Avanti R2, 1963, refresh

[keiser31]

I agree with the clear silicone.

[Frank Tate]

Assuming you don't want to open it, clear silicon works fine.  If you do want to open it, I would check out an RV dealer to see if they have any weather stripping you could glue down in place of the old after you scrape it off.

 

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

That '28 is sure looking good!!

 

  Ben

[packick]

John, I agree with Frank.

 

Doesn't someone sell the correct rubber seal for the sun roof?  With the weather stripping I've installed on my cars, I have had great luck with 3M Weatherstrip Seal (black).  It seems to handle the high heat very well and is easy to work with.  And NO, I don't own any 3M stock.

Edited September 29, 2016 by packick (see edit history)

[Spinneyhill]

Whatever you use to seal around the sun roof must be UV stable, no matter what colour. In my experience, that generally means black. Natural rubber is made somewhat UV stable by the addition of carbon black.

 

You are a very patient man, spending a day or two cleaning a car. I would be bored stiff after an hour. They certainly look good after your efforts!

Edited September 29, 2016 by Spinneyhill (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

After reviewing the comments and doing some research I ordered the following stuff via Amazon.

 

Transtar 4167 Ultra Flex Black Seam Sealer - 11 oz, for the roof rail and sun- roof surround.

 

M-D Building Products 1025 All-Climate Auto and Marine 17-Feet Weather Seal Strip, Black, for the rubber seal in the sun roof glass frame.  

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.  I will let you know how everything comes out.

 

I did get the little wiper puller last night.  Will give it a try sometime this early afternoon.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Thursday, September 29th, AM.  Took a few minutes to see how the little wiper removal tool worked.  Not!  The jaws are to narrow for the post so had to use the Dremel tool to widen them just a bit.  Then it took off the first one easily.  You do have to remember to release the tang on the wiper or it will not release from the post.  Will do the second one when I get home from running errands.  

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Thursday, PM.  Made a Costco run and while there I picked up a new battery for Brownie the van.  The battery in him now is ten years old.  About time for a new one.  So for $85, Brownie has a new heart.  Of course I knew that the battery tray is toast.  I had a new one and am proceeding to mount it.  It is for a 67/68 Camaro so the battery will fit it.  I have to drill some hole to mount it to the van battery frame.  I wire brushed the mounts and painted them with Eastwood's encapsulator paint.  The battery should go in sometime during the weekend.

 

I also took the time to remove the stickers on the back bumper.

 

And I got the other wiper blade off with a bit of persuasion.  I got the valance off and got all the junk out.  I could have had a tree growing in there.  I cleaned everything up and ready to reassemble once I grease up the wiper mechanism.  

 

Here are pics of today's work.  Probably more than you want to see.

 

 

[packick]

John:

 

That "Reagan for President" bumper sticker might have been worth a lot of money.  Too late now.

[unimogjohn]

It is Friday morning, September 30th.  Rain, rain, rain.  Over four inches in 48 hours,  some folks close by received over eight inches.

 

Went out to the garage this morning and fitted the battery tray and used pop rivets to stake down one side.  Will use a bolt or two for the other side.  I hope to get the battery into Brownie the van today.  But lots going on so do not know if I will get the time or not.  

 

Got more parts from RockAuto and Amazon last night.  Front shocks, 3 qts of gear oil for the rear end, and more body paint, color and clear.  I have enough paint now to complete the van.  I think I have all the parts on hand or on order to complete all my projects for Brownie at this point.  Now I just have to find the time to get everything on.  I think I have at least two weeks of work ahead of me.  

 

Thank goodness that Packick, aka Joe, is coming back for a week or so.  It will be nice to have his able help on Brownie for a day or so.  He and his bride are coming back to go to Hershey with us.  

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Saturday, October 1st.  Got a quick chance this morning to get the new battery in Brownie now that the new battery tray is installed.  And got some suspension parts for him yesterday.  MOOG sway bar bushings, even made in the good old USA.  Have to clean up the little battery connection screws with the Dremel tool and its little wire brush.  Will take about ten minutes or so, then Brownie will have his new heart.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Saturday, but PM.  Finished farm chores and ran into town for a bit, and then got to spend a couple of hours in the garage on Brownie the van.  

