theGman
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Posts posted by theGman
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Or you can do what I am being tempted to do.....install a more modern 350 with 4 spd auto trans. I specificallly have a LT-1 in my '95 Fleetwood. It is fuel injected, has the electronic overdrive automatic.
Car runs perfect; has 114K on it. I've read somewhere that others have done this in Avantis; need new fuel lines, pump, etc. plus a number of other items, but this is a standard type upgrade into a lot of cars.
Just something to think about, since you'll end up with a modern fuel injected motor with all those advantages, and there are a lot of engines of this basic type out there.
I'm sure I'll run into problems, like right now I'm trying to figure out if I need a different radiator, since the coolant flows backwards, etc. but the problems should be worth the better performance and mileage.
Many internet sites describe this transplant.
Paul
By the way, I have an '81 with a Jasper crate motor in it, and Edelbrock carb, about 25K. Runs great; I'm probably nuts for thinking of this upgrade, but it is a long winter!
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Older Avantis can have some serious rust problems underneath, along with wiring and other things. They were hand built, so you can't go by a book to determine value, which can vary widely, from probably 3,000 to 23,000.
Paul
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I'm 55 miles south of New Market, in Waynesboro. I agree about seeing the same cars really gets old.
Frederick is a nice place. I used to live in Springfield (Fairfax County) for years, and occasionally made sales calls in Frederick. That was 15 years ago, however; from what I hear it is now a high intensity DC suburb.
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Just wondered if any Mid-Atlantic people are going to the car show this Sunday in New Market, Va.
It is a decent size show, with over 300 cars and is well attended by people from Baltimore, DC, Richmond, Roanoke, etc.
Easy drive down I-81. While not the biggest car show on earth, it is big for the Shenandoah Valley, and in a nice setting.
There are usually a few Avantis there; it is sponsored by Valley Cruisers of Harrisonburg, Va.
Paul G.
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I have found it is all hit and miss, unfortunately.
About 4 years ago, I got a 70 Chevy truck from California to me (Virginia) in.......believe it or not.....27 hours.
I am now waiting on a car from Florida for 8 days.
Sorry for no better news.
Paul
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Having had 3 A IIs over the past 20 years I would like to say that I've never had an accurate gas gauge.
My current '81 won't go under 1/4, no matter what. It reads 3/4 when full, so I gas up at 1/2. Sometimes, at 1/2, as today, it took 4 gallons. Other times, at same, it takes over 10 gallons.
You'd think, with all the electronical gismos available, someone would market an accurate, adjustable, gas float.
Paul G.
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I wanted to remove my black vertical pcs from my '81 and plug the holes with bumper bolts which are bent into a V in the center.
The problem is that I've never seen a bumper bolt bent into a V.
Short of the sledge hammer thing, does anyone know if bumper bolts are made with bends in them?
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I appreciate your info on the conversion....I too am thinking of installing an overdrive automatic/injected engine in my '81. Does anyone know of a site which shows this being done in some detail?
Thanks,
Paul
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Here is a page with a lot of electrical diagrams which you might find helpful:
http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Diagrams/aec/aec.html
Paul
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You can also convert any Chevy to a Ford solenoid really easy. You can even buy kits for it.
Nice to have that solenoid away from the heat also.
Paul
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A temporary fix would be, since all 3 pairs are the same, to switch the switches (?) around with one which isn't used much, like the interior light switch possibly.
Since those wires are kind of tight fitting up there, if $ possible, you should order the 3 pairs and change them all at once.
Paul
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I had 2 Avantis with the standard buckets, and neither had adjustable backs. I knew they were the original standard issue from pictures, and also from visiting the factory and seeing them there.
Paul
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I put 2001 Firebird seats in my '81....took an afternoon of work, but this was "easy" work, with most the time spent on lining up the seats, marking new holes and then mounting the seats. The driver seat is power.
If you go to another seat, don't forget to check your current seat front to back position, as to "would I like it further back, closer, etc?".
