Well my new to me R-2 Avanti got here today from WA. No brakes. Understandable after sitting for 32 years. My first step is get it to run and brakes to work. Then see if those will be exceptable as is or if one or both need a total rebuild. Needs a new windshield and some new rubbers. Small amount of body repair and a complete paint. So I now have two winter projects to do. should keep me busy all winter and out of any kind of trouble. 
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Good find .
Looks like Ya got Your work cut out for You. -
I have 5 of the 6 front bumper brackets and driver quality front bumper ends if you are looking for parts. Also 2 headlight bezels.
BobBob
Welland Ontario
60 Lark Convertible
64 Daytona
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"They were meant to be driven ... so keep on cruizin"Comment
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Got the car in the shop yesterday. planed to pull all the plugs and oil down the cylinders good before trying to turn it. Think I got lucky. The wires where all off on the drivers side and all plugs where in just finger tight. looked to have been prepped when parked. Turned easy by hand so hooked up a battery and it spun over easy with a hit at the starter. Going to try to spray clean the carb and put new plugs in it and see if it will start off a gas can. Oil is blacker than hell but right at the full mark and other than black looks clean. Got a little reassembly before I dare try to start it. Took the hood off because it will have to come off to repair front anyway and a lot easier to work on it with out it being in the way. Car appears to have been hit before in the front before. Has a 63 hood and hood prop has been moved to the left side like a 63.Comment
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Well I can report after 32 years it runs. Had to put in new plugs, cap and wires, Ordered points and rotor and they came late today. Put the radiator back in and got everything hooked up but the fan because that was not in the pile of loose parts that came with the car. Have had it running for maybe ten minutes total so far . Has good oil pressure , 60 cold and temp got to 160 because that's what I put in for a new thermostat. only have water in it but will drain that as soon as I get everything checked out and put in the antifreeze. Oil pressure stays right at 55-60 even after it warmed up. Runs and sounds good but running way rich easy to understand after sitting so many years, Surprised it runs at all with nothing but a spray of some carb cleaner. Think I will have a local carb shop rebuild it this winter. He said he has done a few of them. Got some exhaust issues. Fuel pump works even after sitting and no gas getting into the oil. At least not yet. Super charger turns free but took off the belts and will remove it and clean and change oil before I try to hook it back up. Will run it some more and then change the oil and filter. Starts almost on the second turn so that makes me feel good. Another day of playing with it and I think I can move on to the brakes.Comment
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On the R2, that carb is under pressure from the Supercharger. 4 lbs of boost. Make sure whoever rebuilds it is aware and capable of doing the work or the carb will spew gas everywhere. I ran into that with my rebuild.
Sounds like good progress is being made.Comment
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He knows it's a R-2. Said he has done a few. His Dad started the shop years ago and when I ran my Dads engine rebuilding Shop we had him do a few. Always did a good job. The son took over when the old man retired. I think they do rebuilds nation wide and ship all over the country. Said if it's just a clean and new kit somewhere just under $400. Will have that done over the winter because can tell by how it runs and how rich it's running it needs it plus the back two of the 4 bbl are stuck. Kind of common on AFB's when they sit a while. Had it done on them before.Comment
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Before you put it back together, make sure the radiator core support mounting brackets to frame are sound and not broken or cracking. They literally support the front body, and the fact that it's been tapped in the front maybe once or twice makes them a potential problem.
Good luck 🤞Comment
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Please be aware that your carb shop may not have the exact rebuild kit for your car, too many "think" an AFB is an AFB:-( Better to have either Dave Thibeault or Jon Myer rebuild your carb....................just saying:-)Originally posted by swvalcon View PostComment
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Was waiting on primer to set up today on a Impala fender I was working on. So decided to see what was under the crack on the Drivers fender on the Avanti. I knew it had been worked on once before and then now got crashed again. Paint job looked like a old Maaco or Earl Scheib so knew it would have to be stripped back to the glass anyway. The more I dug into it I could tell it was a older not so good repair I would say from maybe the 70's some where. So I took it back to factory fiberglass and got rid of all the old repairs. Looks like they cut out a pretty good section of the fender.
Will redo it with the new better repair products we have today that are stronger and more durable.Attached FilesComment
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It has some broken bolts on the rt side exhaust manifold so have decided to pull the motor instead of just the rt head as theysay if not broke don't mess with it. It runs real good other than needs the carb rebuilt for sitting 32 years. It came with a replacement manifold just incase the other one needs to be machined flat. This way I can clean up the engine compartment that everything got painted including a lot of the wires last time someone painted it. Plus I can clean and paint frame and pull soft plugs and clean inside and out on block, install new brass plugs and paint the engine before it goes back in.
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Good Plan, if the Engine compartment does not clean up real well, you might consider Re-Painting that in the Color the car will be while you have the chance.
White seems to be the Color Most often unwanted and re-painted, sometimes to Contrast or Match the Interior, but of course original is Original and that could be a good plan also.
I know, it never ends, that would be Project/Plan "Creep" !StudeRich
Second Generation Stude Driver,
Proud '54 Starliner Owner
SDC Member Since 1967Comment
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An Avanti in white with round bezels is "orgasmic"Comment
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Had time yesterday and today to do a little on the Avanti. Removed the tuck lid removed all trim and stripped the paint to where I wanted it. Gave it Two good heavy wet coats of 2-K primer. Will let it dry a day or two and then block sand with 180. and give it another two coats and block with 320 and 400. Then a couple coats of SPI epoxy and it's ready to paint other than block with 600 wet and seal and paint. The 2-K primer I have been using the last few years sticks to everything like glue and fills and sands like the old Feather-seal primer. It's some amazing stuff and priced right. Next comes the hood as it's off the car while I pull the engine.Comment
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Block sanded the lid today with 180 and when done straight as can be and even when wet with wax and grease cleaner couldn't find a sand scratch anywhere. Just going to give it two good coats of White SPI epoxy and let it cure until I sand and paint it. I wouldn't be afraid to paint it black let alone white. Will post some pictures tomorrow after I sand the underside and epoxy it.Comment
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