psdenno

Yes. The frame in the picture is still available.

Start with the pulley shaft seal and then check the hose connections. Pulley shaft leaks are typical.

After doing my own repair I can appreciate the work that the restoration specialty shops apply to the task. However, I now know it's a project that can be completed by most Avanti owners if they have the time and the inclination. The cost of the rebuilding materials is about the same as a couple visits to Starbucks. The greatest cost was having the wheel professionally color matched and painted. If I had instead painted it myself with a close color match "rattle can", total cost would have been under $50. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment.

Thanks! I'll keep you posted. I'm not going to put it off for 50 years like I did with the fawn steering wheel.

Yes, the degree of difficulty will rise on the walnut wheel. However, as with every other aspect of life, Google is your friend. A search results in several "How To" links to restoring and replicating wood grain on plastic steering wheels used on the Avanti and several GM cars built in the 1960s. It just takes time and that's why the folks who restore wheels charge what they do. Materials required are inexpensive. It's the hours of labor that jacks up the cost.

Thanks, filler material is two part slow drying epoxy. Drying time: 24-48 hours for best results for shaping, grinding, and sanding. Paint is primer, base coat, and clear coat. Color matching and painting were both done by a local auto body shop. I can't weld and I can't paint. But, after a lot of research and YouTube video watching I felt I could do the rim rebuilding. All of the "grunt" work prior to painting was done in my garage. If you do it yourself, plan on many hours with a Dremel tool, power sander, mini file set, and progressively finer sand paper. I'll be working on my walnut Avanti wheel next.

Try it sometime with your Avanti. Just keep both hands on the spokes and not on the rim. I drove it that way for a while until I got the replacement later style walnut wheel. Kind of like flying an airplane. 😎

Thanks! In my case, the welding was done by a retired high school metals shop teacher who also taught welding at the local junior college. The rest of the rebuilding/filling/grinding/sanding was my DIY project. I figured I'd give it a try and couldn't ruin it more than it was when I got it.

Thank you. Unfortunately, the Walnut wheel recently came loose at the welds which prompted me to get serious about fixing the original steering wheel. The Walnut wheel will be the next project.

Avanti steering wheels are prone to breaking at the welds attaching the steering wheel spokes to the rim. When I bought my ’63 R2 50 years ago, the owner had been steering the car with just the two steering wheel spokes. The rim of the wheel had broken loose and was in the trunk. I replaced the steering wheel with the last new one Standard Surplus had - a brown fake wood colored unit used on the 1964 Avantis. My plan was to get the rim of the original fawn colored steering wheel rewelded to the spokes and somehow make it look new again. As I mentioned, that was 50 years ago. Over the years, I took my broken steering wheel to several welding shops to see about getting it fixed. No one wanted to try for fear of melting the adjacent plastic on the rim. A few months ago, I found a welder who did the job. Then, it was time to rebuild and shape several inches of the rim where plastic material had been removed to accommodate the two welds. The final step was to paint the steering wheel. Pictures of the process are below.

Sorry, no San Bernardino, only Palm Springs. Still a nice addition to an Avanti.

FOR SALE: Palm Springs Studebaker dealer style license plate frame. I picked up a few of these in the late 1970s in Riverside, CA. After almost 50 years, it’s time to clear the garage. Chrome plated metal frame with raised chrome letters and emblem. See photo above. $125 + $19.15 USPS Priority shipping. Shipped in a sturdy box. Message me with any questions. Dennis

Amazon has several types of adjustable hold down brackets for car batteries. Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Aoerzn-Adjustable-Universal-Corrosion-Resistance/dp/B0BKL4FNVF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WB3HM1GJ7PNW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AYHUB1XestOtIytthO0MhBIHVZAZCCTYZh94t8njB98eLMu35FowAmxz-z1oNjNcL9oRC8h8FWP1CA8XainJ2YIV4bxcSiE2nBOY3yzDFUudipDbNM_8sifK_akwKKAJeH0_JAvjohMJVk7Bn90YB49f3pmH2aONJT4sqihwgyN9SbMKCbUMx9XY9rOCjePNMBFDhQbBAXakzXt14g3yctlPqLBviN471tuO8RqrGBo.KDru1r5J0GUyp97eqi1VxHNazOENBGzTqPGt8hOj7iM&dib_tag=se&keywords=car%2Bbattery%2Bhold%2Bdown%2Bbracket&qid=1750616003&sprefix=car%2Bbattery%2Bhold%2Bdon%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1&th=1

Thanks! It is the glue on type. I'll get the mini-mirror back on the windshield for the first time in over 50 years.

Problem solved. I found the mirror base on-line and ordered it. Should have it by next week.

Thanks. Yes, I saw it. However, it's about door mounted exterior fixed and remote control rear view mirrors. The part I need is for the INTERIOR mirror that attaches to the inside of the windshield. My base pad got messed up when a previous owner relocated the mirror to the overhead switch panel and screwed the base pad to the padded frame surrounding the switches.

I have the interior rear view mirror and stem for my '63, but need the base that attaches the stem & mirror assembly to the inside of the windshield. Anyone have an extra one? Part #1351306.

Lucky all of us if we each own at least one Avanti. Every Avanti is a pleasure to its owner whether it sits under a tarp behind the garage or cruises down the highway. As Raymond Loewy said in one of his letters to me, "I wish you many more years of pleasure with AVANTI." That was over 40 years ago and the pleasure continues. Now, back to the original topic.

If it's a '63 R2 with 4 speed and orange interior, it's one of only 59 produced....just like the one in my garage.

Fiberglass cars can be "wavy" and require a little filler in some areas to make them look as straight as panels on a metal bodied car. It's all part of the charm of owning a fiberglass car whether it's an Avanti or a Corvette.

My Avanti R2 has had a Hurst shifter for the 50 years I've owned it. I considered converting the Hurst shift lever to the Studebaker type, but stayed with the Hurst lever. Never had a shifting problem in a half century.

There's a brief discussion on the wheels on the SDC forum: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/29343-halibrands-dealer-option/page2?28618-Halibrands-Dealer-Option=&highlight=halibrand

If what you refer to as the '64 Halibrand wheel is the style currently available in reproduction, I prefer it to the "Kidney Bean" Halibrand wheels shown on the Hawk.

Glad to hear it worked out for you! I wasn't sure what the SNM could pull up when I made the suggestion. Post the VIN here and maybe someone can tell you a little more about the car.

This suggestion is a long shot, but may be worth a try. The Studebaker National Museum has factory files for Studebaker Avantis. They have, and sell, copies of IBM punch cards listing original owners of each car sold. I know they can bring up the document by VIN. They may also be able to find it by original owner's name. It might be worth calling to see what they can do.