 

I cleaned up the battery connections and hooked up the battery.  Brownie has a new heart and started right up.  I then did the final clean up on the windshield wiper system and the valance area.  Everything now is put back together including the wipers.  

 

I then took some polish and went to work on the front of the van.  It polished right up.  Not that the paint is perfect, in fact, I would call it marginal.  But it is all original, so it is what it is.  

 

Here are some pics of the before and after the polish.

 

I hope tomorrow to put the van back up on the lift and change the diff oil, front shocks and sway bar bushings.  May or may not get them all done.

 

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Sunday, October 2nd.  Have not had a chance to work on Brownie the van today.  And now the football game is on.  Oh well.

 

Camaro Steve came over this morning with Barney the Ford F100.  We went to see Corvette Wayne as he bought a repo gas pump at Fall Carlisle.  A nice little piece.  Wayne also bought a used 8,000 mile GMC Suburban like truck.  Nice rig.  So he is selling his 02 3/4 ton Suburban for $9,000.  A great looking and running truck.  Will be a great tow vehicle for someone.  

 

And I got the Avanti dual master brake cylinder in the mail yesterday.  Looks like a fun job to put in the car.  Sure hope it makes it stop better.   And the auto transmission service kit for the van came in also.  Now I have even more stuff to do.

 

 

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Sunday, done for the day.  Spent a few hours getting off the front shocks.  Boy, they were sure rusted in.  Quite a struggle getting the bolts undone.  Had to use every tool I had to finally break them loose and off the van.  However, one of the lower shock mounts is toast.  Rusted off.  I will have to see if I can find a replacement mount or will have to have Daniel make me one and weld it in.  One of the shocks actually came apart when I released it from the bottom mount, fluid all over the place.  I have to run to Home Depot tomorrow to get new shock mounting bolts and nuts.  Here are some pics for you enjoyment.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Monday, October 3rd.  Just a quick report.  Did some searching for replacement shock absorber brackets.  Of course, none available.  So picked the next best thing off of Ebay.  They are little bracket extensions, but I am sure I can make them work.  

 

 

 

Still Monday, but PM.  Not much on the old car front as we are waiting for Packick (aka Joe and Kathy) to arrive from Seattle.  As usual, the plane has been delayed and now will not get in until almost 10 PM.  Going to be a long night.

 

But I did get the one new shock in.  Looks good.

 

 

Edited October 3, 2016 by unimogjohn
update (see edit history)

[JWLawrence]

Jon, always enjoy your postings and look forward to your adventures. I will be following your Avanti dual master cylinder project closely as I would like to do something like that to mine. Currently, the MC on the car is a single cylinder and has been shimmed out from the vac booster about 1/2-inch. This shimming moves the cylinder forward enough to where it has been rubbing on the case of the VR. Not sure if is the MC or booster is to blame. I'll check back on my file of receipts and work orders to see if I can tell what was done and when.  No matter, it needs a dual cylinder for safety. Take care.

 

(o[]o)

[unimogjohn]

Will keep you posted on the Avanti for sure.  And if you need a interim single master cylinder just let me know.  I have one in my used spare parts bin that I will never use.  Oh, on the kit I just bought. They forgot to send along the new brake light pressure switch.  It is on its way.  

Edited October 3, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[JWLawrence]

Jon, thanks for the offer of a single master cylinder. Mine is functioning, but eventually want to change to a dual cylinder. I expect most work will be separating the brake lines for front and rear. I still have the original front disc brakes and they are working with good pads and discs. I do need to pack the front wheel bearings before driving it much more.

