Avante rebuild winter project

[Jamesk]

I found this hopeless neglected original Avante for sale on ebay and in some mad moment i thought it would make a good winter project. The question i am asking myself is should i do a standard rebuild or slightly upgrade a few know problems spot, i do plan to use it from time to time and use it on some classic racing/fun events along side my Top Force Evo. Pictures below, would like your views people.

jK

[muratti]

Puh, quite a used one you picked up i´m afraid. Hope you didn´t pay too much. If you rebuild it for racing from time to time, i would add the Dual Ball DIff and Torque Spiltter Set (has been rereleased with the Avante a 8xxxx number i think) and maybe you should buy the rear damper stays from the 2011 Avante although i don´t know if it is a direct fit but i think it is.
Maybe it is also worth upgrading to the Egress frot and rear wishbones but that would definitly take a away the pure Avante spirit and would make it a kind of downgraded Egress in my view.

[pro4nut]

I would strip it and then give everything a very thorough clean and see what you have left.

The threaded rods used on the avante are really prone to corrosion over time but can be cleaned up and polished as can most of the metal parts.

The plastics need to be checked really closely for splits and cracks.
The screws into the top of the front gear box are easily stripped.

Overall its a bit of a dog and a restoration will see much of it in the bin. I must admit though i restored an Egress in better condition and ended up throwing away most of it to build a good car.

At least with the 2011 being available you can buy most of what you need on ebay but don't expect to see much change from £200.

Best thing is to strip it and clean it all up and see what you can save.

If you want to run it i would say you may be better off buying a 2011.

I have 3 cars worth of ally parts for the Avante so if you get stuck finding parts drop me a PM.

[eddscott]

I've got an Egress thats due a rebuild in the new year and am going to purchase the Avante 2011 steeting arms as I think they are stronger than the original ones. I might also wait until someone confirms the Vajra (or Avante Black Specil) ball diffs will definately fit and use them. Theres also the Avante 2011 CVDs that I would also use. The 2011 also I think has uprated steering linkages that I would probably also use with an original rebuild.

I've got a 2011 but haven't decided if I'm going to build it yet.

[Jamesk]

Ill begin the strip down next week, the car has the Egress steering set up and ill try and polish the bits and see, ive got about £60 pounds of bits on the way,ill take more pictures soon and ill post some of my restored Topforce Evo too

jK

[Chris]

If you need parts, i have one Avante/Egress/Vanquish that is stripped for parts.

[terry.sc]

Looks like a pretty good deal to me, rubber boots on ball joints should have kept the grime out of them even though they have now melted, looks like most of it just needs a good clean up and inspecting for any cracks in the plastic.

Rear shock mount from the Avante 2011 will bolt straight on, it's a different much stronger design with different mounts to attach it to the chassis. You also need a motor mounting plate, again the Avante 2011 one will do. All these parts are included in the Avante 2011 press parts bag.

If you want to fit ball diffs and/or centre one way, the parts are available as an upgrade pack for the new Avante, part number is 84257 for the complete set.

You might also want to replace the metal front uprights with the new machined ones, the original cast ones tended to break if you hit anything.
Tamiya have the 2011 Avante manual here http://www.tamiya.com/english/rc/rcm...8489avante.pdf so you can compare parts.

[Jamesk]

Well i have on the way, four new shock bodies, rear half shafts and diff cups, new style rear shock tower and lower mounts (different to the original type) and new lock nuts in blue. Next batch will be standard wheels and tyre's and new style front front uprights.

Also need to rebuild the Topforce Evo as the gearbox shredded today too.

jK

[Jamesk]

Top Force Evo now rebuilt and ready to go again, that leaves me the next week or two to work on the Avante. De construction starts on friday and ill post some more pics up as i find out more !!

[Jamesk]

Strip down completed and its not as bad as i thought, the rear lower swing arms are cracked at the hinge pin end and one of the front hubs has been glued together, the gears and bearings are very dirty but spin freely still (great tamiya quality back then) Ill be cleaning the parts in the next few days i suspect the rest of the car will clean up fine.
I've orded the new required parts including a titanium screw set, which will give me time to rebuild as much as possible, the only question is to either reuse the rose joints which work fine but look all pitted and refuse to polish up.All the aluminium parts including the shocks are looking dull, not sure if ill change or reuse.
So far the project is looking good, lets hope its not famous last words !!!

UPDATE, PARTS ARE NOW HERE APART FROM THE SCREEW SET, WILL START PUTTING ALL PARTS TOGETHER SOON

jK

[Jamesk]

Right i have this weekend free and all the parts are cleaned up or new parts ready to go.
I have had to replace the front and rear suspension arm, but have found original
1988 items,plus new hub and diff bearings all of 1988 vintage. As one of the rear drive-shafts where missing there is a new set going in with new inner drive cups.

From the new version there is rear shock mount plus new shock bodies as the old ones where very worn and discolored. I've treated the car to new tie-rod ends which where pitted but still working condition and will use a Titanium screw set which is unbelievably light.

Hope to have the car ready this weekend !!