Corvair engines were always noisy and they all leaked oil.
I've noticed in EVERY video that shows an engine running that the engines ALWAYS sound like they have bad lifters or about to blow up. I mean EVERY time, even on pristine cars.
@isellhondas said:
Corvair engines were always noisy and they all leaked oil.
I've noticed in EVERY video that shows an engine running that the engines ALWAYS sound like they have bad lifters or about to blow up. I mean EVERY time, even on pristine cars.
Does anyone know why this is the case?
Here's a video showing a guy adjusting valves on a Corvair engine to lessen the racket. Part of the cold engine start up noise may be due to the lifter oil draining out. Lifters are positioned almost horizontal in the flat six Corvair engine.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
@MrShift@Edmunds said:
it's because they have bad lifters and are about to blow up....:)
Just kidding...it's the type of microphone most people use. They don't use pro sound equipment.
Corvair lifters are hydraulic--they should not make noise like that.
OK, that's what I was thinking. I wonder how many prospective buyers get turned off after hearing these noisy engines?
I have a soft spot for 65-69 Corvairs. For the price of a Volkswagen Beetle a person could buy a car that was better looking, safer, nicer to drive and all around just so much nicer.
Fantastic brakes actually, for drum brakes. And with a few mods like quicker steering and a short-shifter, you can get rid of two very annoying things for cheap. Fixing the oil leaks requires more patience.
Oddly enough, the reason those Corvair brakes were so good was because of cost-cutting! GM simply used the same 9.5" drum brakes that the midsized cars used. So, something that was probably only mediocre on those intermediates was actually over-built for a lightweight compact.
For comparison, my '69 Dart GT, with a 225 slant six, only had 9" drums, and I'm sure it was a lot heavier than any Corvair. My '68 270, with its V-8, had 10". Even my '79 Newport only had 10" drums on the back, but disc up front, so that probably made a big difference.
When I ran an Auto Center back in the 70's the cars that were the WORST on brakes were Ford Station Wagons and T-Birds that still had drum brakes. Big Pontiacs were hard on linings too.
Took the old car out for a short drive today - first time it's been driven more than a mile in 2 months. I intended to work on the turn signals, as I found a new flasher unit. I installed it, and it worked better - but gradually, like it had to warm up. It wasn't perfect. So I thought I'd switch the old one back on for comparison - and it was working fine, too. The issue is in the connection, I think - the old cloth wrapped wiring leading to the unit doesn't look too awesome.
The car started up on the first turn of the key after being idle for 5 or 6 weeks, not bad on a 7 year old battery in a generator car. I got a horrible bearing type noise after a few minutes of running, coming from maybe the water pump or generator - but this went away. I hope that's nothing wanting to be fixed. Otherwise, it ran fine, smooth and seems to have a little more oomph with the new cap and rotor.
Volvo 164 -- you couldn't give me one of those things. Clumsy noisy car, gas hog, pathetic automatic transmission, and biodegradable interior. Volvo's worst.
38 Ford--sort of an economy custom. Not a bad deal if the bids don't get too high. This one's neither fish or fowl. Could be worth it, and could get cleaned up.
76 Torino --I don't get it. You spend all this time and money on the car and you throw in a new oil pan gasket into the deal because the old one leaks?
Lancia -- he'd get a much better price if he registered the car. Handing someone US customs papers is scary and Lancia buyers are tight-fisted to begin with.
Volvo had a 164 that looked just like that one on display at the Philly auto show.
brings back memories (the interior) since I learned to drive on the family 144 (a '69). Familiar dash, and the infamous parking brake on the left side. Stiff beast. More than once I had to go out and release it for my mother or sister after my father or I parked the car and put it on.
Lucky you get to go to the EPA and the DOT to get it certified. THEN you get to explain it to the kind folks at your local DMV. Not something I'd ever want to do.
