cobrajoe74
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Posts posted by cobrajoe74
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Having a problem with my '82: when the motor is at operating temp, the car is very difficult to start...sounding as if the battery is going dead & is barely able to turn over the starter...my mechanic calls this a "grunt" start...the car will start most of the time but it makes stopping for gas a headache & I always carry jumper cables just in case...if the motor cools down (10 mins or so) it will start right up. My brother had an '84 Camaro with the 305 engine...he suggests that the starter gets very hot as it is near the exhaust manifold as his car had a similar problem starting when hot...he bought an insulated starter "blanket" from Jegs & it helped...anyone have any suggestions ie. new starter, the blanket, both, Optima battery, all of these???... I do use a trickle charger to "top up" the battery before I take the car out as it usually sits in the garage during the week...thanks to all in advance...Joe
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Bruce & Skip, again many thanks...I'll try a test light on the leads this week...also, the beauty of auto owning in Fla is no emissions testing nor any safety inspection-surprisingly I see less beaters on the road here than when I lived in NJ (where they had both types of inspection)...Joe
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Bruce & Skip..Thanks for your help...I was under the car yesterday & did find a couple of blank leads-haven't followed them to the source yet-they have a rectangle female lead vs the Cibie's pin type male lead (Skip-they are under the left side of the car below the battery)...I'll do some more investigating this weekend, except that this Sunday is another show at 'Cars of Dreams' museum (here in Fla it's finally getting cooler & is the start of our car show season).
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As per the build sheet for my '82, the only option that was not ordered was driving lights. Since I like the looks of these lights (for me they instantly identify the car as an Avanti II vs the original), Ive been closely studying every RQB pic on Bob Johnstone's website to ID the proper type of lights...came to the conclusion that period correct Hella, Marchal or Cibie lights would look right. I just picked up an NOS pair of unblemished chrome Cibie 35 Iode driving lights on Ebay (with mint lens covers in original boxes <$60 for the pair!!) and mounted them today (with aftermarket Ebay-sourced bumper clamps that are cheaper, better manufactured and easier to install than the OEM type brackets sold by Nostalgic). They look great...exactly what I wanted! My question is: if I poke around in the engine compartment or under the front of the car, might I find 2 unconnected, pre-wired leads for these lights??? My car has the 'Aux Lites' toggle switch on the console and it would seem to me that Avanti Motors would not have manufactured 2 separate wiring harnesses for cars with/without these lights...anyone have a clue???...Thanks in advance...Joe
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Had my 82 at a well attended (500+) car show last year (at John Staluppi's "Cars of Dreams" museum in WPB, FL-check out the museum's website...oh to be a multi-millionaire!!!)...something like 30 awards & most went to rods, GTOs, Vettes etc...I was sitting by the car late in the day (not just the only Avanti-the only (sort of) Studebaker)...the usual people who acknowledge the Avanti are older than me (54)...had this twenty-something guy walk up & really study the car...looking for badges/emblems...then just standing back & taking the whole car in...he walked up to me & said: "I'm not a car guy and I don't know what this car is but it's the absolute coolest car here!!"...I can't tell you how good it felt to expose a youngster to the uniqueness & style that is our cars' compared to the standard Ford/GM/Mopar fare...makes me wonder if any 30 & under car people will collect/lust for any independent make in the near future (and "lust" is what I had for the Avanti for >40 yrs before I got mine)!!!...Joe