 

I had a chance to meet Steve Snyder, Vault Classic Cars, from whom I bought the car. He was at the Santa Fe Concorso a couple of weeks ago as an invited judge. Nice to meet him and hear more about how he acquired the car from the family who had it for 45 years. John

 

[unimogjohn]

It is Tuesday, October 4th, mid PM.  Well, Packick (Joe Hopkins) and I got the new front sway bar bushing installed.  The bolts were all frozen on so it took quite a bit of force to get them to break loose.  But we got the bar out.  It turns out there are two sizes of bushings.  I only had one size so it was off to NAPA for the correct one.  And they had them!  We also got new grade 5 nuts and bolts to boot.  After about two hours of fiddling we finally got the new bushings in and on the van.  Glad that it is done.  Thanks for the help Joe.  

 

Tomorrow we are off to Hershey, PA to drop off the 1923 McLaughlin Buick.  Then Joe and I will walk the fields and car corral for a few hours and then head for home.  We head back up early on Saturday morning.  It is about a three plus hour trip for us one way, and we always stop for breakfast.  

 

Here are the pics for today.  That is Joe working on the sway bar.  And the old and new bushings.  Quite a difference.

 

 

 

[Spinneyhill]

Quick question. Were the rubber bushes held in with a little crush? Are the new ones?

[unimogjohn]

They are held in place by a big C bracket that fits over them and into the grooves in the rubber.  The brackets are bolted to the A arm and the frame.  They are not going anywhere.

 

[unimogjohn]

It is Thursday, September 6th.  Packick aka Joe and I dropped off the 1923 McLaughlin Buick at Hershey.  Then we headed into the show and spent four hours looking at all the parts and junk, and hit part of the car corral.  We did not buy much, I spent a grand total of $3 and Joe $17.  Guess we did not need that much.  As usual the for sale cars were over priced in our eyes, but then again they always are the first day.  I saw quite a few sold.  There were some really nice cars.  The Europeans seem to be the big buyers the first day.  Here are some of what we saw.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

And it was a beautiful day at Hershey.   I think that it hit 72 degrees, just perfect for walking.  We left at 6:30 AM and got home at 8 PM.  It was a long day.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Thursday, but PM.  Packick/Joe and I went to the local junkyard this morning.  I am looking for new bucket seats for Brownie the van.  Joe was looking for cup inserts for his 1993 Ford P/U.  All the seats I looked at were junk, but Joe scored on the cup inserts, $5 for two.

 

We then went to work on Brownie.  Changed the rear end oil, and cleaned the purch for the shock absorber mount.  The new mount is suppose to be here today.

 

At Hershey I picked up four little radio knobs.  I hope to able to use one on my wiper control for Brownie.  The old one just fell apart many years ago, and I resorted to using a yellow wire nut.  Oh the indignity.   These closely match the style of the old one.  Hope that one of them works.  

 

 

 

Edited October 6, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Friday, early afternoon.  Joe and I headed out to the garage this morning.  We were determined to get the front shock on Brownie the van and to put the new seal in the sunroof.  I tackled the shock and Joe did the seal work.

 

I used the new bracket that came yesterday.  It fit great on the little shelf of the A arm.  I did cut off the old bracket and smoothed the perch.  We decided to just bolt on the bracket.  Worked great and the shock is doing its job.

 

Joe had to cut down the seal, but it went in fine and is back on the truck.

 

Here are pics of this mornings work to include a couple of Brownie out in the pasture.  He looks pretty good for an old van.

 

 

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Friday.  Packick/Joe complained that I did not put up the picture of me using the cut off wheel on the shock mounts.  So here it is.

 

We are leaving at 3 AM tomorrow for Hershey.  Rain is predicted.  Expect to be on the show field about 8 to 8:30 AM.  We are going to be in class 17.  Drop by and say hi.  

 

[Yellowriv]

John, thanks for this thread, its terrific.

 

Can you tell me what the purple/pink phaeton with the ohv 6 cylinder engine is?

 

Thanks

John

[unimogjohn]

John, is this the one?  If so it is a Marmon.

 

It is 8:30 PM on Saturday.  Just got home from Hershey.  Will have lots of pics tomorrow.  Left at 4 AM.  Rained or sprinkled most of the day, but that did not dampen our spirits.  Lots of great cars and super folks.

