Charlie Kile
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Posts posted by Charlie Kile
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No he was kind of fishing I think.
When he mentioned pricing I told him I thought he will be disapoinded .
Charlie RQB3921
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An owner called me to see if I knew anyone looking for an AVANTI for sale.
He has a 66 that he bought new from Altman in 65. It's a white with black interior. All original.
I haven't seen it but he says the interior is like new.The body has some "spider webbing" as would be expected. It's been garage kept since new and he's running out of a place to keep it.
It's the 25th built in the Altman era. One of the few with a 4 speed!
His name is Tom Lonesky phone# 417-840-8100. Located in Springfield Mo.
Charlie RQB3921
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Don't know what he drove but the first plane was a Cessna "Bamboo Bomber" T-50 I think was the military designation. It was probably the only Wood airplane Cessna ever built. It was wood because Aluminum was reserved for the war effort.
Then he switched to the Cessna 310.
Charlie RQB3921
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There's several tilt steering columns available from makers like Flaming RIver and Ididit. They have paintable units as well as chrome. They have them available in several lengths. No...I haven't used any but I've thought about it.
Check with Summit Racing and talk to their techs...they should be able to give you good advice. You might also check with SpeedwayMotors.com as they're big on aftermarket products for hot rods.
I can give you some advice about a serpentine kit from my own experience. For the money, the GM Performance kit is a good one...you can buy it with and without an ac compressor. The one they supply is a GM R4 rotary compressor. It works very, very well...it will freeze you out of the car. There's a high spot on the idler housing that must be ground down so it can clear the hood...not a big deal but it's necessary. The GM kit also comes with an alternator.
My car originally had the York a/c compressor...changing to the R4 required new fittings made up. You have RQB1600...I have RQB1574...not far apart but I don't know if you have the York compressor or maybe the GM A6 compressor by that point.
The other thing you need to know about a serpentine kit...it works only with a long water pump where the Avanti engine comes with a short water pump...since you have to change the water pump, you must use a reverse flow water pump with a serpentine kit...no matter what brand. You also have to use a reverse rotation fan...maybe even a new fan clutch (I'm not sure if that's directional).
The next issue is the fan shroud...with the longer water pump you have to cut away part of the fan shroud for clearance.
I can say that the GM serpentine kit fits with no interference with anything else in the engine bay...battery, body panels, etc. You will have to change some wiring under the hood...at least I did. The original alternator was on the passenger side of the engine...with the serpentine kit it changed to the left side. No big deal but something to be aware of.
There are serpentine kits available with much more bling...March, Billet Specialties, Zoops among others. They're also much more expensive for that bling. By looking at photos of some of their setups, some appear that they might cause clearance problems with the battery, etc. Some are designed to stay within the width of the cylinder heads. Besides the obvious cost savings, I felt the bling wasn't worth it as the Avanti has a forward opening hood, one can't really see the bling very well anyway.
BTW - if you decide to go with a serpentine kit, I have the fan and clutch I can sell you. I changed to electric fans and no longer need the reverse rotation fan and clutch. They've had little use.
I used the GM set up when I went to the serpentine belt in
RQB3921.
I replaced all the belt driven accessories. I also had to lower the alternator by modifying the mounting bracket.
I also went to an electric fan and a four core and 16 fins to the inch radiator.
So far even in the over 100 degree heat I've had no heating problems.
cbk
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Most of my pilot friends aren't into cars.
The 2-3 that are have 60s American stuff or high-dollar new imports. One offered me his spare Stearman for my recently completed 63 Avanti.
Trouble is, the Stearman was a project about 70% done (Fuselage done, overhauled engine, etc). Dollar for dollar, it would have been a great trade, but I'd need to spend another $40k to finish...and I don't need a Stearman.
Always wanted a Stearman. Wonder how he'd trade for an 84 with a tricked out 350 with GM TPI ?
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Being both an AVANTI owner and a private pilot, I've had some interesting observations.
Most pilots i've met ride motorcycles. Mostly Harley Davidson and BMW..
Most AVANTI owners own either a Corvette or a Jaguar for sports cars.
I ride a Harley and have an E-TYPE Roadster.
Charlie
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Has anyone needed to replace the switches above the windshield?
If so, I'd love to know where to get them. Thanks! Tom
Try Betty Booth at Nostalgic motors.
1-800-avanti-1
She had one for my headlight switch.
cbk
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I need driver and passenger windows for my 1966 Avanti II, complete with surround and lifting tracks. Any suggestions ?
Try Dan or Betty Booth at Nostalgic Motors.
