontiac probably weren't expected to have a long lifespan anyway.
-
I believe it was Studebaker in ads for the Avanti.
-
In the early '60s when Pontiac was making a big effort on the drag racing scene, they had what was referred to as "swiss-cheese" frames on their factory drag cars where the frames had many holes drilled to lighten the weight. They also used aluminum factory headers. At end of every run down the strip there would be molten aluminum that had dripped onto the pavement. It was probably not too much different with aluminum headers on an Avanti depending on how it was used.
-
Ray Cash sold the car decades ago. I believe it went through several owners over the years but don’t know for sure.
-
Don’t know the answer but the word “calibrated” has at best a passing relationship with the Avanti.
-
The #8 car had sat in a shop a few miles from me for some years waiting to be rebuilt. Without going into it there was a “disagreement” between the shop owner doing the work on it and the owner. Eventually the owner wanted to sell it. I put Gary Woods and the owner together and the sale was made. It had a genuine R3 engine that had been rebuilt but it was not the R3 it had at Bonneville. The car unfortunately had a less than pampered life…the original engine was replaced by an R2…a fire which damaged the car…lots of less than desirable things occurred. It’s now been rebuilt and probably as close to its Bonneville appearance as can be.
-
Wasn’t the bracket changed that secured it?
-
$7k
-
The problem with V-belts is many manufacturers have consolidated parts numbers to reduce the number of belts to inventory. If a belt is the right length to fit several applications it will replace all the exact belts even if it’s depth is incorrect for some applications. I found that out the hard way with a ‘69 Corvette I owned…the belt the applications books said was correct was too short. Another application book showed one that would fit length-wise but fit too deep in the pulley groove and turned upside down when driving. I ended up paying extra for a reproduction belt from a Corvette parts specialist which fit properly with no more problems.
I suggest contacting Myer’s Studebaker, Nostalgic Motors or Studebaker International for belts that fit properly.
-
Rain channels were added.
-
Arguable...he dropped the "II" from the nameplate immediately. The other "first" thing he did was change the tires.
-
The LT1 engine of that era was infamous for Optispark distributor issues…loss of power and hesitation among them.
-
Didn’t an AOAI member…a minister in CA…buy a Trans Am blasted Avanti convertible from Alice Cooper some years ago?
-
Now…Carroll Shelby used SN-60 superchargers on some of his GT-350 Mustangs. They even had Paxton stickers saying they were a division of Studebaker Corporation. What color were those painted? I’ve seen then on Shelby cars left natural metal and Ford blue as well as orange. There may not be a standard color…whatever paint was available when made. Those Ford blue may have been painted by Shelby American.
-
I don't believe issues all get shipped at the same time...they go out in batches. Once the Postal Service has them it's a real crap shoot and luck of the draw. Sometimes I think the postal employees take a handful of mail...whether letters or magazines...toss them down the stairs and work their way up processing and send out the mail.
-
I hope you have a quality buffer made for this…a random orbital is most cost effective. Use a good polish then follow up with a good sealant or wax. The improvement can be remarkable.
Go to a website like Griot’s Garage or Autogeek…they have excellent tutorials and products to help.
-
Check with Dan Booth at Nostalgic Motors. An upholstery shop can restore the door straps as long as the parts are intact.
-
Early Avanti’s had insulation covering the underside of the front half of the hood due to a hood cross-brace. Partway through the production run the brace was dispensed with and insulation covering nearly the entire under hood area was used.
1979 Avanti II for sale in North GA
in Avanti's For Sale
Posted
An ‘80 Avanti would only have the quick steering arms if a previous owner installed them. It wasn’t until Steve Blake purchased Avanti Motors in 1982 that he had the new arms made to give the Avanti back its original steering feel.