Your papers have to be in very good order with all approvals or customs will either deport that sucker or crush it if you don't deal with it in a set amount of time.
brings back memories (the interior) since I learned to drive on the family 144 (a '69). Familiar dash, and the infamous parking brake on the left side. Stiff beast. More than once I had to go out and release it for my mother or sister after my father or I parked the car and put it on.
Reminds me of dad's '68 144, except they fixed the vent windows by then with a screw thru the bottom pivot instead of the crazy glue that immediately failed on the '68s. The dash was incredibly random in design. Just bizarre. Not what I consider Scandinavian elegance.
The 142/144 exhaust systems like to fall off, too. Dash and door knobs came off in your hand with regularity and vent window locks weren't long for this world. Camshafts went flat pretty fast, too. And yet, ...and yet...they just kept on running.
@MrShift@Edmunds said:
The 142/144 exhaust systems like to fall off, too. Dash and door knobs came off in your hand with regularity and vent window locks weren't long for this world. Camshafts went flat pretty fast, too. And yet, ...and yet...they just kept on running.
oh, I remember many trips to the dealer when I was young to replace exhaust pieces. for a small 4 cylinder, it had a crazy # of mufflers. That and I think carb issues?
The carbs weren't too bad. People just didn't understand them and messed them up. The exhaust systems fell off because they were held on primarily by small rubber donuts. The fiber timing gear used to strip teeth and that of course made the car run like crap. Aside from very soft camshafts, the engines were pretty strong.
My brother's 83 Toyota pickup has a little less rust, and has always lived outside - milder climate. It's not as nice inside, but he paid something like $800 for it, not the insane $7500. That thing would have to be really pristine to get anywhere near such money.
I've always said I'd get another CJ. Of course, I was thinking of the 7. Never drove a 5. And I never knew they were available from the factory with a 304. I thought the I6 in my cj7 was adequate, so that's probably interesting with the few extra ponies and 100 less pounds.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
@MrShift@Edmunds said:
The carbs weren't too bad. People just didn't understand them and messed them up.
If memory serves, dad's '68 had what looked like SU carbs. My brothers had British cars so they were not totally unfamiliar. I remember I would add oil to them and it seemed to make them work better. No idea how they worked or what the oil did. We had one window crank that kept coming off, and the rear suspension would wind up and shudder at times. Ours had the Borg Warner automatic which was durable but not a great transmission.
For all its faults, it was one tough car. Dad had a shipping container full of whisky fall on the roof while rounding a curve and it basically bounced off.
@Stever@Edmunds said:
qbrozen, I never knew that about the V8 either. The inline 6s back then enjoyed a good reputation for reliability. That's what my '74 had.
Oh, heck yeah, other than the transmission and rust, it was a stout vehicle. The 4.2 and the dana diffs could probably outlast the body 4 times over. The 3-speed manual was a cheap and easy rebuild, so no big deal.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I only kept mine about 3 full years and the 3 speed held up well. I had problems with the gas tank rusting out but that was about it, other than the usual top rotting away.
Comments
Pretty grandiose description for a car with such bad paint
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
New floor pans? Painted bumpers? Dull paint? Engine sounds like 1,000 typewriters?
I don't think so........
Yecch!!! That paint even looks bad in the thumbnails! I got better results painting model cars with a can of Testors when I was ten!
What a piece of JUNK!
Corvair engines were always noisy and they all leaked oil.
I've noticed in EVERY video that shows an engine running that the engines ALWAYS sound like they have bad lifters or about to blow up. I mean EVERY time, even on pristine cars.
Does anyone know why this is the case?
it's because they have bad lifters and are about to blow up....:)
Just kidding...it's the type of microphone most people use. They don't use pro sound equipment.
Corvair lifters are hydraulic--they should not make noise like that.
Here's a video showing a guy adjusting valves on a Corvair engine to lessen the racket. Part of the cold engine start up noise may be due to the lifter oil draining out. Lifters are positioned almost horizontal in the flat six Corvair engine.
Well don't get too frisky on adjusting hydraulic valves. The owner of that video might find problems at higher speeds.
