IndyJimW
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Posts posted by IndyJimW
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BeautifulJim
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Sounds like you have a plan, thats good. I dont know whats available, but it
seems like your options would be quite vast compared to the Studebaker
chassised Avantis. I agree, why rebuild it when you can so easily upgrade!!
They will build a rear end any way you what. They keep G-body housings in stock in both the 9" and 12 Bolt so its available next day and is a bolt-in.
Jim
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Well at 93,000 miles the limited slip differential is going out on my '87. It's a 10 bolt 7 1/2" with an Auburn diff. that isn't rebuildable. For about $800.00 more than rebuilding the axle I can get a new 9" Ford or 12 bolt unit from Moser that will bolt right up. I can order it with the disc brakes already mounted.
Looks like I have my Winter project planned.
Jim
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Here are some closeups.
Jim
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My Avanti is my daily driver and I installed the electric fan about 6 months ago, it is one of the best improvements that I have made to the car.
Jim
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Here are some pictures of the serpentine belt install on my SBC engine. I've driven a couple of hundred miles now and am very pleased with the results. That modern alternator works much better at charging at low speeds and there is plenty of room for the battery now. The only thing that you have to do that is not in the instructions is add a 50 ohm resister in one of the alternator wires to replace the missing idiot light. I still need to do some finishing wiring and move some of the air pump components. I havn't finished the A/C yet either, need to have shorter hoses made up.
Before drivers side:
After drivers side:
Before passenger side:
After passenger side:
Jim
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Can anyone tell me what chassis the '88 was built on? And, is it basically that entire car underneath? (for repair & replacement purposes). Looking at one for sale and have never contemplated a post Stude or Altman model. There's no manual with this one - anything to be wary of?
Many thanks!
My '87 is built on a Monte Carlo chassis, I have been told that the Avanti Co. purchased complete Monte Carlo and El Camino cars to built their Avanti's. They used the complete chassis on mine, if it's inside the body it could be anything. Chevrolet quit building the G-body in '87 so I'm not sure what a '88 Avanti may be built on? Maybe a left-over '87 G-body or the Impala chassis like the later Avanti's? Parts for the chassis are easy to come by, including performance parts. Nothing to be wary of that I have noticed.
Jim
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Try http://www.avantisource.com/index.html
They have a price guide that may help.
Click on the red Avanti, then click on it again.
Jim
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You may want to check with PPG. I remember having them look up an Avanti for me and they were still offering glass for it.
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The kit sounds cool ... its always nice to simplify things a bit.
Sounds like the internal regulator went ... easy fix.
Tom
Not easy, nuclear as in melt down. You don't get numbers like that without alot of heat, fried the alternator. Easy as in warranty.
I also installed a Edelbrock intake manifold, the OEM intake was pitted so bad at the water jackets it wouldn't seal. Runs much better now.
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Installed the GM serpentine belt kit in my '87 Avanti, it will fit almost all Chevy Small Blocks. It came with all bolts, braces, brackets, P/S pump, water pump, A/C compressor, CS130 alternator, pulleys and belt. Everything worked fine until the 115 amp alternator decided to go nuclear, 165 amps and 17.0 volts!
This kit cleans up the engine compartment and moves the new R134a A/C compressor to the passenger side so I'll have to have some new hoses made up. I will post some pictures later.
Jim Wood
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Hi Folks,
Great forum with great info. I have some additional problems with my '89 Avanti coupe. I may need a new passenger side power window lift motor. any idea as to part number or brand at least. any idea where I can get the part? also, my outside driver door handle broke. any idea where I can get a replacement? Thanks a miin for your replies.
The motors in my '87 are from a late model Chrysler, the doors are reversed drivers being pasenger etc. You can get them from any auto parts supplier for less than $80.00. Check the switches first, pull up on the wood panel that they are mounted in and switch the plug-ins. If it works from the other switch than the switch is bad. Also check the ground for the motor, that's what was wrong with my drivers motor.
I purchased a door handle recentily from Nostalgie Motor Cars, their web site is http://www.avantiparts.net/default.htm
Good luck,
Jim
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Great job Tom! Its really coming along. On a side note - as a professional mechanic I can't stress enough that I hope there were jack stands under the frame out of the picture. You should NEVER trust a hydralic jack with your safety. I want you to be around to enjoy those brakes.
Jim
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One point which has not been discussed is most current generation engines with electric fans are all or mostly aluminum and were designed with much smaller coolant capacities than old iron lump Studes. A modern Chev, Lexus or Ford V8 of the same displacement usually carries half the coolant. Finite element analysis and extensive testing over the past 50 years mean several orders of magnitude of improvement in efficiency and operating temperature control.
