1963 Avanti rear package shelf is sagging from water and age

[sals54]

I was going to offer the tray out of the parts car I've got, but its already sagging too. Not horrible, but somewhat. It still has the support brace and brackets attached.

[sbca96]

Hardboard has lasted in Avantis for over fifty years...no reason it can't do so for the next several owners. Plastic will work and work fine, but wood is easier to cut, drill and shape, cheaper to buy so why not keep using it?

Agreed, I feel the same way, the problem is, no one sells that thickness. All I can find is thin material, anyone have a source
for 5/16 hardboard? This is of the oldest Avantis out there also, a 1963 round headlight. I need headlight bezels too.

Tom, not sure I understand "RAD Ideas"

RAD Ideas is what I call my quasi-company. I offer my modern disc brake adapter brackets, I had planned to offer the power
window adapter brackets. I have made an extremely stronger shifter stick for 2004-2006 GTO B&M Tremec T-56 (they break
between the ball and the pin) and I just did a batch of sliders for seat tracks on a 1994-1996 Impala SS.

I was going to offer the tray out of the parts car I've got, but its already sagging too. Not horrible, but somewhat. It still has the support brace and brackets attached.

Thanks for the offer, its Fawn or Elk .. faded and cracked vinyl. I am having the seats redone and the tray along with it.

I had considered using heat to bend the board back, I tried to wet it, but found it won't take on water, I think they put a ton
of glue on it and is soaked in. This could have easily been avoided had Studebaker ran the support brace from bracket across
to the other bracket. I may just let the guy recover it as is, and raise the rear up for a nice gradual rake to the rear glass.

Tom

[JLB]

Tom..........to be clear, you are not going to make the power window adapters, is that correct?
Thanks
John

[Endl98]

I am replacing the rear shelf on my Avanti this week. I went to the local Home Depot and got sheet of 1/4 MDF board took the vinyl off the old one, and clamped the original over the MDF and just used a jig saw to trace/cut around the original. I drilled out the rivets from the brackets, drilled the holes and took off the brace, drilled the holes for the nutserts.
It fits great in the car. I will be putting on new vinyl and re-assembling it this week.

[sbca96]

Tom..........to be clear, you are not going to make the power window adapters, is that correct?
Thanks
John

I guess I need to check the forum more often. I was knee deep trying to get my 1963 Avanti ready for a large local show - lost track of time.

I will be offering the bracket at some point, so far I have a rather large chunk of money into the RAD Ideas caliper brackets - would be nice to break even on that prior to putting out more capital. If you click the link in my signature things might make more sense about RAD Ideas, etc.

I am replacing the rear shelf on my Avanti this week. I went to the local Home Depot and got sheet of 1/4 MDF board took the vinyl off the old one, and clamped the original over the MDF and just used a jig saw to trace/cut around the original. I drilled out the rivets from the brackets, drilled the holes and took off the brace, drilled the holes for the nutserts.
It fits great in the car. I will be putting on new vinyl and re-assembling it this week.

I ended up doing very similar. I found the correct masonite hardboard in 1/4 inch and used the old one as a template. I used a sealant shellac on both sides and edges and threaded inserts along with pop rivots. Came out quite nice with the interior shop finishing the rear panel in the vinyl I bought. The two tone interior came out very nice, though the back seat wasnt finished in time for the show. It followed the next week and made its appearance at another show this past weekend along side my dad's 1969 Avanti II which my wife drove there.

Thanks all that responded.

Tom

[sbca96]