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Just wondering if anyone else displays the Avanti brand condom in their car???...mine was gifted to me by a car show pal...I keep it in the open vanity/mirror compartment (out of easy view of the kiddies)...always good for a chuckle when you watch a guy looking in the car & it catches their eye...Joe
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I've managed to pick up both editions from EBAY in the past...autographed 1st edition w/o a dust jacket & 2nd edition with...can't remember how much I paid but I'm sure neither was more than $25 ("Buy It Now")...the reason I bought the newer edition was the Avanti II dust jacket & that it was so cheap!!...I've seen prices of $150+ (yeah, right-I'll take 3!!!)...anyway, they're filled with a lot of old advertising info (no color) as well as expected Avanti history (newer edition same as old with additional chapter to update)...for me, a quick 1 hour read & just more stuff to display in the car...if I put all the manuals/brochures/magazines & Avanti diecasts in the car at a show you can't even see the seats/console/floor!!!...am I just a collector or a hoarder???...Joe
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Had a very Avanti week...went to local cruise night & saw / met the owner of an 07 convertible (Andre from Canada) whose car I had caught glimpses of in town over the past couple of years...silver with grey interior (Mustang interior is much nicer than earlier Trans Am)...he said it was the last Avanti built in Ga. before the move to Mexico. Went to the B-J auction in WPB yesterday, surprised to see 83 Avanti sold Thurs. night (I hadn't watched it yet on my DVR)...I've seen the car on Ebay & the Johnstone web site...odd combination of 83 transition to 84 styling...painted mirrors & different seats than my 82's Recaros...strangest styling item was glassed in front turn signal/parking lights with what looked like cheap aftermarket trailer turn signals hanging from the bumper...strange & not very attractive...anyway, it sold for $22K with 10% buyers premium so at least Avanti II values may be inching up along with the original 63/4's...Joe
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Dave...maybe you can tell them it's the Avanti made by Preston Tucker!!!...Joe
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Hear this a lot, too...instead of "uh-von-tee" its "uh-von-tay" (rhymes with Allante)...what's up with that???...Joe
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Had my '82 at a well attended cruise-in last night in a downtown area that closes the streets surrounding a variety of stores/restaurants that attract non-typical car show crowds...heard the usual questions associated with owning an Avanti: "Who makes it"? (since it's not a Studebaker I tell them "Avanti makes it"); "That's made in Italy, right?" (I say "only if there's a little Italy in South Bend, Indiana"; and the inevitable "They made those in Canada" (which of course leads to a short dissertation of Studebaker & Avanti history).
I have overheard some discussions while hanging out in earshot of the car which are a little different. Perhaps because my car is black is why I've heard "It looks like the Batmobile" (usually by a kid)...also, usually from adults, "That looks like a James Bond car" (silver DB5 vs black Avanti II???...I guess it's just the sixties vibe it exudes)...and to me the most unusual (I've heard it from kids & women) "The front of the car looks like the back"(memories of the '48 coupe).
Just wondering if anyone else has heard similar comments or anything else funny/interesting...Joe
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While on vacation in Seaside, FL I picked up a copy of this magazine for beach reading. It's a glossy, all color photo architecture/home magazine whose subject matter is mid-century modern design/decor (ie Palm Springs 50's-60's style). To my surprise, there was an ad in the middle of the mag to join the AOAI, of course with the requisite profile view of the car. How cool to see that the AOAI people in charge "gets it" to advertise in this high style non-automotive architectural magazine that honors great modern design. Kudos to the board!