 

OMG, I almost forgot.  We have an all British car show tomorrow, the Hunt Country Classic.  We have to be there about 9:30 AM.  Sure glad the Jaguar is ready to go.

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Sunday morning early, October 9th.  We did have a good time at Hershey, but we got wet most of the day.  I am sure the car is still damp in the trailer.  We have to get it into the garage this morning to let it dry off, especially the top.  

 

I took almost 150 pictures.  I think you can see them here.  https://goo.gl/photos/kPCp9L6nP2HFPreA6

 

There were hundreds of nice cars and lots of people attended in spite of the rain.  The crowd really started to thin at about 3 PM, but still lined the lanes watching the cars drive out.  It was one huge car parade.

 

Here is just a small sample of the cars.

 

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Sunday, October 9th and we have the final car show of the year for us.  The all British show in The Plains, VA., the Hunt Country Classic.  Beautiful day, but with high winds.  Cooler, but with no rain.  Only about half the usual number of cars showed up.  No clue as to why as it was a perfect Fall day.  Here are the cars we saw.

 

-

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Monday morning, October 10th, and we have a great news report from Greg.  

 

"Subject: Done , gone and went...

 

  Newest news on an old project,  the 1908 Matheson engine restoration has been finished and has left the building to be reunited with the rest of the car now in the capable hands of Dave Staadt.

   An incredible amount of time spent,  it will be hard for me to realize that that party is over, and I will be able to return to my own projects without guilt.

     I'd also like to thank the owner Dave Noran for the opportunity to stretch my limits and for his patience . 

    GREG."

 

[SeventhSon]

Wow, what a work of art that engine is! Check out that external camshaft.

[unimogjohn]

  It is PM on Tuesday, October 11th.  Joe and I headed out this morning in the 1928 Buick.  The car ran great, and we had fun bouncing down the country roads.  No water in the oil either, so the repair was successful.

 

Edited October 11, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

Then Joe and I turned our attention to Brownie the van.  So we pulled the engine cover and to change the spark plugs.  What a job, 4 plugs changed in 3 hours.  I forgot how terrible the access is.  I am going to put the truck on the lift tomorrow and attempt to get the other plugs from below.  The plugs we took out were done so glad we got them replaced.  I also replaced the air filter, it was not too bad except for the mouse junk.  More tomorrow.  

 

And here is a pic of the 23 and 28 together in the garage.

Edited October 11, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[unimogjohn]

The AACA just posted the Hershey awards.  Our 1923 McLaughlin Buick was awarded its First Preservation Award.

 

Class 17B

First Junior 1920 Cleveland 40.................................................................................................... Gary Smith, Wilmington, OH

1923 Studebaker Light Six ............................................................................................ Scott Mrdeza, Lennon, MI

First Preservation 1923 Buick 45..................................................................................................................John Feser, Marshall, VA

Repeat Preservation 1923 American D66...............................................................................................Susan Manherz, Thurmont, MD

[trimacar]

Congrats on the First Preservation!  Beautiful car.....

 

[unimogjohn]

Wednesday, early PM, October 12th.  Packick (Joe) and Kathy have left the building.  They are flying home to their farm and car barn in Ferndale, WA.  Thanks for all the help and assistance Joe, and I am sure that Brownie the van is also very happy with your work.

 

Speaking of Brownie, Joe and I changed the last four spark plugs We got them out pretty easy from the underside of the truck.  Sure nice to be able to use the lift for that.  Also put in a bottle of gas treatment.  Now I am just going to drive Brownie for the next couple of weeks to burn up all that old gas in the tank.  

 

 

 

Edited October 12, 2016 by unimogjohn (see edit history)

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Those suckers had been there a while! 

 

  Ben

[unimogjohn]

Ben, re the plugs.  Maybe twenty years.  

 

And found a video of us arriving at the Hershey show field.  We are the first car in the video.  That is Joe holding up the sign so they know where to direct us.

 

 

[unimogjohn]

Still Wednesday.  OK enough.  Brownie the van is done for now.  I installed the wiper knob.  After and before pics.  I feel so much better now.