OK, that's what I was thinking. I wonder how many prospective buyers get turned off after hearing these noisy engines?
I have a soft spot for 65-69 Corvairs. For the price of a Volkswagen Beetle a person could buy a car that was better looking, safer, nicer to drive and all around just so much nicer.
Excellent brakes too!
Fantastic brakes actually, for drum brakes. And with a few mods like quicker steering and a short-shifter, you can get rid of two very annoying things for cheap. Fixing the oil leaks requires more patience.
Oddly enough, the reason those Corvair brakes were so good was because of cost-cutting! GM simply used the same 9.5" drum brakes that the midsized cars used. So, something that was probably only mediocre on those intermediates was actually over-built for a lightweight compact.
For comparison, my '69 Dart GT, with a 225 slant six, only had 9" drums, and I'm sure it was a lot heavier than any Corvair. My '68 270, with its V-8, had 10". Even my '79 Newport only had 10" drums on the back, but disc up front, so that probably made a big difference.
There was a company, maybe Fel Pro that were making aftermarket seals and gaskets for Corvairs that were much better than the OEM stuff.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/4362953779.html
The pics don't do it justice
Could be an OK car, but I don't know about those mismatched wheels...
I think some of those dents could be erased pretty easily.
And only 930,000 miles!
When I ran an Auto Center back in the 70's the cars that were the WORST on brakes were Ford Station Wagons and T-Birds that still had drum brakes. Big Pontiacs were hard on linings too.
Disc brakes were a HUGE improvement!
Does it have 22's on the front only?
Took the old car out for a short drive today - first time it's been driven more than a mile in 2 months. I intended to work on the turn signals, as I found a new flasher unit. I installed it, and it worked better - but gradually, like it had to warm up. It wasn't perfect. So I thought I'd switch the old one back on for comparison - and it was working fine, too. The issue is in the connection, I think - the old cloth wrapped wiring leading to the unit doesn't look too awesome.
The car started up on the first turn of the key after being idle for 5 or 6 weeks, not bad on a 7 year old battery in a generator car. I got a horrible bearing type noise after a few minutes of running, coming from maybe the water pump or generator - but this went away. I hope that's nothing wanting to be fixed. Otherwise, it ran fine, smooth and seems to have a little more oomph with the new cap and rotor.
You know I'm a volvo fan, but I think this seller loves this way more than he should.
OK, so I understand the whole preserving patina thing, and I like it sometimes, but does it make sense to add tacky graphics and pinstripes to it?
This would be cool for like a weekend of ownership.
Now THIS is gorgeous. But what the hell is with the green carpets?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Volvo 164 -- you couldn't give me one of those things. Clumsy noisy car, gas hog, pathetic automatic transmission, and biodegradable interior. Volvo's worst.
38 Ford--sort of an economy custom. Not a bad deal if the bids don't get too high. This one's neither fish or fowl. Could be worth it, and could get cleaned up.
76 Torino --I don't get it. You spend all this time and money on the car and you throw in a new oil pan gasket into the deal because the old one leaks?
Lancia -- he'd get a much better price if he registered the car. Handing someone US customs papers is scary and Lancia buyers are tight-fisted to begin with.
Volvo had a 164 that looked just like that one on display at the Philly auto show.
brings back memories (the interior) since I learned to drive on the family 144 (a '69). Familiar dash, and the infamous parking brake on the left side. Stiff beast. More than once I had to go out and release it for my mother or sister after my father or I parked the car and put it on.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
just what the hell do you do with customs papers anyway?? Do I just go down to the DMV and say "umm... here ya go. can I drive it now?"
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Lucky you get to go to the EPA and the DOT to get it certified. THEN you get to explain it to the kind folks at your local DMV. Not something I'd ever want to do.
I don;'t mind the stripes on that old Ford, I could see something like that existing in the 50s.
And indeed, an unregistered private import, have fun! Although from what I have seen, if someone lives in the southeast/FL, it might not be hard.
