In my earlier days I woul hav driven the 600 miles in one day, but this time we decided to put an overnite in the trip, especially since the Avanti is pretty much uintested and still has some iissues I didn't get around to. Left the Eastern Panhandle of WV at 8 am going I-70 to I-68 then turning off on old US 40 in Western Maryland. Followed 40 to Washington, PA then headed north on PA 18 and 16 to US 30. Stayed on 30 to Wooster where we stopped about 3pm. Rebuilt AC compressor worked OK and the car didn't use any oil to speak off. I guess my painful valve guide seal job paid off (was getting 250 miles per quart). Got 17.2 mpg today with many hills and towns. Hoping for better tomorrow on the flatter home stretch. 180 thermostat stayed at 180 except on long grades at 65-70 where it crept up to about 200, Once cresting the hill it would go back to 180. The new thermostatic viscous clutch cut on quite a bit at lower speeds in the many towns.
Issues- steering is flaky with an annoying sticky spot in going over center (needed a front end alignment, but ran out of time). Idle needs some work- sometimes drops back too low and the throttle kicker does. Pinion seal is still dripping. Brakes aren't pulling down the way they should. Turner brakes- pads are like new, worn evenly, pedal is hard, booster is working. My son found that they were plumbed backwards so I had hoped correcting would solve the problem.
At a gas stop in Kensington, OH a young man pulled in behind me, hopped out of his truck and said "wow! an Avanti". He told me that was the fiorst one he had ever seen in person, but he had a 1/25 model of one at home.
Should be in South Bend mid afternoon tomorrow- can't wait
Issues- steering is flaky with an annoying sticky spot in going over center (needed a front end alignment, but ran out of time). Idle needs some work- sometimes drops back too low and the throttle kicker does. Pinion seal is still dripping. Brakes aren't pulling down the way they should. Turner brakes- pads are like new, worn evenly, pedal is hard, booster is working. My son found that they were plumbed backwards so I had hoped correcting would solve the problem.
At a gas stop in Kensington, OH a young man pulled in behind me, hopped out of his truck and said "wow! an Avanti". He told me that was the fiorst one he had ever seen in person, but he had a 1/25 model of one at home.
Should be in South Bend mid afternoon tomorrow- can't wait
Comment