unimogjohn

Nice find. Well, it could go on a truck. But normally a three bar bumper would go on a larger car such as a Buick Master series car from the 1920s. Bumpers in this time-frame were options, installed by the dealer, and made by many vendors. Value, well, it depends if you really need one and are willing to pay. I would guess $80 to $100 for an un-restored, rough example. Others may have a different idea.

It is Tuesday, August 9th. Here is Greg's report from Monday. He had a busy day. "Today was busy for the Avanti. I called the front end alingnment shop and was given the green light. Come on. Drove over to a nice shop in the boondocks on a nice day. The guy has computerized equipment and we got it set up. Even though for some reason the computer didn't have Studebaker in its files. The car drove ok, but I knew the front end was out, but not that much. Way out. And there is age and some wear evident. I don't remember if Steve replaced much under there. All in all, it wasn't that worn. We did find some major fasteners that were loose too. We spent over two hours under it. Got it to as close as possible to specs, but still had a little negative camber when they called for none. Of course that was for bias ply tires and I'm riding on radials. Left happy as a clam and made it only part way out his winding country lane before the wheels started trembling and I turned it around. Evidently with the front wheels pointing different directions a little wear in the system didn't matter. Get the wheels pointing in the same direction and they'll wobble. Under the front end again we were able to find some movement in the center steering pivot bearing. So, just when I thought that I'd almost finished spending money on this one, I'm ordering more parts. So enough about mine. Took the time tonight to machine a thread gauge for the Pope Toledo water pump connection. Got that done.

Pat, very nice indeed. Congratulations are your new car. Tell us what you are going to do with it. How about some pics of the engine and interior?

It is Monday, August 8th. Greg is still hard at it. Looks like he is pulling another Avanti out of his storage barn. Me? Just doing farm stuff. Took the Suburban and the horse trailer out into the hay fields and picked up 50 bales of hay. Done with the hay stuff as we have about 230 bales stacked and put away for winter. Of course it was 95 degrees. Here is Greg's report from the weekend. "Dodge work: Washing windows. The Dodge is a curtain car. I've got them but they sure were dirty from storage. Scrubbed them with soap and water, the windows are isinglass (and called catherdral windows), and I was able to get them clean with Plexiglass polish. They came out alright. Maroon Avanti: I want to replace the trim piece that covers the fuel filler hose in the rear package tray. Using the old one as a pattern, I found some placticized cardboard and covered it with some original vinyl of the wrong color. But it is the right grain and it will dye nicely. Then I was able to get the rear headliner in place. It needs some adjustment, but being cardboard, I was able to sneak it in place without doing as the service manual instructs. "Remove rear window". Yeah, right. But remind me to do it the right way on this next one. Now I'm getting ready to try salvaging the roll bar cover. Formed foam with steel reinforcements that got covered with vinyl. Scrubbed, it will need a while to dry before I try to rebuild it.. Black Avanti: I need to extricate it from the back of the storage garage. That will require some effort. Getting ready for that , we drove to Rob's today to borrow his roller dollies. I think I can get it unblocked by rolling another car out of its way. I've been able to get it back on wheels after standing idle on jack stands since probably 1978? It is now down and I rolled it a foot or two. There is a lot going on between it and the door. I hope to move it this month. Been a good weekend."

and don't forget that condenser in the ignition circuit too when you replace that coil. If its gets hot and is old, it will act like you are running out of fuel too.

It is Thursday, August 4th. Greg is working on his projects, me, not so much, too much farm stuff to do. Here is his report. He sure does beautiful work. "Back when men were men... and oilers dripped a little....... This is what Peerless used to monitor and adjust oil flow to some things. Brass is beautiful. Especially when it is done and out of here.

Ouch! You might want to put in a can of seal expander/conditioner to see if that slows the flow. And I would call around to like Dave Tbow and other vendors to see if they have anything in stock. Keep in their plugging, you are almost there.

