[B/W 3sp A/T]

Hi all......

It's been almost a year since my last confession (I mean post), so I'm kind of rusty. My Question: Has anyone added an overdrive unit to a BorgWarner automatic transmission???

I have a 71 Avanti with the 3sp B/W transmission and at 70mph I'm turning 3000rpm. The engine is not really noisy but I'm sure fuel mileage is suffering from this high steady rpm. This transmission is an AS2-12D manufactured for "Avanti Motors" with a part number of 1700390.

So, is there anyway to add an overdrive unit to this transmission, or am I better off changing to a 200R or 700R transmission?? I bet the Gunslinger has an answer for me. Thanks in advance..........................Rudy RQB-1705

[Avanti II]

Bill,

If your steering wheel and horn button is the same as on my 1971, then the rubber horn button pulls straigt off. Don't try twisting it or you stand the chance of tearing off the rubber tabs that hold it in place. It will take a little wiggling, but it comes off fairly easy. Good Luck,

Rudy Korb

[Rear Window Defogger]

Hey Gunslinger,

I guess I owe you another round of thanks. Your answers are exactly what I needed. Now, the next thing to do is the electric checks. My "EPPE" lights are also long gone and no holes to show where they were. That's the joy in buying a car that is 37 years old, a lot of things have changed. Thanks again, Rudy

[Rear Window Defogger]

Hi again,

In my 71 Avanti I have as an optional item a Rear Window Defogger that I know nothing about. On the back shelf it looks like a speaker grill, but actually houses a coil and a small fan. I know what it does, when it works, but not how to operate it. The only extra switch that I have on the dash happens to be under the dash, just to the right of the hood release. It is a 3 position rotary switch with the knob being flat and about the size of a half dollar. I would assume this switch to be: OFF-HIGH-LOW. So far I can't find it's use. Getting back to the defogger: does this operate independently or do you need to have a heater/defroster switch turned on? Any help would be appreciated.

Rather than start a new post, what are "EPPE" driving lights??? My build sheet says I have them.

Thanks in advance, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

Well guys, the build sheet(Nostalgic calls it a Factory Manifest), arrived today and all the supposition and hair pulling is over. The engine is the original and it is a 350 CI serial #V02112 DH, 1971. That's the only mention of the engine, the rest of the info concerns mainly the accessories and upholstery. It mentions the power steering, but not the power brakes. It mentions that the rear end is a Twin Traction (probably left over from Studebaker stock). So there you have it, the final end to this Engine Identification Post, which turned out just as I had hoped.

Thanks to all who responded to my plea for help, this is a well informed forum. Special thanks to Gunslinger for sticking with me all thru this topic. Now that I have this build sheet, I see the beginning of other topics to keep you guys busy. Later, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

Well Gunslinger, after your comments in yesterdays post, I have some additional news, some bad, some OK. The alternator is the old style with the separate voltage regulator under the dash on the passenger side. The distributor is also the old style, with points. I do have 2 HEI distributors, one of which I intend to install at a later date.

The build sheet did not arrive today, maybe tomorrow. I guess the post office is still trying to locate Arkansas. Anyway, I am not going to waste my time on any further research until I get the build sheet. You know that Chevy put a lot of 350's in motor homes and still does. I agree with you, I think Avanti used a lot of older style parts because they could get them cheaper. They certainly didn't have any storage space problem.

Thanks for yesterdays post, you seem to be well versed in the Avanti and its history. What website indicated division 8 was Checker or Marine? In all the websites I visited, only 1 indicated 8 as "not GM use". This looks to me like the most logical answer, since GM made engines for a lot of other uses. You agree?? Later, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

Thomas, your info is very helpful. My problem is that I don't seem to have a casting number on the rear drivers side. What I do have in the area between bell housing studs below the oil pressure switch is: (these are all raised) the letters D N T in a triangle with a clock face below that with 10 dots in a circle about the size of a quarter, and an arrow pointing to dot 5. Below that a small placque looking thing about 3/8" wide and 1 1/2" long with what looks like screw heads on the ends and a 3 in the middle. The passenger side has the date code D101.

My Rochester number is 17057282, which I interpret as 17057=1977, 2=emission code, 8=division and 2=a/t. The charts I used did not list a division 8, so it could be Corvette?.

The alternator number is 1100834 (which I can't find in any chart) and below that 0C6, which means 1970 March 6 and it's a 67Amp.

The Delco distributor number is 1112042 wihch I believe is a 1971 model.

So there Thomas, is most of what I have gathered about this engine except for some of the VIN numbers stamped on the front pad by the timing cover. It shows it was made in Flint on Feb 11, which does not match the casting date of April 10 71. So, another big road block. I was hoping for the build sheet to arrive today, but hopefully tomorrow. I'll post what I discover. By the way, the car was assembled Dec 71. Thanks again for your help. Rudy

[Engine Identification]

I'm by no means sure of this, but the DH suffix shows it to be a 307 engine. Chevrolet reused suffix codes at times and about the only way you can tell is by the casting dates. The DH suffix was also used for '65 and '66 283 engines, and also '58 and '59 Corvette fuel injected engines, so you can see how confusing it can be. BTW - if that was an original fuelie engine, some Corvette junkies would likely give you big bucks for it! Regardless, if the casting date you found on it is correct, it should be a 307.

You already know it doesn't have the original carburetor since it's from 1977. It sounds like your engine is a mix of parts from different times, not especially hard to understand with a 35+ year old car which could reasonably be assumed to have had parts replaced over the years with different and likely rebuilt parts.

If you have a mind to at any time, drop a crate 350 engine into the car. It will transform it. That's quite likely less expensive than rebuilding the present engine no matter what displacement it is.

