upper interior side panel and radio replacement

[63stick]

As i was dismantling the interior of my car, I found that the upper side panel over the rear quarter windows were fastened to the body with four screws each, located under the vinyl trim. Am i assuming correctly that those panels were wrapped after the backer was attached to the body.

Second thing, I'm considering putting in an upgraded/updated radio. Any recommendations. Also read somewhere, somebody said there isn't any room for a good speaker as there isn't any room between radio and speaker. Unless I'm missing something, it appears there is plenty of room for a good speaker.

 Thanks for the responses, I hate asking questions, but I don't want to have to do something twice when I can avoid it.

[mfg]

27 minutes ago, 63stick said:

As i was dismantling the interior of my car, I found that the upper side panel over the rear quarter windows were fastened to the body with four screws each, located under the vinyl trim. Am i assuming correctly that those panels were wrapped after the backer was attached to the body.

Second thing, I'm considering putting in an upgraded/updated radio. Any recommendations. Also read somewhere, somebody said there isn't any room for a good speaker as there isn't any room between radio and speaker. Unless I'm missing something, it appears there is plenty of room for a good speaker.

 Thanks for the responses, I hate asking questions, but I don't want to have to do something twice when I can avoid it.

Can’t help you on your first question… As far as the radio goes, I purchased a Custom Autosound AM-FM stereo for my ‘83 Avanti ‘everyday driver’ a few years ago which I have been very happy with… I called the company and told them it was going in a ‘63 (which they had a pattern for… same dash as ‘83)  It fit perfectly .. no cutting… and yes, there is definitely room for a dash speaker above radio. (on my ‘83 I kept the two kick panel and the two rear shelf speakers.)

And ask all the questions you want!!

[63stick]

Does your 83 have same faceplate as the 63. Can I use my face plate trim. I saw they have a few different options. I was thinking blue tooth. Also saw somebody had a rear deck panel with trunk access panel for sale. Later year, it has rear defroster in it, which would be fine for a sub woofer and speakers. Not going to modify mine. Don't want to do anything that's not reversible.

And thanks on asking question.

[63stick]

I noticed your in Mass. Brought back an old memory from 1963. We took my mothers new Avanti to Mass for our vacation. Her car had straight through mufflers and no resonators. It was load. We were in Marble head and out at a waterfront restaurant, called the Studio. We had valet parked the car. While we were eating we kept hearing this loud rumble every few minutes. Finally my father got up to check. Their parking was on the road which was a dead end if I recall. They kept moving the car closer to the front of the restaurant every time a space opened up. Nobody had seen one yet. It ended up being parked right at the front door. Haven't thought about that for any years.

[mfg]

55 minutes ago, 63stick said:

Does your 83 have same faceplate as the 63. Can I use my face plate trim. I saw they have a few different options. I was thinking blue tooth. Also saw somebody had a rear deck panel with trunk access panel for sale. Later year, it has rear defroster in it, which would be fine for a sub woofer and speakers. Not going to modify mine. Don't want to do anything that's not reversible.

And thanks on asking question.

Yep…. ‘63 & ‘83 radio faceplate are basically same item.

[Guy]

The padded trim above quarter window, mine had a single spring clip midfield, in addition to that the upper screws holding the quarter window in place went into the lower part of padded piece pulling it in tight. The padded piece above doors is held on with 4 or 5 spring clips, if your car is like mine and sat for years with water trapped inside the clips may have completely rusted away

[mfg]

11 hours ago, 63stick said:

I noticed your in Mass. Brought back an old memory from 1963. We took my mothers new Avanti to Mass for our vacation. Her car had straight through mufflers and no resonators. It was load. We were in Marble head and out at a waterfront restaurant, called the Studio. We had valet parked the car. While we were eating we kept hearing this loud rumble every few minutes. Finally my father got up to check. Their parking was on the road which was a dead end if I recall. They kept moving the car closer to the front of the restaurant every time a space opened up. Nobody had seen one yet. It ended up being parked right at the front door. Haven't thought about that for any years.

That’s a great story!… It really brings back how much of a ‘traffic stopper’ the Studebaker Avanti truly was when it first hit the streets…….

Avantis still turn heads… but NOTHING like the excitement this dream car caused when first introduced….  Again, Great Story!…. Ed

[grant mills]

mfg,   Can I assume that my 84 has the same opening as the 83? My Bluapunkt has died and I am wanting to replace the cassette deck unit with something more modern.

[mfg]

22 minutes ago, grant mills said:

mfg,   Can I assume that my 84 has the same opening as the 83? My Bluapunkt has died and I am wanting to replace the cassette deck unit with something more modern.

