1975 Hillman Avenger

[avenga]

Thanks.

I am going down to Ashburton this year. It is Labour Weekend each year so I will be leaving Auckland on the 23rd and making my way down to Ashburton for labour weekend, then slowly making my way back up the country.

[avenga]

The big tank is all installed and ready to rock.



Breather and sender etc



Sump and fuel line



Fuel Safe filler (It says Racing on it so that adds at least 5hp)





Fuel gauge is mounted in the glovebox below the stereo.

[conair]

What an awesome ride Dude, looks sweet on those wheels, love all the neat little personal touchs too, like the badges, really sweet dude.

[scouser]

Just gone through the thread from the start. Wow, what a beautiful car, just fantastic to see the work that has gone into this. Love it.

[avenga]

Oct 14, 2013 13:52:53 GMT conair said:

What an awesome ride Dude, looks sweet on those wheels, love all the neat little personal touchs too, like the badges, really sweet dude.

Thanks, I love the wheels also. I got them custom made for me in the states, really pleased with how they came out. I get tons of comments about the badges etc, they are a good conversation starter because people think it is a factory made "Panther" but they have never heard of one before. I tell them it is 1 of 1 Avenger Panthers built.

Oct 15, 2013 12:49:27 GMT scouser said:

Just gone through the thread from the start. Wow, what a beautiful car, just fantastic to see the work that has gone into this. Love it.

Thanks, it has been a long project and I am glad others can appreciate all the hard work that went in to building her.

[Davenger]

Oh, check you out, with your lovely straight avenger, lol
Looking good dude.
Hope mine turns out half as good once it's been rebuilt

[avenga]

Thanks.

I'm sure yours will look awesome once you finish it.

You were making really great progress on it before your little off road excursion. Hopefully you can get yours back on the road soon.

I am getting excited for my big road trip. Only 5 more days to go. It will be a 12 day road trip this year, should be so much easier with the big fuel tank.

[brocky]

That looks great, top job.

[avenga]

A bit of bad news.

On the way back from the South Island the engine in the Avenger went boom.

I was hoping it was just a blown head gasket but after we got the head off we found that it had melted one of the pistons.

Looks like one of the carbs got blocked then the engine ran lean. I had this same thing happen to my race car down the back straight at Pukekohe.

I need to replace the pistons and rings etc, clean up the bore and get rid of all the melted piston. after that I need to crack test the block and rebuild the rest of the engine.

It will be out of action until after xmas.

[FJSigma]

curse word! I'm sorry to hear (read) this. This is a great example of a still rolling Avenger. Will be waiting the first days 2014...

[Davenger]

That sucks dude.
Time for a 1.8 or 2 litre brazillian engine

[streetracer75]

Nov 29, 2013 18:10:59 GMT avenga said:

A bit of bad news.

On the way back from the South Island the engine in the Avenger went boom.

I was hoping it was just a blown head gasket but after we got the head off we found that it had melted one of the pistons.

Looks like one of the carbs got blocked then the engine ran lean. I had this same thing happen to my race car down the back straight at Pukekohe.

I need to replace the pistons and rings etc, clean up the bore and get rid of all the melted piston. after that I need to crack test the block and rebuild the rest of the engine.

It will be out of action until after xmas.

[streetracer75]

Mar 10, 2014 14:46:35 GMT streetracer75 said:

Nov 29, 2013 18:10:59 GMT avenga said:

A bit of bad news.

On the way back from the South Island the engine in the Avenger went boom.

I was hoping it was just a blown head gasket but after we got the head off we found that it had melted one of the pistons.

Looks like one of the carbs got blocked then the engine ran lean. I had this same thing happen to my race car down the back straight at Pukekohe.

I need to replace the pistons and rings etc, clean up the bore and get rid of all the melted piston. after that I need to crack test the block and rebuild the rest of the engine.

It will be out of action until after xmas.