At this point I am so confused about this engine, that I want to see what the build sheet lists. I just went out to the garage to verify the DH, hoping there was an additional letter, but that's all there is. Nasty says that DH suffix is for a 1968 307. but from the website "auto.howstuffworks", Avanti used just about every other CI chevy engine between 66 and 83, except the 307. This does not make sense at this point. I can't locate a rear engine casting number on either side. One side had the date code and the other side the clock symbol with the arrow. Even if I knew what the head numbers were, it could not confirm the CI of this engine. And besides, my date code is D101, so this shows the block was cast on Apr 10, 1971. Since this engine is in an Avanti and not a chevy or corvette, can we really be sure what all those numbers & letters really mean? They could be special identifiers for engines chevy made for shipment to other companies. I can't believe that Altman would only purchase a few engines at a time. With money being tight, I suspect he would order enough engines to get a good price break, but that's only supposition. By the end of the week I should have my build sheet and I will post the results. Thanks for your assistance, it is greatly appreciated. Later, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

The build sheet info will be interesting. I am away from home at the moment, and will be for awhile,

so I don't have access to my "reference library" :>)

But, a search of the web came up with this hit that says your engine might be a replacement 307ci for a

full-size Chevy w/automatic (or possibly a Chevelle or Malibu or Nova, which used 307's)...

http://www.nastyz28.com/gm-chevy-codes/che...es-suffix-4.php

13702I is simply a sequential number used for replacement/OTC engines

That would probably not be an engine that Avanti Motors installed, which is why the

build sheet info would be nice to have. It wouldn't be unusual for the engine of a 1971 Avanti to have

been replaced (I have a '71, and I replaced my original engine about 20 years ago with an '84 350ci)

Where (what location) did you get the "D101 stamp"? Are you aware that there is a raised

casting number and casting date on the rear of the engine? They're atop the engine flange for the bellhousing...

IIRC, casting number is on the (upper) driver side and date code on the (upper) passenger side.

Head casting numbers and dates might give you additional clues, but you have to remove the

valve covers to find them (center of the top of the head).

Dan Booth may be knowledgeable on the engine codes, as he seems to know just about everything

about these old Avanti's.

Hi Wayne, I have ordered the build sheet from Nostalgic Motors, so by the end of the week I should have a lot of my questions answered, I hope.

I got the D101 on the rear flange on the passenger side. I cannot locate the casting number on the drivers side. I can see some markings, but no numbers. There is a raised circle of dots, about the size of a quarter on the drivers side. I also have a large metal piece that is fastened to the rear of the engine that is used to control the carb throttle, and it's possible the numbers are under this metal piece.

I'm not going to look for the head numbers right now, but if I should have to remove the valve covers, I'll get them then.

Thanks for the info. Rudy

[Engine Identification]

You can find your date of assembly on the sticker on the drivers door jamb...that should give you month and year of assembly. It should be below the lock receiver.

I believe the "CE" part of the numbers on the engine means "Chevrolet Engineering", though some say it means "Crate Engine" or "Chevrolet Engine". CE engines are those either used for warranty replacement or over the counter sales, which is essentially what Avanti Motors bought and installed. Crate engines could definitely have sat for awhile before installation in a car. I don't know if Avanti Motors ordered crate engines as needed them, or bought ahead and stored them until needed, to save money on a group purchase of engines.

At least through 1970, Avanti Motors installed first a 327 300 hp Corvette engine, then about 1970, the 350 300 hp engine, which is, I believe, the L48 Corvette engine. '71 could have still been the same, but that's about when GM started reducing compression ratios and hp ratings, though the L48 designation stayed the same.

I don't think Avanti Motors added the car's VIN to the engine ID pad, but they did record the engine numbers on the build sheet. You can get a copy of the build sheet from Nostalgic Motors. That should tell you if you have the original engine in your car. After this many years, your car could definitely have a replacement engine for any number of reasons.

I have a pretty comprehensive book on Chevy engine casting numbers and codes. I'll have to find it and see if I can give you a more definitive answer about your engine. It may be a day or so, but I'll look for it.

Thanks very much, your help is really appreciated. The date stamped on the door sticker is Dec 71. I like all your definitiions for the CE part. They all make sense. I was not aware that Nostalgia Motors had build sheets. I just talked to Dan the other day on another subject. I will call him tomorrow.

Here's some more info I have about my engine. The alternator date code is 1970, the distributer is 1971, and the quadrajet is 1977. The next time I get under the car I will check the starter number. With all these different years it makes identifying the engine that much more difficult. But any additional info you can find would be very helpful. So thanks again for your help. Later, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

Google "small block chevrolet casting numbers" for engine ID info and parts interchange.

Jim Wood

Thanks Jim but I have been there before with very little help. I have some of the latter part of the VIN deciphered, but nothing on the 1st half.

Here's what I know so far.

V=Flint MI plant

02=February

11=Day of month

The stamped engine date code is D101, which I interpret as April 10, 1971. Too bad these dates don't match. unless the engine sat around for 10 months before assembly.

Since I don't know the date of assembly for the Avanti, that number 2 before the DH in the VIN could be for 1972, which could be very possible. Sure wish I had the build sheet for my car. Later, Rudy

[Engine Identification]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum, in fact this is my first post. My problem. I have a 71 Avanti with the Corvette Engine and I need to try and identify it. The pad on the front of the block above the timing cover has a 17 digit code that has several numbers or letters faintly stamped, so it is difficult to read accurately. The first 3 letters are CEA. Any idea what they represent? Is there anyone else out there with a 71 model that has had problems identifying their engine? The whole number is CEA13702IV02112DH. Thanks, Rudy