Fun with '63 Avanti upgrades

[garyc]

This winter I spent some quality time adding some convienent upgrades to 63R3453. I just finished adding a Avital 2101L keyless entry system to the doors and trunk. It was not complicated and there was lots of room for the transmitter under the fuse block next to the drivers floor vent opening. The actuators had plenty of room in the doors under the door lock and the relay and wiring for the trunk release solenoid went in the hollow under the drivers side rear ash tray. I had to cut a 3"X4" hole in drivers door panel under the latch lever to attach the Actuators to the levers. There was already an opening on the passengers door. There were no problems with this application. Attaching the DIEL010 trunk solinoid from Provantage LLC in Mira Loma CA was not difficult either. My Avanti has electric windows so running the wires from the door post to the door was easy. When adding the trunk wiring I just removed the trunk latch cable and ran the wires from the solenoid were the cable handle was under the ash tray. I also added a bush button there and interfaced it with the entry system wires. There remains one more circuit in the transmitter to actuate a security system or a light system. I haven't decided if I'm going to use that option yet. Pushing a button now instead of using the key is a great feature. Adding an internal regulated alternator and cold air intake to the R1 engine and Pertronic ignition were also fun and positve addions. If time and money prevail one day I may add a GM 200R4 overdrive transmission for improved cruising at lower RPM's and better MPG. There is a great article about this conversion in the Summer/Fall 2011 Issue 155 of the Avanti Magazine. If anyone would like more details I'll be glad to chat. Garyc

[grobb284]

Very interesting, please post some photos.

[garyc]

Sorry but I didn't take pictures. I didn't have to make any brakets, only drilled a couple of holes for one wire to pass through the fiber glass below the ash tray and a hole for the screw mounting of the trunk solenoid. The actuator kit comes with mounting hardware. You do need to remove the back seats to take out the trunk latch cable and add the wiring for the trunk. I connected the 12v for the trunk solenoid to the parking light wire in the trunk. The trunk opens with either the push button under the ash try or the key fob.