[streetracer75]

Hi I have been reading your post about your build with interest. I am in the process of buying a Avenger GT and wanted to ask you if the Capri arches you fitted are from a MK 2/3 and if they fit ok without any mods?

[617sqn]

Hi, Newbie here. I found your Avenger thread by chance, so I've registered so I can read the whole thread. Firstly, I had a 1500 GLS Avenger back in the early 80s. I rebuilt the engine to Tiger SPEC and used to wind my brother up by beating all of his series of Fords from mk3 Corton in 2 ltr guise, 3 of his Capri too until he cheated and bought a 3 ltr. So I bought a 3.5 V8 Rover SD1 and we started over!I'm a tad older now and have a "modern" MG zs 180 V6 and a Hillman Imp which is in Aquarius blue metallic. Is this what the Avenger is coated in ? Also, wtf is an Avenger Alpine ? The Alpines in the UK never included the Avenger body's he'll, and the last one was a front wheel drive load of French shot !

Andy G

[Spudgun]

You have great taste in cars

The avenger looks great especially with the wheels and arches.

I lived in NZ for a year and was always being driven around in a blue Valiant (Nowhere near as clean as yours).
Loved that car but they wouldn't sell it to me to bring it to the UK.

[avenga]

Hey guys. Sorry. Been away from the forum for awhile.

617sqn The colour is a custom modern twist on the original Aquarius Metallic. Just with a bit more flash and pop. The Avenger Alpine was what we called the Avenger GLS/GT over in NZ

[avenga]

So some updates on the Avenger Panther.

Last month I went on a little road trip. It was 15 day track-day tour of all of the race tracks in the South Island of New Zealand in my Avenger. I used to race back in the day so I have raced at most of the North Island tracks but I have never been to any of the South Island tracks.

We are starting the trip by meeting at Hampton Downs race track. We aren't doing a track day of this track as part of the tour, but this is my local track so I have raced there before.



After that we drive down the North Island and catch the ferry across to the South Island. We are then driving all the way down the west coast, stopping off at the glaciers and the Milford Sound, then to the very bottom of the South Island for our first track day at Teretonga Park, in Invercargill en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teretonga_Park



After that we head up to our second track day at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell. This is New Zealand's newest track and it is massive, 4.1km with 22 corners. It was designed by drawing inspiration from some of the world's most famous race tracks, so it is really varied. I have wanted to race here ever since it was built.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlands_Motorsport_Park



Our third track day is at Timaru International Motor Raceway (A.K.A Levels Raceway) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timaru_International_Motor_Raceway



And then our final track day is at Mike Pero Motorsport Park (A.K.A Ruapuna Speedway) in Christchurch. It a bit of a tricky track because you need to brake for Flexopass corner while you are going around that bend on the straight

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pero_Motorsport_Park



After that we are cruising back up to the ferry then back up the North Island.

It really is a once in a lifetime trip. This will be my 6th time driving my old classic cars down to the South Island but it will be my first time on any of the tracks down there is I am really looking forward to some real world racing.

Here is a full itinerary and maps of the trip

www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1465052036955297.1073741835.424707237656454&type=3

As practise I downloaded all the tracks in Assetto Corsa and I have been practising in a Ford Escort in VR, which is the closest I can get to my Avenger.

[avenga]

Some videos from day 1

[avenga]

Did the first track day at Teretonga.

Awesome track. Had a real blast.

Here are some lap times.





Finished my second track day at Highlands Motorsport Park.

Really amazing track! really long at around 4km with 22 corners, it is not a very fast track but it is really technical. I was even popping up on to three wheels coming under the bridge.

I am really glad that I practised this in VR because it is confusing as anything. Heaps of people struggled with knowing which way to go but as I had practised it so much then it translated pretty well. I improved by about 4 seconds from my first session to my last session.

It is NZ's newest track and it is really flash. Had so much fun. I have a couple more days of driving, and then the last two track days.

Here are some times