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Mike...of course you're right...I was going on poor memory without getting into the car...my '82 is the same as yours...in the 10 months that I've owned the car I think its been driven about 200 miles-the 1st time I got back in the car in the dark to leave the local cruise night I forgot where the headlight switches were!!!... at least it's confirmed that the little light is the choke...thanks...Joe
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Bruce & Wayne, thanks for the replies. I think Bruce is on the right track as my cars' seatbelt warning light & buzzer work (the light is the larger red light just below the smaller one & goes out when buckled or in 10-15 secs after starting along with the buzzer). I lied actually when I said the car runs fine...it has a repetetive stumble during acceleration (less noticeable when the pedal is floored) which I suspect is due to some electronic tuning problem with the computer contolled carburetor- this would seem to fall in line with an electronic choke light now staying on...I'll have to see if my mechanic can fool with it & get it running better... thanks again, guys...Joe
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Can anyone out there tell me what the small red warning light between the tach & speedo indicates? I have the owner's manual for my '82 (RQB3535- 52K orig miles) but in typical Avanti Motors fashion it really doesn't seem to answer this question. The light had started to stay on progressively longer after start up & then go out after driving a few miles - now it doesn't go out. I've yet to put a new exhaust on the car ($$$) and I know there's some small rust holes/leaks in the down pipe in front of the cat (JB Weld in the future when I get it on a lift)...it also still has the original catalytic converter in place. I've owned more contemporary cars with "check engine" lights that when on, though seemingly catastrophic, have only indicated some form of exhaust malfunction. The cars still runs fine-good oil pressure & no overheating-hopefully I don't have a major problem brewing!!! Thanks to all in advance...Joe
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Sounds like I don't need to worry about the H or X pipe-I'll let the muffler shop decide if it's feasible. In any event-even with the current cat exhaust the old Avanti sounds better than the beat up Honda Civic with the huge wing on the trunk & that awful 4 cylinder exhaust! And the Avanti has Bruce Springsteen coming out of the original Blaupunkt cassette (I am a Jersey boy originally!) instead of bad rap music. Bruuuuuuce....avaaaaaanti- two of my favorite cheers...Joe
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Gunslinger...thanks for the info...I figured you'd be able to tell me what to do!!! I appreciate the info-it really helps! Funny, I thought the Magnaflows were louder-I went on Youtube & listened to some 305's with Flowmaters-the 50's are supposed to be for us older guys.-not as loud outside & with less interior resonance...I've heard some aftermarket exhausts on Mustangs like my 03 Cobra vert & they were obnoxiously (and I suspect illegally) loud. Also, I've been reading about adding an H-pipe for better sound...any ideas???....Thanks again!!! Joe
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RQB3535 needs a new exhaust system. In addition to the hole in one of the downpipes, my mechanic tells me I should get rid of the huge 27 year old catalytic converter as it's probably clogged and robbing the 305 of some HP (as if it can afford to lose any!!)...the beauty of living in SoFla is we have no inspection, emissions or otherwise... I'm thinking of having one of the custom muffler shops in town fabricate the system as the true dual exhaust systems advertised in the AOAI magazine are for earlier years before cats...my questions are: 1) would any of these pre-made dual exhausts fit my 82 (as all the pre-cat cars had bigger motors)? 2) has anybody tried/found a set of "hugger" headers that fit the 305 in the A-II? 3) I'm thinking of Flowmaster 50 series if they fit (I heard a Nissan V8 pickup with these the other day-nice mellow sound that I think I like better than Magnaflows)...the 50's are supposed to be quieter both inside & outside-anybody have these? I'm also thinking of adding a new Edelbrock intake & carb (600 or 650 CFM) and losing the current factory carb with the ancient ECM computer system-any comments/has anyone done this?...Thanks in advance...Joe
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Bill... sent you a message re: how much $$$...let me know if you got it...still looking!!! to anybody out there...missed a $10K 82 on the SDC website by a week!!!...Joe
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And I was already winding that 350 out in 2nd gear with the new AC blasting and the aroma of fine leather in my nostrils!!! I guess I'll have to settle on a 305 with hot feet, cracked leather & water dripping from the moonroof!!! thanks for the almost sale, though...Joe
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Hey all...new to AOAI membership...I'm looking to purchase the nicest 82 or 83 II that I can find...(Thanks to all of you on the Avanti-Yahoo website for your suggestions & words of encouragement & sorry if I bore you with redundant info that I've already posted on that site)...prefer all options-roof/driving lights, etc. (though I'd rather have Magnums vs. wires & no trunk rack) & in opposition to Henry Ford's Model T, any color other than black!! I'm in no rush & if I can't find anything by Sept 08 I plan on attending the Studebaker national meet in Lancaster, PA in hopes of finding something there...still keeping my eyes on Ebay for anything interesting...I'm located in South Florida (Stuart) so anything close is great (I can see the car in the metal, as it were), but I'll travel for the right car...my Email is mogambo66@comcast.net...any info is appreciated...Thanks in advance...Joe
"Grunt" start
in 1965-83 Avanti
Posted
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!...Joe