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  • rustyvw

    Aug. 1, 2009 8:26 p.m. rustyvw HalfDork

    I've had my eye on this car for about a year now. It's a 63 Monza 2 door that looks really solid. The only problem is that it's been sitting under a carport for a few years. The brakes are all stuck, the battery is dead, and the tires are flat. As soon as I get it home I'll post up some pictures. Any advice from the Corvair experts on here? Any things I need to look out for?

    Thanks

  • foxtrapper

    Aug. 1, 2009 9:42 p.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

    This isn't that blue one sitting on Rt 97, is it? If so, I'm glad to hear it's found a home.

  • jhaas

    Aug. 1, 2009 9:47 p.m. jhaas New Reader

    run, dont walk...

  • aircooled

    Aug. 1, 2009 10:40 p.m. aircooled SuperDork

    Well ignoring the Corvair part, the car is 45 years old, so you will likely need to look at and likely replace a lot of things. Brakes bearings and suspension bushing are likely candidates.

    Some Corvair specific thing:

    • First of all a 63 is commonly called a "early" and shares many thing in common with 60 through 64 cars.
    • Rear wheel bearings are important on these cars (you do NOT want a catastrophic failure of these) so take a careful look.
    • Replacing pushrod o-rings with viton o-rings is a must, but unless it is stock it is likely to have already been done (if not, it will be leaking profusely)
    • If it has been sitting, consider pulling the top cover off the engine and clean out all the leaves and such that are likely there. Running a long drill bit or thin saw blade through the head cooling fins can improve cooling greatly.
    • Check the steering play. It can be adjusted at bit, but new boxes are available if needed.
    • Earlies are pretty good about rusting but the rocker boxes and the lower front parts of the doors possible as well as the standard wheel well areas.
    • When you adjust the fan belt only make on as tight as it takes to make the alternator hard to turn with one finger.

    Check out the following links:

    http://www.corvaircorsa.com/index.html

    http://www.corvaircorsa.com/links.html

    http://autoxer.skiblack.com/

    http://www.corvair.org/csaindex.php

    http://www.corvairunderground.com/

  • Feedyurhed

    Aug. 2, 2009 5:47 a.m. Feedyurhed Reader

    I like Corvairs. Good luck.

  • Tim Suddard

    Aug. 2, 2009 6:17 a.m. Tim Suddard Publisher

    There are disc brake conversion kits out there for the front. My limited limited time with a 63 Corvair has taught me they need this mod!

  • Woody

    Aug. 2, 2009 7:17 a.m. Woody SuperDork

    How much oil does a Corvair hold? Is there a separate sump?

  • iceracer

    Aug. 2, 2009 12:43 p.m. iceracer HalfDork

    5qts with filter. There is a shallow oil pan.

  • zlalomz

    Aug. 3, 2009 12:57 p.m. zlalomz New Reader

    Here is where I bought parts for my 3 Corvairs. http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/main

  • AngryCorvair

    Aug. 5, 2009 9:44 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

    Tim Suddard wrote:

    There are disc brake conversion kits out there for the front. My limited limited time with a 63 Corvair has taught me they need this mod!

    unfortunately, the only discs that fit inside stock 13" wheel have less torque output than the drums that they replace, so the only benefit to a disc conversion is that they're less sensitive to moisture and of course they don't go out of adjustment, so they make the car more directionally stable under braking. the same result can be achieved with a front-end rebuild and a brake rebuild at the same time.

  • Duende

    Aug. 5, 2009 11:03 p.m. Duende Reader

    Okay, someone post some motivational pics of hot Corvairs for me...er, him.

  • AngryCorvair

    Aug. 6, 2009 12:40 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

  • jgp1843

    Aug. 6, 2009 2:06 p.m. jgp1843 HalfDork

    Check out the current issue of Classic Motorsports for a great article on the most legendary early competition Corvair of all time, the Bill Thomas/Doug Roe/Warren LeVeque orange car.

  • Mental

    Aug. 6, 2009 3:19 p.m. Mental UberDork

    2nd most legendary, check the photo bub, that eVil yer dealin with

  • jgp1843

    Aug. 6, 2009 11:41 p.m. jgp1843 HalfDork

    Notice I said most legendary Early Corvair, and check up on Corvair competition history. The Evil 'Vair is seriously cool, but it ain't an early car. Most legendary late model would be tough to call, between Tom Keosababian's Bonneville car, Charlie Friend's 204 mph open road racer, Jerry Thompson's SCCA National Champion SCCA D Peoduction Stinger, Charile Clark's SCCA Solo II C Prep champion, and (boy,this one's obscure) the Goose Holler Racing Pro Rally Corvair.

    Lots of Corvair competition history, you just have to dig for it. Check the buyers guide a couple of years back in CMS.

  • slantvaliant

    Aug. 7, 2009 8:56 a.m. slantvaliant Reader

    Duende wrote:

    Okay, someone post some motivational pics of hot Corvairs for me...er, him.

    Here ya go. 200MPH ORR 'Vair

    Car 7 Corvair

  • Tim Baxter

    Aug. 7, 2009 8:58 a.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

    http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/reader-rides/135/

  • slefain

    Aug. 7, 2009 9:31 a.m. slefain Dork

    They are great for river travel: http://www.autotraderclassics.com/articles/templates/video.xhtml?articleId=46284&a...

    Congrats, the 'Vair is on my bucket list of cars to own.

  • neon4891

    Aug. 7, 2009 9:58 a.m. neon4891 UltraDork

    I swear, one day I will get Mr. Kelly to sell me one of his 18 corvairs... Or wait for him to die and make the deal with his wife or daughter.

  • oldopelguy

    Aug. 7, 2009 10:51 a.m. oldopelguy Dork

    Someday someone is going to make a flat-8 out of two Hayabusa motors and then stick it in the back of a Corvair. Then no one will ever doubt their greatness!!!!

  • rustyvw

    Aug. 23, 2009 11:49 a.m. rustyvw HalfDork

    Finally got some pictures with the new wheels. Now as soon as I can get one of the back wheels turning, I can bring it home.

    http://photobucket.com/newcorvair

  • JThw8

    Aug. 23, 2009 3:47 p.m. JThw8 SuperDork

    Looks very clean. Nice find!

  • friedgreencorrado

    Aug. 23, 2009 7:01 p.m. friedgreencorrado HalfDork

    Very nice! And I swear the interior's cleaner than the 81 Alfa I just drug home.

  • Grtechguy

    Aug. 23, 2009 8:14 p.m. Grtechguy UltraDork

    Who on here has that wagon?

  • AngryCorvair

    Aug. 23, 2009 9:29 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

    the wagon was mine. that's tucking 18's on a car that came with 13's. i sold it to when I heard a very clean 944 calling my name. the story of what happened to it next made me a sad panda. OTOH, it wasn't mine anymore so i got over it pretty quickly.

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