New Avanti guy needs help...

[J Boyle]

After a six week wait, my 63 Avanti was delivered yesterday!

I'm finally a Stude driver as well as owner. I'm amazed by the car...the steering is light years ahead of what I was expecting, the brakes are just about what I was expecting. My wife even commented favorably on the ride!

The car was as the seller described it. So I'm a happy camper.

EXCEPT for a couple of issues (you knew there had to be issues)...

During hard right turns (right only) at low speed there is a rubbing sound coming from (I suppose) the power steering area. (This is in addition to the normal PS sounds). A long time Avanti owner who who test drove the car for me reported similar sounds. Before shipment, I had its long time mechanic look it over and he found nothing amiss. I think I just found out why. When the car is in the air, it doesn't happen. Whgen weight is on the car the noise occurs. The car has Studebaker wheels, so Idon't think the tires are rubbing. Other than the noise the steering seems fine. Any ideas?

Also, after a drive there are oil puddles under the car. About a six square inch area well in back of the oil pan. Olso, there seems to be oil in the front cross member. It had an oil change just before shipment, and these were the first extended drives since the change. Any chance it could just be overflow? The oil fitler case is dry, so that's not it. I don't think it's the valve covers.

Rear main seal?

If so , how big a deal is that to fix? Does it need hard to come by gaskets or could someone get them from NAPA? Does a Stude specialist need to do it or can any mechanic sympathic to old cars do it? I want to drive it, but it's leaking a fair amount of oil..just stopping to open the garage door leaves a small puddle on the driveway.

Thanks

John

[Gunslinger]

I'm not knowledgeable enough to address the steering noise, but as to the oil leakage, there's an old saying: Studebakers have left their mark on this world...generally, every place they've parked.

Oil leaks are common to Stude engines. The oil pan on the V8 has something twelve or thirteen seals around it, and after some years and miles, it's very common for them to shrink and allow gaps for oil to leak through.

What you can try, at least for the short term is what helped me on the '63 R1 I used to own...use a can of Bearin' Seal or similar rear main seal leak stopper. It cut my leak down from very bad to merely minor until I was able to rebuild the motor and install all new gaskets and seals.

You should be able to order a gasket set from NAPA or other full-line parts supplier. If not, try Kanter's or some of the Studebaker suppliers that advertise in Avanti magazine or SDC"s Turning Wheels.

[WayneC]

During hard right turns (right only) at low speed there is a rubbing sound coming from (I suppose) the power steering area. (This is in addition to the normal PS sounds). A long time Avanti owner who who test drove the car for me reported similar sounds. Before shipment, I had its long time mechanic look it over and he found nothing amiss. I think I just found out why. When the car is in the air, it doesn't happen. Whgen weight is on the car the noise occurs. The car has Studebaker wheels, so Idon't think the tires are rubbing. Other than the noise the steering seems fine. Any ideas?

You are obviously going to need to do some additional investigation.

What do you mean by the "power steering area"? ...do you mean in the area of the P/S pump?

Will it make the noise if the wheels are turned full right while the car is standing still?

What size tires are on it?

How does the wear pattern on the tire tread look? Same on both front tires?

Is the power steering fluid up to the full mark?

Any rub marks on the inside fender lips or tire tread, either side?

Have a garage check it out while it's up on a ramp-style lift.

[J Boyle]

You are obviously going to need to do some additional investigation.

What do you mean by the "power steering area"? ...do you mean in the area of the P/S pump?

Will it make the noise if the wheels are turned full right while the car is standing still?

What size tires are on it?

How does the wear pattern on the tire tread look? Same on both front tires?

Is the power steering fluid up to the full mark?

Any rub marks on the inside fender lips or tire tread, either side?

Have a garage check it out while it's up on a ramp-style lift.

I took the car into a local mechanic who is familiar with old cars and does a lot of work on street rods....he even used to maintain an 63 R-2 Avanti before it was sold out of state. In other words, I didn't have to tell him what an Avanti was.

The problems turned out to be a leaking distributor gasket and an age-related crack in return hose in the power steering.

BTW: I will be ordering the oil pressure gauge hose and replacing it soon.

The good news is he was very impressed by the shape of the car and its originality.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

John