It is Tuesday, August 2nd. Ho hum....... another 95 degree day. Becoming the new normal. July was the hottest month ever for the ever. Broke almost every heat record for the month. August looks to be about the same or hotter. Here is Greg's weekend report. "Plenty of projects waiting on me. We had the '21 Dodge out and around over the weekend. With the replacement tires and tubes mounted, found that I'd overlooked a leak on one of the stems. The famous Frank Gable got here just in time to help me break it down and replace the tube with another used tube. Then we did the road test thing, Frank helping with the driving chores. Then Barb and I took the car to lunch. Then after that Barb and I took the car to Unimog Feser's. That was a nice ride on a back road through the rolling foothills . Then we took them for a ride. Then we drove it back. Then after dark we put it in the shed but took the long way by way of the back road to downtown Warrenton and return. Do you think that maybe the car's resting days are over? Worked on the Avanti some. Carpeting on the console needs to be finalized. Working on it. Peerless oilers are almost done, but I have a question about the arrangement of the fittings and need guidance from Idaho. I'd really like to get them out of here this week, even though they aren't holding up the project. Pic attached. So that gives me the time to resume the Pope Toledo water pump replacement. And there's that Matheson engine waiting. My friends need patience." =

I have used Kroil on mine in the 1928. It worked, but some broke and had to be replaced with stainless steel reproductions. You you attempt it you have to put the handle in a vice with a lot of cloth protection. The goal is to tightly hold, not crush, the base. Then spray the handle and wait a day. Slowly start to move/put pressure on the handle. It should give a bit, work it back and forth, spraying more Kroil as you go. You may then get it free enough to work back and forth to make it useful again. However, it will freeze up again if not used. Caution, if it is really stuck, you will break it. Let caution be your guide. I broke two trying to do this and was successful on four others. For my Buick, the SS repro handles were about $120 each.

David/Trimacar, I also need this done to the carpet in the passenger compartment of the 23. Never knew what to call the binding. Here is a company in WV who does it. I imagine we can send off the cut carpet and have it bound. There is also a commercial place in MD. Alexandra's Rug Serging & More - Cross Lanes, WV (West Virginia) | (304) 776-4295

Luv2wrench, what a great project, and just look at all those spares you have too! Seriously, this has been a great read so far. Thanks for all the recent posts and pics too. Keep us posted. We are watching!

It is Saturday, July 30th. Only about 94 degrees today; and they forecast over 90 degrees temps for the next seven or more days. But Greg and Barbara drove over to say hi, and to give Alice and I a ride in the Dodge. Boy, what a ride. We bounced along our country roads at a pretty quick pace. We had a great time. Here are a few pics. You can see that the distributor cap is off the engine. Greg felt a slight miss so he filed down the points before they left for home. He sent me a note that they made it home fine, and no miss.

Amsoil does have a heavier weight that will work also. I would just put it in and watch/check it. You can always switch back. Good luck. And let us know how it works out. I am sure there are local dealers/individuals in your area also.

This is what I use. Will not erode yellow metal and gives you long life. I am not a dealer, just a user. You can go to the Amsoil web site for more info. Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90 API GL-4 (MTG) Specifically formulated for the most demanding manual transmission and transaxle applications See Pricing Information or Place an Order Package sizes include: 1-Quart Bottle 1-Quart Bottles (case of 12) 5-Gallon Pail 55-Gallon Drum AMSOIL Transmission fluid recommendations for Cars and Light Duty Trucks PRODUCT DESCRIPTION AMSOIL Synthetic Manual Transmission and Transaxle Gear Lube (MTG) is a premium blend of the finest synthetic base oils and advanced, high-performance additives. It is formulated specifically for maximum protection in the most demanding manual transmission and transaxle applications where an extreme pressure GL-4 gear lube is specified, including those where high horsepower/high torque engines and towing or heavy loads increase transmission stress.

It is Friday, July 29th. Cooking here again today, over 100 degrees and with high humidity it will feel like 110. Here is Greg's report from last night. "Found the camera. Some wiseguy gathered it up and put it away. Stuffed it in the camera bag. WHY CAN'T THEY LEAVE THINGS WHERE I LAY THEM? So tonight I loaded the wheels and the GREASE and drove to Rob's. He met me at the door and we spent some time together. Nothing says male bonding like tire irons and a sledge hammer. Even though the pneumatic rim spreader was out of breath, we used the old hand crank type and only the last rim gave us any grief. Very unusual, working with high pressure tires without much conversation, especially any referring to the tires heritage, etc. Also remarkable was that nobody got whacked with the sledge, stabbed with a tire iron, eye poked out, etc. It went well. The other miracle tonight was that the reminders to take the Stoddard steering grease paid off. I'd gotten that special kind that comes in a bottle but has a consisitency like Vasoline. I wondered how I was going to get it inside the steering box, but they thought of everything. The bottle forms a spout that has a 1/4" pipe thread on the end. I was able to start the flow by squeezing the bottle, then with it still upside down, I stabbed the bottom of the bottle with an icepick and hopefully it will have emptied by the time I get back. Photos of the tires as they are now. Ready to install on the wheels and inflate."

