Avanti Steering Box Fix

[geojerry]

It's time to rebuild the bad steering on the 78 Avanti II with power steering. Looking for Steering Box and worm gear.
Was told to also get a pair of Quick Steering arms from SI ( $115 pair). Car has 2 year old new shocks, king pins etc. We tightened as much, the steering box but the Avanti still wanders with upto a 1/4 wheel looseness. Getting to be scary driving on bad roads.Hard to stay in one lane without drifting over, at times.

Has anyone these parts in their possession for sale or any lessons learned from this type of repair?

Thanks,
Jerry

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by geojerry

It's time to rebuild the bad steering on the 78 Avanti II with power steering. Looking for Steering Box and worm gear.
Was told to also get a pair of Quick Steering arms from SI ( $115 pair). Car has 2 year old new shocks, king pins etc. We tightened as much, the steering box but the Avanti still wanders with upto a 1/4 wheel looseness. Getting to be scary driving on bad roads.Hard to stay in one lane without drifting over, at times.
Has anyone these parts in their possession for sale or any lessons learned from this type of repair?

By about 1976 Avanti Motors had run out of the original fast ratio Ross steering boxes so they "adapted" something else (I have heard that they were forklift steering boxes). The mounting system is pretty "Mickey Mouse". Be sure all bolts fastening the brackets to the frame and to the box are very tight. My '76 box had worked loose and caused all kinds of steering problems. I was fortunate enough to find a NOS original box and got it on the car to solve my problem.
For Avanti II parts check with Nostalgic Motor Cars, 1-800-AVANTI-X or 1-800-AVANTI-1. Jon Myer, Myer's Studebaker in Ohio, 740-674-4897, has many years Avanti experience and stocks a lot of stuff. And, Dave Thiebeault (T-Bow) in Massachusetts, 978-897-3158 does a lot of Avanti work.

Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine
1962 Gravely Model L (Studebaker-Packard serial plate)
1972 Gravely Model 430 (Studebaker name plate, Studebaker Onan engine)

[geojerry]

When we had the car on the lift to tighten the steering box, the mech thinks my box resembles a 67 Dodge Truck box. A forklift box would be unworthy of this vehicle. Shame on you Altman Bros. if that's what was used.

[PackardV8]

quote: Shame on you Altman Bros. if that's what was used.

Forklifts and Studebakers and Avanti were assembled with parts made by Ross, Saginaw, Timken, Dana, Spicer, Borg-Warner, GM, York, Ashtabula Molded Fiberglas and a dozen smaller companies.

And almost forgot the fuel and electrical systems - Stromberg, Carter, AC, McCulloch, Autolite, Delco, Prestolite. How many others can we think of?

thnx, jack vines

PackardV8