Yes… exactly the same radio opening…. I replaced a ‘dead’ Blaupunkt also.

[63stick]

Guy, The single clip, was it the same as the ones holding the trim over the door.

I'm going to have to give it some thought before I put it back together.

Obviously the backer was screwed in first then the padding and vinyl applied over it.

The screws pulled through when I removed, no other way to get it off. Thinking while typing, holes are just pulled through. The backer is all there, I can press the backer in place. I have harder that will soak into the backer, then I can drill the holes to the same size as the trim over the door has. enlarge the screw holes in body and use spring clips. Probably don't need all four if yours only used one.

I am fortunate, my car was always garaged , and has been sitting inside since the early 70s. She's pretty much rust free, haven't had a problem with any screw or bolt I have removed. Actually, I did have a problem with the large Philps screw going into side kick panel from heater box. The wellnut kept turning. Not complaining, consider myself very lucky. I'm sure the low mileage has a lot to do with it also.  

[Guy]

63 stick, the backer is not screwed on first, The vinyl is glued on leaving the bottom edge free to be glued to the body wrapping around window frame and glued flat rearward of rear window. The 4 clips are for the piece over door, only one on piece over rear window. You can use 1/8" plywood to make new backerboards, I had to make new panels for entire car. Take note of slotted holes holding clips. I had the same problem with the heater box wellnut, a threaded insert in a rubber bushing, once I had it out I took a 1"×2" piece of sheet metal drilled a hole in it and welded a 1/4-20 nut to it, stuck the nut through existing hole from backside and pop rivited the plate in place.

[63stick]

Guy,

My panel does not have a clip and No hole for one. It had four small screws. 

The lower panel in your picture with curtesy light in it, is that plywood?

 Where is the location of the clip on your panel, I don't see a hole for it.

[Guy]

Yes it is plywood, the clip was to right of light an inch or so, in the discolored area, there are the four screws holes holding top of rear window that penetrated the wood in the bottom edge of padded light piece. Do you have the glass out of the car? Much of the interior trim is glued to window frames before glass goes in. I am working on this part of the restoration of my 63 presently

[63stick]

6 hours ago, Guy said:

Yes it is plywood, the clip was to right of light an inch or so, in the discolored area, there are the four screws holes holding top of rear window that penetrated the wood in the bottom edge of padded light piece. Do you have the glass out of the car? Much of the interior trim is glued to window frames before glass goes in. I am working on this part of the restoration of my 63 presently

Guy, picture if my panel. It was screwed to body before cover went on. No center clip and no hole in body for one. Window screw only go into the vinyl where it lays in window channel. My backer board is 3/32” thick, hard board.

[Guy]

I guess no two Avantis are exactly the same. I wouldnt get to hung up on how it was done and do it how it makes sense to you, if that means drilling a hole or two for clips, why not.

[63stick]

2 hours ago, Guy said:

I guess no two Avantis are exactly the same. I wouldnt get to hung up on how it was done and do it how it makes sense to you, if that means drilling a hole or two for clips, why not.

Did they come made of Luan or are they replacements

[Guy]

I dont know, anything is possible as it seems someone reupholstered my car sometime in the past.

[brad]

All the upper upholstery were panel card material, a dense cardboard. Covered in jute on the upper pieces, Cotton batting on the sides, and foam on the pieces on the doors, and upper 1/4 above the side panel where it rolls over the opening of the 1/4 window. The rear piece where the courtesy light is has the vinyl folded over the top only, then it was screwed to the body, then the jute glued then the remaining flap of vinyl glued to the body, and folded over the window openings (both the top of the 1/4 window, and the rear window).

 

[63stick]

On 2/18/2025 at 4:03 PM, brad said:

All the upper upholstery were panel card material, a dense cardboard. Covered in jute on the upper pieces, Cotton batting on the sides, and foam on the pieces on the doors, and upper 1/4 above the side panel where it rolls over the opening of the 1/4 window. The rear piece where the courtesy light is has the vinyl folded over the top only, then it was screwed to the body, then the jute glued then the remaining flap of vinyl glued to the body, and folded over the window openings (both the top of the 1/4 window, and the rear window).

 

That's what it looks like. No way it was put on any other way. Would you happen to know a supplier of any of the fill material or the board. The board only measures 3/32".

[64studeavanti]

Ernie loga @ http://www.studebakervendors.com/loga/ can make you any panel you need.

Edited Thursday at 03:42 AM by 64studeavanti