Or Myers Studebaker
cbk
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Just went out and looked at mine. 1984 RQB3921.It's located just to the right of center at the front of the trunk. There is a grill about 8" x 3". It looks like it is blocked but if you push on the obstruction you will find it's actualy a flapper .
In order to work properly there needs to be a gap between the package shelf and the body to provide a path for the air to flow.
Charlie
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When I open the fresh air vents on my '78 at highway speed, there is a marked increase in wind noise around the doors. Apparently, this is due to increased pressure inside the cabin flowing out. Opening a vent widow reduces the door noise, but creates its own noise from the turbulence.
I seem to recall hearing that later Avanti models had a vent to create a "flow-through" that provided an exhaust for the cabin air. Is this correct? If so, where was the vent located, and how did it operate? Is this something that could be retrofitted to a '78? If someone has already invented this wheel, I would rather avoid duplicating the effort.
Not sure about the ones built on the GM chassis.
The earlier ones had a flapper opening in the trunk so that air would flow in the front vents, around the package shelf, and out the trunk.
cbk
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Chhabria to unveil desi supercar at auto expo
TNN | Jan 5, 2012, 01.34AM IST
CHENNAI: The select super car club, which boasts names like the Lamborghini Murcielago and the Ferrari Enzo, will now have an all-Indian member. Auto style guru Dilip Chhabria's DC Design is using its expertise in customizing and prototyping luxury cars to launch India's first ever desi supercar which will be showcased at the Auto Expo and unveiled by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. DC has set up its own production unit in Pune from where it plans to bespoke manufacture around 300 super cars for the Indian market.
To be called the Avanti-a throwback to the Studebaker car of the same name which ruled the roads back in the '60s-the car's biggest USP, say sources, will be its pricing. The DC Avanti will likely be priced at around Rs 25 lakh, almost cheek by jowl with the Rs 28 lakh tag to be sported by the Caterham super cars that Dabur is launching in India. DC boss Dilip Chhabria is clear about the kind of business this segment can fetch. "Currently the Rs 30 lakh plus category sells around 22,000 units a year in India while the Rs 1 crore plus category sells around 1000 cars. A product with the right specs that's also priced right should be able to grow this affordable super car niche to about 500-1000 units a year."
Benchmarked in terms of dimensions to the likes of the Ferrari Enzo and the Lamborgini Murcielago, the DC Avanti will be built using practices and processes similar to OEMs. It will go through a homologation process, and will have safety compliance features like airbag and ABS. The car will be hand-built in DC's new, upcoming facility in Pune, and will be totally self-reliant on production of chassis, body, trim, interior, assembly, with a large customer interaction area for bespoke customizing. "This project has been committed an investment of Rs 60 crore by way of internal accrual, debt and equity infusion," said Chhabria. "This investment will cover production, testing, and services upgradation."
I wonder if some pictures or artist rendorings are available?
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On my 84 avanti there is a red light the size of a quarter on the console between the venting/heater levers and the gear shift lever. I could not find any info in the owners manual for this light. Does anyone else have this light on their console? if so what is it for? Thanks for the information
Stu
On mine it is the Fasten Seat Belts" warning light.
Charlie RQB3921
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I have the same set up in RQB 3021. Love it!
However I mounted the pump along the right frame rail.
How dificult was it to install the In tank pump, and where did you get the AVANTI cover for the TPI??
Charlie
RQB3921
I replaced all the hoses with metal lines, even without seat installed you can barely hear pump running.
Jim Wood
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It's good that there was no smoke, I once read an article that claimed that letting the smoke escape from the wires is a major cause of electrical problems
Forgive me if I ramble, I'm thinking out loud (by typing). My usual disclaimer still applies.
Does your car have an automatic transmission? (I assume it does, if it has a neutral safety switch, I don't know if manual transmission Avanti's have a neutral switch).
Did you read 5k ohms with the ignition key off, or on?
Consider trying your ohms test with the ignition switch in each position (off, on, start).
If the readings vary, there might be some clues there, though I'm not sure what at the moment.
Did you unplug the wire/wires to the alternator?
As I think about it, 5k ohms is a huge load... when you are expecting infinity (open circuit) with the ignition turned off, that means something is allowing a path back to the negative side of the battery, but only at the expense of going through a huge resistance; it's not as simple as a light bulb, clock, or a coil resistor. Maybe there's a way to check the ignition switch itself, to see if it completely opens the circuit through it to infinity ohms.