Then, measure a number of places, like from the middle of the seat back to the bottom of steering wheel, or to the brake pedal, etc. etc.
This way you'll at least have a starting point. Do both sides, of course.
I ended up mounting the seats further back myself. Also, the new seats had a longer front/rear travel, so that helped also.
In an earlier Avant II I stayed with the original seats but used some pieces of flat metal to effectively tilt the fronts of the seat back some....all simple stuff.
Paul G.
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Arrived in today's mail! Already made one quick pass through it, and will take my time over the weekend to read it all. Very nicely written and illustrated.
James
Dittos. Looks great!
Paul
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Dittos on the wheel flares; could see a better taillight too, with all the modern spacey looking ones out there.
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I think it would work, with a bit of updated tweaking, of course.
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Would really like the CD; if you ever have a sale I'll be there.
Paul
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Novice translation:
I took the pic with my phone, sent it to myself via the email thing, which my daughter explained to me yesterday, opened my own email to see the picture, and then downloaded it to the "Desktop" via mouse clickatations.
I then replied like I am now, but then I hit the "choose file" button a few inches down from where you type this messsage. Then a window opened, and I just went to "Desktop" (where I put the pic) and clicked on it! Easier than I thought.
Even I did it! I have an Apple, if that matters....probably doesn't.
Ref the headlight gaskets: I bought them a year ago. About ready to install them this Spring.
Paul
PS: I'm going to try to get that Photobucket account also, as mentioned. Thanks for the info.
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Joe,
Just curious: What is that little chrome circle under your left taillight? I'm assuming it's for an alarm?
Thanks, Paul
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A while back someone asked me to send them a pic of my hood emblem. Since I just figured out how to do this, and just took a pic of my (Avanti) rear for previous post, I thought I'd post this here now.
Thanks,
Paul
Oops...... try again....
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I need that relay for sure.
I tried to send a pic of MY rear end, but it was cracked! Ha Ha Ha
Will try to attach a quick pic of the Avanti's rear....
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You might consider what I and probably many others have done:
Convert your trunk backup lights to brake lights. You have to change the bulbs/housings to add the extra wire, tap into the existing wiring and run the new ones up to the trunk lid via the original "path".
Someone on the other forum recommended, and I bought, a set of auxiliary trailer lights from I believe Nothern Tool; these included the housings, bulbs and wiring, and wasn't that $$$.
The red lenses are at Nostalgia Motors and are a direct easy replacement for the original clear ones.
I then went to Auto Zone and bought a pair of thin rectangular back up lights for about $20 and then....(this took the most time, but was "easy work") bent a pair old antique license plates (Virginia's are nice thick aluminum...not like the regular plates) to make a mount.
I then ran the backup wire to the new lights and mounted them vertically, one on each side of the rear plate and they actually look good, in spite of me doing it! Ha Ha Ha Also can see well when backing up.
I don't leave the backups on long, never have, but wasn't sure if the extra power demand on the new driving/backups would overload the fuse....so far, no problem.
This conversion is good for 2 reasons: Better brake lights and better backup lights.
I wouldn't mind adding a 3rd brake light also, but.....having done this conversion there is no rush and I can take my time and find a tastefully done 3rd light and not care if I ever can find one, since I don't want to junk up the look with an obvious add-on.
Paul G.
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I asked about this last year somewhere and got basically nowhere. One person said that there were bumper bolts available with a bent head to fit the contour, but I looked and never found anything.
I'll get back looking and let you know if I find anything.
Paul
Avanti II Handbooks?
in Avanti Pub
Posted
On occasion I hear talk of Avanti II handbooks, which came new with the cars and explained things like what the random switches do, what the various dash lights are for, etc.
Have these ever existed? What exactly did the new owners get for deciphering these things? Anything? Nothing?
I have never seen one, anywhere.
Do they exist? Has anyone ever had a handbook sighting?
Thanks,
Paul