Corvair weight < Honda weight
Why not get an adapter fabbed up for a backwards rotating Honda 4-banger, I mean besides the sacrilege?
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Dec. 23, 2011 4:46 p.m. oldopelguy Dork
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Jan. 6, 2012 2:28 p.m. Argo1 New Reader
Corvairs are great projects and not hard to work on. I've owned more than a dozen of them "back in the day" before I graduated to my first 911. I built and modified many. Autocrossed a few, etc. The turbos invented the term "turbo lag" - both the Spyders and 180 Corsas. They had more hp than "in theory" but not in practice. Boost didn't come in until about 3500 and below that totally gutless. The 140 4-carb Corsa is the fastest and best driving. A Holley or Carter 4bbl carb on runners was a popular Corsa conversion. BUT - ask the man who owned one- the carb would freeze into a solid block of ice in cool moist weather because it was located directly over the fan. Both early and late chassis can be made to handle well. The 65 and newer best obviously. Quick steering arms are a "must have". Rust is the fatal flaw of many cars of this era. Look at the base of the windshield, rear fenders, and floorboards in the trunk and passenger compartment. Just about anything you need is still available from aftermarket. Jay Leno has a 66 Corsa 140. You can watch the video on his site.
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Jan. 6, 2012 3:01 p.m. AutoXR Reader
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Jan. 6, 2012 3:04 p.m. kreb SuperDork
In reply to Argo1:
Do you know of a good buyers guide? I've been looking for a '64 or later Corsa and seeing what looks like pretty good deals, but don't know enough to evaluate.
Some possibilities:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/2746964974.html
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Jan. 6, 2012 3:18 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork
In reply to kreb:
there was a good buyers guide in Classic a few years ago, written by Jim Pettengill who posts on this board as Jim Pettengill.
i like that '65 corsa for $5k. it looks nice and has been serviced by a corvair specialist.
that '62 looks like a bit of a turd in comparison, but the "180hp" engine might actually make 180hp. it appears to be the '65 - '66 spec engine (judging by the alternator, anyway) and note it has a weber DCOE in place of the OE single-throat Carter YH. and the '64 rear suspension has a transverse leaf under the LCAs that limits droop on the inside rear wheel.
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Jan. 6, 2012 4:36 p.m. SyntheticBlinkerFluid Dork
AutoXR wrote:
It mind boggling......
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Jan. 7, 2012 1:27 a.m. Argo1 New Reader
In reply to kerb: If you go to Amazon and search Corvair books you will find a number of really informative books for less than $20. Start there. I agree with Angry that the Corsa for $5k looks pretty good. That is about what you will have to pay for a nice car. There are a few unrestored original cars out there for as low as $3K so shop. There are currently 12 Corsas for sale on Craigslist nationwide. Watch for rust and body repairs. I don't really know how much of a project you are looking for or what your use. My two favorite Corvairs were my '65 Corsa coupe (modded 140, Corvette rims, etc) and my '63 Spyder Coupe (150 turbo, rare LSD, Kesley Hayes knock offs, etc). Both were a lot of fun. Don't discount the early cars. Several other models are fun and becoming collectable as well: The Rampside pickups, the Lakewood wagons, and the '65 and newer no post 4 door Monzas. Buy now, keep for 10 years, double your money.
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Jan. 7, 2012 8:47 a.m. 924guy Dork
I had a 63 vert, monza spyder turbo in the early 90's, never drove it as i bought and sold it before getting around to sourcing a turbo for it (no interweb back then.) it remains one of my automotive regrets that i didn't at least fix it drive it for a year... I still want another one, but if that ever happens itll be a coupe, and a late model, with a subie power plant and 944 suspension ;)
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Jan. 7, 2012 10:36 a.m. Argo1 New Reader
Kerb- This one is pretty close to you. Might be worth a trip to the lake to see. http://reno.craigslist.org/cto/2728602954.html
If you do wind up getting a turbo car and it has the original sidedraft Carter carb, you will need to add a vent loop to the fuel bowl or it will flood out in hard right hand turns. (Something I learned in an embarrassing fashion at an auto-x)
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Jan. 7, 2012 10:41 a.m. wheelsmithy Reader
+1 on Angry's thing about the transverse leaf spring to stop jacking on swing axle cars. JC Whitney had something similar for VW's. I'm told it straightens out the handling quite nicely.
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Jan. 8, 2012 4:11 p.m. Jim Pettengill HalfDork
FYI, the 8 1/2-page Corvair buyer's guide was in the Sept. 2006 issue of Classic Motorsports (also known as issue 122). Check to see if back issues are still available, there's a lot of info in there. If you're also diehard Chevy folks, or just like innovative cars, I also have a 4-page photofeature in that issue on the Chaparral museum in Midland, Texas.
Jim P
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Jan. 8, 2012 6:36 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork
Jim Pettengill wrote:
FYI, the 8 1/2-page Corvair buyer's guide was in the Sept. 2006 issue of Classic Motorsports (also known as issue 122). Check to see if back issues are still available, there's a lot of info in there. If you're also diehard Chevy folks, or just like innovative cars, I also have a 4-page photofeature in that issue on the Chaparral museum in Midland, Texas.
Jim P
that buyer's guide is perhaps the best Corvair primer i've ever read.
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Jan. 9, 2012 12:12 p.m. Jim Pettengill HalfDork
(blushes) (does his bad Elvis impression) thankewvurramuch.
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Jan. 9, 2012 2:16 p.m. GTwannaB Reader
LS in the back??? Not this one.
Check again.... LS engine cover on 110hp motor. Maybe not a performer, but certainly a looker
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Jan. 9, 2012 2:31 p.m. kreb SuperDork
That's pretty silly. The motor would fail nice and quick if you actually ran it with that cover on. Besides, if you're going to pimp it out to that extent , why not put a V8 in?
