Gunslinger Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I'm convinced my Avantis have nothing but contempt for me...and timed for the Dover meet. At the Operation Avanti Airlift Tribute, I was going to use my '70 Avanti to bring participants from the passenger terminal to the C-82. The car wouldn't start...just the solenoid clicking. After the engine cooled some the engine started normally. It sounded like a classic case of a heat-soaked starter. I had it checked out and the valve cover bolts had backed off, allowing oil to drip right on the starter. Tighten the valve cover bolts (all were backed off some), add a thermal jacket wrap to the starter just in case and loaded the car for Dover. I drove the '70 and my wife drove the '02. On the way I happened to look down and there's the trunk release switch hanging down under the dash. Somehow it jumped out of its mounting hole. OK...not that big a deal...I can just tuck it back under the dash until I can fix it properly. Then a short time later I discover my turn signal switch no longer works properly...no right turn signal and while the left works ok it won't turn off without jiggling the stalk. WTF? It looks like I'm reduced to using hand signals for turning. With malfunctioning turn signals that will be an automatic deduction in judging before anything else. Then at Dover, while I'm trying to get the cars ready for the judging...I was putting the convertible top up on the '02 and what do I find? The panel in the console that houses the top up/down switch and the traction control switch has popped out and will not pop back in properly! WTF X 2!!! The car only has about 6500 miles and this happens. Thanks GM! After all this, in the heat and sun I got ill and thought I was going to pass out. I guess aggravation added to the heat just got to me. After getting out of my completely soaked clothes and a shower I felt better. We had a nice dinner and saw Elvis performing in the casino. I realize in the scheme of life this is small stuff but somehow the Avantis are conspiring to drive me insane...and during the Dover International Meet. You can't tell me cars are inanimate objects! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwindish Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 One might think the Avantis have a mind of their own! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dapy Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Gunny, No good deed goes unpunished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARK Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Gunslinger, if your cars have contempt for you I fear what mine has for me. Leaving after dinner; a fine dinner and great restaurant too, I headed back to New Jersey. All was going well as traffic was moving steadily at 70mph and the 64 Avanti R2 just in a state of joy. Crossing over one of the bridges I noted a sign indicating that the shoulder was closed. Not a problem as I drive on the designated lane and not along the shoulder. Ahead of me I noted a sea of brake lights and cars swerving lane to lane. Oh joy, another event. Slowing from 70 to the 30mph range I feared the truck behind me and not traffic in front as those Bendix brakes do their job well. Upon leaving the footprint of the bridge and entering the highway I too was suddenly aware of the lack of road condition that caused the sea of brake lights. I bounced and shook for about 30 to 40 feet then entered smooth road conditions again. I pulled over into the next rest stop to access any damage. Not fully into the service area I heard and saw my left hubcap airborne and next the car stopped suddenly. Oh boy, frozen calipers. I could not move the car forward. No visible damage and not a leak. Great. So, 130 miles from home and its late. I called a tow company and was very pleasantly surprised with the rapid response of the flatbed truck that arrived. The youngster driving was thrilled beyond words to tow an Avanti back to NJ. So, we talked and talked, lots of information to this young gearhead. All is well upon arriving home in NJ at 4am. Backing into my drive way we slid the car backward into the garage for a good rest. My mechanic is away for another week and I'm sure I will help to delete all the charges from his vacation. So, contempt, naaa, just love. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boogieman Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Oh the vagaries of owning boutique cars. Gotta love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfg Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Big round of applause to all you folks who drove to Dover and put your cars (and yourselves) through those tough traffic, road, and weather conditions. Gunslinger....NICE GOING....WELL DONE!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwindish Posted July 6, 2014 Report Share Posted July 6, 2014 (edited) I'm knocking on wood.... So far my '76 has been running great coming out to Dover and so on the way back. We went up to Hershey today on back roads, seriously, Rte 30 had double yellow lines for 20 odd miles and some driver about 6 cars ahead of me enjoying the scenery. No wonder PA has posted so many signs along the route Beware of Aggressive drivers. We are overnighting in Somerset and hopefully, the '76 will be rarin' to go in the morning to get back to Illinois. As I was leaving a PA turnpike rest stop, I did see a group of people peering under a raised hood of an 80's White Avanti that was also in the rest area. No one was around it when I pulled into the rest area, so I'm hoping it was admirers looking at the car's motor and not trouble. Edited July 6, 2014 by plwindish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunslinger Posted July 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Follow up on the problems my cars gave me...I took the panel out of the '02...it's held in by a metal clip and a plastic guide. The plastic guide was broken for some reason. I took the piece to the local GM dealer and was informed it was no longer available. It is available on the repop market and the piece I got looks good...the only difference is no GM numbers molded on the backside. For all I know it might be made by the same vendor GM used...just without part numbers. The original part had a woodgrain piece glued onto it...I was able to remove it with a razor blade without damage and a heat gun reactivated the glue and it fits just fine on the piece with no additional adhesive required. It's in the car without problem or mismatch. Still...it's annoying that a car with only 6500 miles on the clock and has been babied had that happen. The '70 with the turn signal stalk problem turned out to be less dire than I thought it would be. I purchased a NOS turn signal switch at Dover to install but that turned out not to be the problem. I had a cruise control installed last year in the car (name of the installer shall remain anonymous as his business is well known...one of his employees did the install), and the new turn signal stalk requires a metric thread machined bolt to attach it to the turn signal switch. Well...outside of the spark plug threads maybe nothing on an Avanti of that period is metric and the installing shop probably didn't have any metric bolts, so the installer used an inch pattern machined bolt which held for only so long. It must have been threaded in only a turn or two before backing out altogether. That was the problem. Buying a proper metric machine bolt, drill out the guide hole in the turn signal switch cancel arm a little bit and the problem is solved. At least the problems weren't as bad as I feared...more annoying and maddening than anything else. The timing was bad...on the way to the International Meet. I don't believe the judging was as stringent as I've seen in the past...the popped out panel in the '02 went unnoticed by the judges and I was docked two points for malfunctioning turn signals on the '70. I really can't complain. Maybe the heat had something to do with the judges not being that attentive to detail. Now...I have a NOS turn signal switch I don't need. I guess I'll keep it in case I ever do. I'll just put it in the spare parts bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwindish Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Just a follow up on the Dover trip. We made it back to IL with no car troubles on Sunday evening the 6th. The 76 ran fine out and back from Dover. 1640 miles traveled altogether. Total mpg for the trip was 19.7. The only traffic mess on Sunday was a 20 mile back up on the end of the IN Toll Road as the ramp going back to 80/94 is closed for rebuilding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren55 Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 I decided to make this sign up with a good friend of mine (Tracy) after a few conversations we had about our automotive adventures. I think you'll be able to relate! As we always say, what could go wrong? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=775679079118916&l=13796061b6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwindish Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 I like the sign, but I have something different in mind than Warren & Tracey's Finest for the WTF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren55 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 I like the sign, but I have something different in mind than Warren & Tracey's Finest for the WTF. I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARK Posted August 2, 2014 Report Share Posted August 2, 2014 Gunslinger, you are tough to get a hold of. I have a gift for you but you got to call me for some information prior to mailing. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverplate Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Sounds like you had a stressful day. I have to ask, did anyone else see Elvis or just you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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