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Paul K.

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Posts posted by Paul K.

  1. I am getting this Avanti II going after sitting for 20 years and after boiling out the gas tank and some new fluids it runs well. For some reason NONE of the gauges are working with the exception of the ones that are work separately i.e. the clock, vacuuum, and ammeter. I do not see a fuse for the gauges, so I thought I would ask here first. Also the tach does not work.

  2. I doubt there was any single catalog as that would be HUGE. From the four color guides I have, I can tell you that it seems they preferred Cadillac colors for spec cars or to suggest for special orders. One color guide is Spartucus Blue, a 1970 Cadillac color,(I owned and restored one) another Ice Blue Firemist (firemist was a Cadillac color trademark) and Saturn Bronze (a 1973 Cadillac color). I know quite a few of the dealers that offered Avantis were Cadillac dealers. That may explain it. Offering colors that Cadillac buyers liked would make Avantis easier to sell.

  3. Well, I am back to having two Avantis after purchasing an Avanti II off of ebay earlier this month. It was the Mandarin Orange one that was sitting for 20 years in a garage in Los Angeles. The woman was the original owner and had John Hull maintain it when he had his shop in So Cal. She had every piece of paperwork since new including the "Color Guide" which was a one page brochure containing actual paint color chips and vinyl, leather or fabric swatch of each car. The Avanti factory sent her four color guides for vehicles they were building or had already built on spec and were for sale for her to choose from. I have the color guides for RQ-B 2161, RQ-B 2138, RQ-B 2152 and mine RQ-B 2163. If anyone owns one of these Avanti IIs, I would be happy to make a color copy of their color guide. Attached is a picture for RQ-B 2138. Anyone else have theirs?

    63R-2569

    RQ-B 2163

    post-5667-12878972113296_thumb.jpg

  4. The best speed rating I have found in a white stripe is going to be a T rating which is 116 mph. There are more choices in the S ratings and they are 113 mph. My Bentley T2 came new with H speed rated tires and I can't find them in a white stripe. I have installed the Kumho Solus KR21 white stripe radial on the Bentley and my former Rolls-Royce Camargue. I will install the same Kumhos on both of my Avantis. They have an excellent treadwear rating, smooth, quiet and feel great. The price is reasonable too.

  5. Well, I got the lock mechanism fixed for a total cost of $0. I was correct in the ignition lock rack mechanism (rack) being jammed but it is usually because the nylon toothed part breaks. Mine was not moving because it it also connected to the steering wheel locking pin. The pin was "frozen" stuck from the old grease and the car sitting for 20 years. If the pin is stuck, the lock or ignition switch rod won't move either. Always fun resurrecting an old car.

  6. Thanks, The locksmith said he had seen this problem before and it is cheaper/easier to replace than repair due to the parts availability and labor. The lock is good, it is the ratchet-like mechanism inside the column that rolls over which connects the ignition lock to the ignition switch rod. The column is a tilt and spring loaded so taking apart may be easy but getting back together may be another story. Thanks for the Corvette info.

  7. Does anyone know what the donor car was for the Avanti II steering columns of the 70s? I need to replace mine as the ignition switch mechanism inside the column is broken not allowing the rod to move. I took the column to an experienced old locksmith and he recommended getting a used column as replacement parts are not available. I do know the column is AMC as there is a part # sticker on it. It appears to be a GM column too. (AMC used a lot of GM stuff) It is a tilt column and I suspect it was installed in a bunch of AMC and GM vehicles. If anyone has a cross reference manual for AMC or knows of one, that would help. It would make finding a replacement a lot easier if I had multiple choices of applications.

    There are two #s on the AMC label, 7811079 and SF3211157.

  8. I just picked up another Avanti last Friday. It is a '74 II and I need to remove the ignition lock. It has the AMC rally steering wheel with the 3 brushed alluminum spokes with slots. I know how to remove the wheel, it is getting the horn button off that has me puzzled. It is a center pad and it looks like the type that should just twist off or lift off easily. There are no screws anywhere. I am going to try to post a pic of the wheel which is the same as on the Avanti. Thanks,

    post-5667-12862577754199_thumb.jpg

  9. I have been thinking on converting my automatic R-1 to a manual transmission with overdrive. I like to keep things original, however, I prefer the manuals. Living in Southern, CA low revs on the freeway is what I am looking for. A couple of questions,

    1. What are the RPMs of the stock Stude overdrive at around 70 mph using a more common 3:31 rear axle? Is it much lower than the auto?

    2. Are there any modern 5 speed transmissions that fit the Stude 289?

    3. Has anyone done this that has advice to offer regarding ease of conversion?

    Thanks,

    Paul Katson

  10. On the home page of the Yahoo Avanti site click on "Edit Membership"...it's right above the blue band "Avanti - Studebaker and Avanti Owner's Forum". From there you simply add the email address you want to receive messages at. If nothing else, leave the group and sign back up under your new email address.

    Thanks, but how do I get to the yahoo site? I can't seem to find it via google and I have never gone there. I have gotten all of my Avanti yahoo emails vis my personal email box for the last 11 years.

  11. I would guess at least 50% too. Avantis have always been a special interest auto which seem to have higher than average survival rates. I own a '41 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet which although only 400 were produced approximately 200 survive. That surprised me when I discovered that.

  12. Hi,

    my dad was with a Studebaker shop and we had the Golden Hawks, 63 & 64 Avantis etc back then. The Avanti was so ahead of everyone.

    I was cleaning out the basement & I found where I had saved all of the 1976 Avanti II sales brochures and a letter to me from the Sales Manager.

    There are Motor Trend , Road & Track & Gallery reprints and other ads and reprints. The option check off sheet and full color layout.

    There is also a 1972 reprint from Quality Management & Engineering magazine and Esquire 1970.

    So if any of you enthusiasts wants this stuff just get in touch with me. I saved it from the recycle bin just in case. yardsale@insightbb.com

    thanks!

    -=john=-

    Hi John, I am interested in the literature. What is your price? I can be emailed direct to pkatson@sbcglobal.net thanks
  13. To get the full look of dropping the Avant IIs to resemble the Stude the fender fillers have to be removed. This is the area where many people stop because it has now become a body project and expense. The fender fillers when removed have a visual effect that looks right.

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