Dave, the following link will give you the history of the Avanti. Bob's Studebaker Resource Website (Avanti Database) The designation of R1 indicates a non-supercharged Avanti; R2 is a supercharged Avanti; and a R3 is a higher HP output engine with a supercharger. I do not believe that many R3s were built.

It is Thursday, July 28th. Here is a quick report from Greg. "IOU one photo of five Firestone 33 x 4 tires and tubes on rims. Can't find the camera. The tires are mounted on the rims, but the rims aren't spread and latched. With the customary scratching and gouging of paint, but without any bloodblisters, cuts, bruises or black eyes. I've decided not to tempt fate by trying to get the rims spread without proper equipment. Probable trip to Rob's tomorrow evening to finish them up. Also, the semi fluid grease came for my Stoddard steering box. Remind me not to forget to take it along."

and put in some stabilizer in the gas tank too. It is not a cure, but it does help.

Neemot, I believe that the little valve on the side of the canister was to bleed the air out when running the engine with a new filter. I believe that the filter only filtered a bit of oil, it is not a full flow oil filter like the modern engine of today or even in the 60s. If it was me with your issue, I would gut the inside of the canister to make sure the oil can flow through the canister. It is not filtering much oil anyway. I would then make an effort to change my oil once a driving season or 500 miles max. It your oil turns black then I would change it. Since you have not dropped the pan I would stay away from detergent oil and go with non-detergent 30 weight. This is just my recommendation and do it to my two 20s Buicks.

It is Wednesday, July 27th. Heading back into town today to pick up our second ton of wood pellets. Seems odd to be stocking pellets for the winter in the middle of summer and in 96 degrees. Have one ton unloaded, transported, and stacked. But Greg gets to do car stuff. Here is his wheel report. "Working on the '21 Dodge rims. They had been cleaned and painted once upon a time. Over the original zinc plating. So now, chipped and rusty in places, it bothers me that I'm not sandblasting them until the sparks fly, surface finish them and have them re coated. Instead I've given them a light sandblasting in places and rattle can primered them. Oh I did touch them up with some bondo in places, but now that I'm doing it the quick and dirty way, it shows. I'm top coating them with some of that VHT brake caliper paint. It's tough, high temp, and it gives a cad plated finish. I have to pacify myself with the realization that I could make a month's work out of this. Choose your battles. Otherwise, did have something happen to me today that doesn't happen very often. I was sitting here at the computer and all in an instant, I heard a POP over my head, things weren't as bright, and before I could even look up to see what the hell....... an eight foot flourescent bulb hit me over the head and exploded filling the room with broken glass and white smoke. Timing is everything.

Bob, here are some numbers for you. Power Steering Belt OE #1548513: GATES 7380 DAYCO 13375 GOODYEAR 13371

Bob, here you go. Let me know if you need any other views. I can run it up on ramps to get better pics of the steering box.

Bob, will run out to the Avanti tomorrow/Tuesday and take some pic for you.

It is Monday, July 25th. Got a great thunderstorm last night. Dumped 1/2 inch of rain. We really needed it. A little cooler today, in the low 90s for a couple of days and then it will go up again. Such is summer in VA. Here is Greg's weekend report. Busy as usual. "This is how it was done in the olden days. Demounting a hight pressure straight side tire mounted on a split rim. After a nice ride in the Dodge I decided to check the tire pressure. If I'd have done that before the ride, wouldn't have gone. Big 'ol goose egg on the tread of the right rear. Today we drove to Rob's to fetch the set of Firestones that I found at Hershey. Tonight I began breaking them down to clean up the rims and prep them. Got three of the five apart."

Bill, yes, I did lose one point for displaying those emblems. I misinterpreted the judging rules. I thought that if it was a period accessory then that would be OK. But the head judge informed me that only dealer or Buick factory provided accessories were acceptable. For example, a bumper was a dealer accessory. So next time they will be removed. An easy five minutes exercise.