Before I took the first drive in the '88 I checked the stop lights and signals. The right front was not working because the socket and bulb were just hanging by the wire. While twisting the socket to lock it in place the housing pops off and falls to the ground. The bumper cover obviously took a hit and there were cracks around the opening and I thought that was why the housing was held in only by some kind of adhesive. So I looked at the other side and the housing is held in by the same goo. No damage on the left so I can only assume that they came that way from the plant.
I don't like just glueing things in so I took a shot on some aftermarket housings I found on ebay for $22.00 to my door. I just stuck one in place to eyeball the fit. The lenses on the new housings screw into place so what I'm going to do is make a filler, paint it white and put the housing in the from the back and screw the lens on from the front for a nice solid attachment.
I think it looks better with the more modern clear housings.
I also repaired my non-working power windows. New motor on the left side new gear assembly on the right. Changed the bolts holding the center pivot on the regualtors because they were so long the were contacting the arms. They probably shortened the life of the motor and gears. Lots of WD-40 and grease on the regulator and rollers and I've got smooth running windows. Coincidentally, the motors and gears are the same ones my '76 Chrysler uses.
I began repairing some cracked fiberglass on the inner driver's door using some 1/8" aluminum stock. I sandwiched the cracked spot where the Erector Set repair was between two pieces of aluminum. I threaded the inside piece and then used 4 screws to make a nice strong fix. I'll put a picture of the repair up tomorrow after I finish making a couple of reinforcemnts for the spots I can see flexing when the window moves.
This is a before with the Erector Set repair lower left.
Got some new tires coming next week. I'm going with a taller tire in the rear to get a little Studebaker rake. I may stick a set of air shocks that I have in the garage in the back also. I've ordered a set of Michelins 235/55-17 rear and 225/45-17 fronts.
Once the tires are on it will be time for a few 50 mile shakedown runs and hopefully a successful run through state inspection.
ErnieR
R2 R5388 @ Macungie 2006 __________________ 1988 "Beater" Avanti
I don't like just glueing things in so I took a shot on some aftermarket housings I found on ebay for $22.00 to my door. I just stuck one in place to eyeball the fit. The lenses on the new housings screw into place so what I'm going to do is make a filler, paint it white and put the housing in the from the back and screw the lens on from the front for a nice solid attachment.
I think it looks better with the more modern clear housings.
I also repaired my non-working power windows. New motor on the left side new gear assembly on the right. Changed the bolts holding the center pivot on the regualtors because they were so long the were contacting the arms. They probably shortened the life of the motor and gears. Lots of WD-40 and grease on the regulator and rollers and I've got smooth running windows. Coincidentally, the motors and gears are the same ones my '76 Chrysler uses.
I began repairing some cracked fiberglass on the inner driver's door using some 1/8" aluminum stock. I sandwiched the cracked spot where the Erector Set repair was between two pieces of aluminum. I threaded the inside piece and then used 4 screws to make a nice strong fix. I'll put a picture of the repair up tomorrow after I finish making a couple of reinforcemnts for the spots I can see flexing when the window moves.
This is a before with the Erector Set repair lower left.
Got some new tires coming next week. I'm going with a taller tire in the rear to get a little Studebaker rake. I may stick a set of air shocks that I have in the garage in the back also. I've ordered a set of Michelins 235/55-17 rear and 225/45-17 fronts.
Once the tires are on it will be time for a few 50 mile shakedown runs and hopefully a successful run through state inspection.
ErnieR
R2 R5388 @ Macungie 2006 __________________ 1988 "Beater" Avanti
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