The alternator diodes put up a big resistance to flow in one direction only (my guess is in the thousands of ohms, which just happens to be what you are reading), but the diodes probably don't stop flow entirely, just effectively, which is why I asked if you removed the wiring from the alternator to take it out of the un-fused electrical circuit. If diodes were the issue, it might even be possible that just reversing the ohmmeter leads on the battery cables could change that high ohms reading???!!! Does your alternator have "field" and "output" wires going to it? Maybe remove those leads at the alternator and jumper them to each other for your ohms test?
(just thinking out loud again, follow my suggestions at your own risk
).At 5k you will only be drawing 2.8 miliamps or .0028 amps.
Good chance if you have a clock that's what you're reading.
The sleeping computer in my 84 draws more current than that.
If you are in a humid area just the relitive humidity with all those connections might cause them to colectivly be the problem.
Charlie RQB3921
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Who out their on the forum will attend this years meet with their Avanti?
I will be arriving on the 22nd and leaving on the 24th. I would like to meet some of you.
I will be taking my gold R1 64 because it has AC.
Steve R
I Live in Springfield and will be attending.
Charlie Kile RQB3921
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I have experienced the driver's side exhaust pipe at the manifold so not to come in contact with the pitman arm needing to be bent into a somewhat ugly curve and flattened some. It takes a good exhaust guy with patience to do this as clean as possible.
When I installed the Jasper 350 in mine I had the same problems since I didn't want to use the small manifolds from my 305. I cured it by going to the "Rams Horn" manifolds from a Corvette. This also allowed me to use 2 1/2 inch exhaust pioes
Charlie RQB3921
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Great post Jim. I have a terrible gas smell after I fill up and have to do the tank on my 88. The product tips will come in very handy.
ErnieR
Wha a great post!! Maybe it could be put in the AOAI mag?
How much could be applied to the earlier models??
Charlie RQB3932
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Hi, Guys. Yes.....DEFINITELY have the battery load tested before spending any time or money on another possible remedy. John in Wisconsin
Check the tooth clearance of the starter and flywheel. A lot of people replace the starters and leave out the adjustment shims! There should be 0.030 betwqeen the peak of the tooth and the valley it goes in. If it's too tight it will bind when hot.
cbk
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Thanks for sharing. A good article.
Charlie RQB3921
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In the Summer/Fall issue of our magazine there is a photo and brief discussion about John Ammon's hood delaminating on his Avanti.
In 2001 while returning to Springfield Mo from Oshkosh Wi I had a similar experience with my hood. I was able to fix it with "200mph" tape and get home OK.
I re glued it using "T88" Aircraft structual epoxy. Without thinking I glued it with the hood support holding it open. This caused it to cure with a slight hump midway down the right side.
It only delaminated down the right side.
This year while returning from Oshkosh again (I think I'll quit going to the fly in) The entire left side delaminated.
I'm thinking about getting another hood.
Charlie RQB3921
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Good article by Tony Urich of Garner,Iowa:
http://www.northiowanews.com/articles/2010/08/19/latest_forest_city_news/05studebaker.txt
Good Article
Charlie RQB3921
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Since making these covers, I have not had to replace a broken headlight - or a broken glass cover, or a discolored cover. Though I have had to replace 2 windshields due to all the gravel and pulp wood trucks running these MS roads.
Not anywhere near 'original', but they work - and don't look half bad.
Thomas
Will they fit an 84 with the painted plastic basels?
Charlie RQB3921
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Hi anybody have any experience with buying a replacement gasket for an Avanti II (Mine is a 74 model). I have looked around and see prices ranging from $70 - $115. Are there differences in quality, material, or construction? Thanks.
I got mine from Betty Booth at Nostalgic Motors. $75 The glass shop was pleased with it.
Charlie RQB3921
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Does anyone know where door sills can be purchased for the 63 Avanti? I have a 1979 Avanti II but someone who has a 63 asked me if I knew where to find a drivers side door sill. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Steve
Try Betty Booth at "Nostalgic Motors" Ther're closed on Mondays but they"ll be there Tuesday.
Charlie RQB3921
fuel economy...
in 1963-64 Avanti
Posted
Although mine isn't a 63/64 It's an 84 Touring optioned coupe.
It has a 286 rear end with positraction, and a 700R4 tranmission.At 70 mph it is turning just over 1700 RPM.
The engine is a Stage two Jasper, 350cid roller cam,Aluminum heads, large ss valves, and TPI from an early vette.
On a recent 500mile trip from Springfield to St Louis Mo including some running around in St Louis, I averaged 24.9999 Mpg !
It has a 22gal gas tank. Although I didn't check the milage, I drove from Baltimore Md to Springfield Mo with only one stop for gas and it wasn't showing empty when I got home !!
Charlie RQB3921