Enter your username:
Do you want to login or register?
  • Forgot your password?

    Login / Register



    Results 1 to 16 of 16
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Mar 2011
      Location
      Baton Rouge, LA
      Posts
      19

      The Advantageous Avanti

      1981 Studebaker Avanti (2.5 year ground up build)Frame rework and rot repair
      LS1/4L60E conversion
      Holley drive system and oil pan
      Pioneer NAV, Smart phone remote start, GPS tracking in Realtime
      Nissan 350Z power fold seats
      Stainless steel fuel tank
      ridetech Coil over front suspension components
      Ridler 695 17" wheels
      Designed Rack and pinion steering conversion
      Vintage Air GenIV system
      LED lights throughout, including tail lamps and turn signals
      Classic Instruments Stainless gauges
      Composite headlight conversion
      3 row aluminum radiator w E fan
      Impact bumper delete
      Imported Italian Leather stock for interior

      Before:





      During:











      [






      "No he's not a mechanic, just hired help..."

      1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe
      GEN III 5.7 Hemi - A-833 4Speed ~ CANbus integration

    2. #2
      Join Date
      Mar 2011
      Location
      Baton Rouge, LA
      Posts
      19
      Current:




      "No he's not a mechanic, just hired help..."

      1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe
      GEN III 5.7 Hemi - A-833 4Speed ~ CANbus integration

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Dec 2005
      Location
      Birmingham, AL
      Posts
      3,356
      Country Flag: United States
      Cool build. I have always like the lines of the Avanti
      Stephen

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Mar 2007
      Location
      Florida
      Posts
      2,391
      Country Flag: United States
      Very nice! That engine looks right at home in there. Bonus points for the valve covers.

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Feb 2012
      Location
      Ohio
      Posts
      129
      Country Flag: United States
      Great build

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Jan 2015
      Location
      lower michigan
      Posts
      10
      Country Flag: United States
      best avanti i have ever seen not a big fan but much respect for that one awesome work!

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Feb 2008
      Posts
      29
      sweet!!!
      63 1/2' Galaxie 500

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Apr 2012
      Location
      Seattle area
      Posts
      1
      Country Flag: United States
      Love to see this build. Great job. You may help propel the Avanti to more pro-touring builds. I have spent the past several years doing a similar build to a 1990 Avanti 4-door. 1st autocross of the season is less than 4 weeks away and I can hardly wait! Currently running a 383 SBC with Edelbrocks TPI system, but like the idea of an LS motor, so am building a LQ9 with MSD's new Air Force intake. Sorry to see you had so much rust to deal with. You did a superb job. I love the color choice.

      Rich
      Renton, WA
      1990 Avanti LTS (4-door) #78 of 90 built, House of Kolors Celestial White w/crushed glass and blue pearlescence; 383 SBC, Edelbrock TPI, intake and heads, Hooker headers, 2 1/2" stainless exhaust; Griffin 3 core radiator with dual Flex-a-lite hi-flo fans, Corvette Z06 Brakes, Lorenzo 20" wheels, Bilstein shocks, Global West tubular UCA/LCA F&R, Helwig sway bars, Pirelli AS Sport tires, Cerullo seats, Cadillac CTS-V steering wheel, 3 layers of Dynamat, 2 layers of undercoating. LED lights throughout (including headlights), Infiniti speakers/amps, stereo, yellow-top optima relocated to trunk, Eaton posi w/Dutchman HD axles, fabricated wheel flares, relocated seat belts, FAST Ezi ECU with dash read-out.

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Mar 2011
      Location
      Baton Rouge, LA
      Posts
      19

      The Advantageous Avanti

      I highly recommend the LS swap! Let me know if you need the inside scoop.
      "No he's not a mechanic, just hired help..."

      1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe
      GEN III 5.7 Hemi - A-833 4Speed ~ CANbus integration

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Mar 2011
      Location
      Baton Rouge, LA
      Posts
      19

      The Advantageous Avanti

      This weeks minor updates:

      Final brake line assembly was completed by bending the master to proportioning valve lines and routing them as neatly as I could.

      I was also able to locate better bell crank assembly pins for the brake booster to pedal linkages. The originals were severely corroded and worn carbon steel clevis pins. I took the opportunity to mic the linkages and come up with a suitable solution. Stainless steel pins with retaining clips. Not only will it prevent seizing, but it also provides a better appearance.




      Next, two air vents were added into the empty gauge holes within the instrument panel. These holes originally housed an analog clock and vacuum gauge, both of which were not desired with the new gauge layout. The air vents seem to blend in decently and will add functionality to those existing openings, instead of simply blinding them in.



      Moving on, with the recent McMaster-Carr order came the aluminum spacers needed to retrofit the power windows motors into the window regulators. We decided to upgrade the motors to later model GM units for several reasons.
      1) It was determined that the regulators and motors were the same ones used in 1965ish lincoln continentals. They were heavy, non functioning and replacements were very expensive. (Appx $250 for a set) we even tried to have the originals rebuilt, no dice, they were toast.
      2) GM units are readily available at any auto parts store and cheap at $25 each.
      3) GM units were lighter, incorporated gear reduction for better lifting ability and utilized the same connector as the oem motors. Who knew?!

      The only issues were mounting depth and bolt pattern, which is being solved with the 1/2" aluminum spacers and a re drill of the bolt holes in the regulator. The gears mesh up perfectly as does the thrust pad.



      Finally, being the only dull accessory in the engine compartment, a new polished alternator was acquired.



      More updates to follow...
      "No he's not a mechanic, just hired help..."

      1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe
      GEN III 5.7 Hemi - A-833 4Speed ~ CANbus integration

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Mar 2009
      Location
      San Antonio, TX
      Posts
      1,632
      Great project! I've always wanted to see an Avanti with more performance.
      Garage builds are my favorite too, congrats on all the hard work, it looks great!
      Dave
      84 Monte SS - just a few bolt-ons

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Ma.
      Posts
      5,567
      Country Flag: United States
      Nice work! I always like the Avanti's since I was a kid "when they were new" lol Great thread.
      Wayne
      Car FINALLY home !!!!!! lol
      Project FNQUIK https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=FNQUIK

    13. #13
      Join Date
      May 2011
      Location
      Brisbane, Australia
      Posts
      453
      Country Flag: Australia
      Very cool. Instrument cluster looks amazing.

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Sep 2013
      Location
      sw Kansas
      Posts
      1,640
      Country Flag: United States
      Very good!

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Apr 2009
      Location
      LI,NY
      Posts
      304
      Country Flag: United States
      Very awesome choice for a build! My father had a '63 Avanti when I was a kid, and I put a down payment on a '71 a year ago.....then the guy started dragging getting the car together for me, and I had to back out. These are highly overlooked cars. Those "hog troughs" had to set you back a pretty penny!

      65 Vista Cruiser
      67 Delta 88 Vert
      70 Vista Cruiser Pro-Tour Project
      96 T-Bird
      69 BSA A65L
      48 Ford F5
      https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...o-Tour-Project

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Sep 2016
      Posts
      1
      I'd like to contact "Hiredhelp" (email, phone, whatever). I have a 1963 Studebaker Avanti and want to do a SBC/LS swap and really admire the work done on the Avanti ll! Thanks!

      npermuth is my forum name and email is [email protected].







    Advertise on Pro-Touring.com