Bottom line, on my current Packard V8 project, which is very similar to Stude, just a bigger iron lump, I am using both an electric fan and an electric water pump, both managed by a temperature sensitive DC variable speed controller.
thnx, jv.
Don't forget that modern engines also run hotter by design and coolant and its concentration are more important. I like to use an additive like Nalcool 3000 in my coolant, its mostly for diesels but works wonders in gas engines also. I've been looking into a DC variable speed controller, have you had good luck with it?
Jim
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I’m watching the car commercial where the car owners have the bullhorns and are yelling out why they own their cars. The guy in the expensive sports car yells “To make up for my inadequacies.” The blond in the red convertible yells “I’m a spoiled daddy’s girl.” etc. So I look at my wife and oldest daughter and make the comment “I wonder what the Avanti says about me?”
They look at each other and then my daughter says slowly “That you’re unique?” “Good answer” my wife quickly replies.Somehow I think they mean “odd”.
Jim
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I don't know how the shoud fit in the space initially. I know that the shroud I took off the car was cut out on the bottom. Basically it was an upside down "U", it didn't do much more than provide some protection for your fingers and such while the engine was running.
-Mark Aiksnoras
Oh, and I picked up that 5.0 kit because of the price that I got for it on e-bay. Basically $70 less than the summit racing cost of a universal kit. I figured the brackets would be simple to fabricate.
I attended an Avanti meet last weekend and discovered why the flex-o-lite fan setup won't work on pre '87 Avanti's. My radiator sits straight up, while all the others are mounted at an angle towards the bottom of the engine. Sorry Mark, I didn't know there was a difference in clearance. But I did see some other electric fan setups.
Also my '87 Avanti doesn't have cowl grilles. Great, now I have to figure out where the air for heating and AC comes from, of course that could explain....
Jim
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Supercharged Chevy Avanti. Sweet.
I think that the S shaped tube on the top is a way to vent trapped air during refueling.
OR its an antena for XM.
Thanks for the photos.
Jim
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The trunk mounted CD changer I had plugged into the antena and you set the radio on a preset station to receive the CD. With that type of setup you can use any radio.
Jim
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Welcome! The round headlights were always my favorite. Hope you have a lot of fun with it.
Jim
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Sounds pretty straightforward. I have several lifts, tools and a couple of mechanics that think its fun to work on cars that are different. Ah to be young and stupid again.
Jim
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When I pulled out my tank years ago, I dont remember it being that difficult, as a matter
of fact, it was simple compared to cars I have done the same on since. The tank is not
under the car, but behind the rear seat. You must pull the seat bottom, then the back out,
then remove the 3000 screws that hold the fiberglass cover on. Behind that is the tank.
Thanks I wasn't sure how the tank comes out.
I think you mean "F.I." not "TPI". TPI is refered to "Tuned Port Injection", which is theearlier GM Corvette engines of the 80's. Its the one with that "octopus" looking intake
manifold on it. If memory serves you are putting in an LT1, which is refered to as FI or EFI.
Nope I meant TPI, Chevy used TBI and TPI on the Camaro and Firebird 5.0L and 5.7L in the late '80s and early 90's. The TPI system would bolt right up to my 5.0L.
First I'm going to modifiy the 5.0L, after I wear it out in goes the LT1. In between I get it ready for the LT1, that way the cars not down for a long time. Jim
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A manual is always a big help on these cars. The procedure for removing the gas tank is deceptive...very straightforward in concept and procedure but more difficult in practice...especially with the age on our cars.
I have several large sledge hammers and some 4 foot pry bars will that help?
Sorry, what I was wondering is there any differences in the design from the original and the later models?
Does the tank come out the bottom, if so I have a major job because my '87 has a crossmember below the tank. The radiator shop I deal with can modify the tank to accept any pickup unit so I'm just planning for the future. If its that big a PIA I may need to rethink my plan, wouldn't want to replace a in-tank fuel pump again.
Jim
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I may have to remove my tank in order to install a fuel pump for a TPI system. How big a job is it and does a manual help?
Jim
78 II Ignition Change to Solid State
in 1965-83 Avanti
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Easiest way to convert ignition is with a HEI distributor from any late model Chevy small block. All the parts that you will need are in the distributor.
One of the Indiana members lowered his Avanti by making a custom kingpin set. Maybe someone out there has some more info?
Jim