The miracles of the Avanti continue. Because I had 9 cars and an 8 car garage, I let my R-1 sit outside this spring, and when I finally got a round tuit, I opened the trunk, and Viola! [that's wah-lah for you who are Francophobes]...the wheel well was full of rusty water and the spare tire was floating, its back-side covered with rusty steel. The whole wheel well was stained with rust, and I assumed [wrong] that it was also made of steel.
So, I ordered Avanti trunk weather strip from S.I., removed the trunk lid, removed the old weather seal, and applied the new weather strip, the open side facing out, according to instructions in S.I.'s latest catalog using the BLACK [messy] 3-M weather strip cement I also ordered. I also did the same on my WHITE 64 Cruiser, using the right weather strip from S.I. correctly applied after removing the trunk lid, removing the old weather strip, etc. Too bad they can't recommend something less messy than BLACK cement. Their weather strip cement cleaner also functions as a nifty paint remover!
Today, I thoroughly cleaned the Avanti trunk (new trunk liner ordered) and discovered it is fiberglass, not steel, just STAINED with rust, not rusty. Then, with the car parked in front of the house with the trunk open to thoroughly dry, I went about my business until I decided to water the tomatoes. By then the trunk was dry, so I closed the trunk lid and showered the Avanti with water. Guess what? The weather strip leaked and there was water in the trunk, which would damage the new trunk liner when it is ready.
I have read (on this forum) that the trunk on 64-66 Larks also leak, and some of this could be from the rear window seals. I just had a new headliner installed on both of my 64 and 64 Cruisers. This requires removing the front and rear windows, and they replaced with new windshield and rear glass seals from S.I. I suppose the rear window will also leak, or the trunk seal will leak, even with new rubber all around.
Conclusion: Studebakers not only leak oil, but they also leak water. Maybe they should be called "Leakobakers". In any case, I guess I will continue to keep all of them in the garage and only take them out on dry sunny days. Thus they couldn't really be considered "drivers" [Studebaker DRIVERS Club] as one can't consider them to be "all weather cars". Maybe they should be called "Rustobakers",.....which I'm sure is not my original idea.
Please visit my Photobucket site by clicking on thumbnails. Comments invited. Thanks.
So, I ordered Avanti trunk weather strip from S.I., removed the trunk lid, removed the old weather seal, and applied the new weather strip, the open side facing out, according to instructions in S.I.'s latest catalog using the BLACK [messy] 3-M weather strip cement I also ordered. I also did the same on my WHITE 64 Cruiser, using the right weather strip from S.I. correctly applied after removing the trunk lid, removing the old weather strip, etc. Too bad they can't recommend something less messy than BLACK cement. Their weather strip cement cleaner also functions as a nifty paint remover!
Today, I thoroughly cleaned the Avanti trunk (new trunk liner ordered) and discovered it is fiberglass, not steel, just STAINED with rust, not rusty. Then, with the car parked in front of the house with the trunk open to thoroughly dry, I went about my business until I decided to water the tomatoes. By then the trunk was dry, so I closed the trunk lid and showered the Avanti with water. Guess what? The weather strip leaked and there was water in the trunk, which would damage the new trunk liner when it is ready.
I have read (on this forum) that the trunk on 64-66 Larks also leak, and some of this could be from the rear window seals. I just had a new headliner installed on both of my 64 and 64 Cruisers. This requires removing the front and rear windows, and they replaced with new windshield and rear glass seals from S.I. I suppose the rear window will also leak, or the trunk seal will leak, even with new rubber all around.
Conclusion: Studebakers not only leak oil, but they also leak water. Maybe they should be called "Leakobakers". In any case, I guess I will continue to keep all of them in the garage and only take them out on dry sunny days. Thus they couldn't really be considered "drivers" [Studebaker DRIVERS Club] as one can't consider them to be "all weather cars". Maybe they should be called "Rustobakers",.....which I'm sure is not my original idea.
Please visit my Photobucket site by clicking on thumbnails. Comments invited. Thanks.
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