But I thought EPA/DOT meant nothing after a certain age (25 years?).
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I think you can get a waiver, but you need the waiver (at least from the EPA). No waiver, no registration, I'm pretty sure.
Your papers have to be in very good order with all approvals or customs will either deport that sucker or crush it if you don't deal with it in a set amount of time.
Reminds me of dad's '68 144, except they fixed the vent windows by then with a screw thru the bottom pivot instead of the crazy glue that immediately failed on the '68s. The dash was incredibly random in design. Just bizarre. Not what I consider Scandinavian elegance.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
The 142/144 exhaust systems like to fall off, too. Dash and door knobs came off in your hand with regularity and vent window locks weren't long for this world. Camshafts went flat pretty fast, too. And yet, ...and yet...they just kept on running.
oh, I remember many trips to the dealer when I was young to replace exhaust pieces. for a small 4 cylinder, it had a crazy # of mufflers. That and I think carb issues?
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The carbs weren't too bad. People just didn't understand them and messed them up. The exhaust systems fell off because they were held on primarily by small rubber donuts. The fiber timing gear used to strip teeth and that of course made the car run like crap. Aside from very soft camshafts, the engines were pretty strong.
Me likey!
What the hell? For the asking price, I expected perfection. Future lawn ornament for the current owner.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
That's "starting to rust"? It's a shame actually because it looks well cared for.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
My brother's 83 Toyota pickup has a little less rust, and has always lived outside - milder climate. It's not as nice inside, but he paid something like $800 for it, not the insane $7500. That thing would have to be really pristine to get anywhere near such money.
The CJ-5 looks pretty good. It also looks like someone took a can of matte black spray paint to most of the parts underneath.
You could own your own ferrous oxide mine!
I like that CJ Too. Also know exactly where it is. About 10-15 minutes from me.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
i was the high bidder on the CJ this morn. haha.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Let me know if you want me to run over to test drive it.
No problem. Seriously!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And, where would you like that hole in your head placed? LOL
I've always said I'd get another CJ. Of course, I was thinking of the 7. Never drove a 5. And I never knew they were available from the factory with a 304. I thought the I6 in my cj7 was adequate, so that's probably interesting with the few extra ponies and 100 less pounds.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Sad.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/03/junkyard-find-1967-lincoln-continental/
@qbrozen, I never knew that about the V8 either. The inline 6s back then enjoyed a good reputation for reliability. That's what my '74 had.
If memory serves, dad's '68 had what looked like SU carbs. My brothers had British cars so they were not totally unfamiliar. I remember I would add oil to them and it seemed to make them work better. No idea how they worked or what the oil did. We had one window crank that kept coming off, and the rear suspension would wind up and shudder at times. Ours had the Borg Warner automatic which was durable but not a great transmission.
For all its faults, it was one tough car. Dad had a shipping container full of whisky fall on the roof while rounding a curve and it basically bounced off.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Oh, heck yeah, other than the transmission and rust, it was a stout vehicle. The 4.2 and the dana diffs could probably outlast the body 4 times over. The 3-speed manual was a cheap and easy rebuild, so no big deal.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I only kept mine about 3 full years and the 3 speed held up well. I had problems with the gas tank rusting out but that was about it, other than the usual top rotting away.
Lovely late run 560SEL getting some bids
Probably my favorite color combination, I wonder what it will bring.
I've seen a couple of those over the last few weeks, looked good...
There's a car you want to run away from.
clean looking Benz if you want one of them. That dealer looks to have some nice stuff. I really like the TR6 in the background of one picture.
Oh man, it is crazy, and who knows about the price, but damn I like this:
http://www.grautogallery.com/vehicle-details.php?id=804
I seem to recall that when they made the remake of the Italian job a few years back, they did this mod to some of the Minis they used.
Here's the TR. too bad it is a bumper nodule model, but looks nice and original.
http://www.grautogallery.com/vehicle-details.php?id=788&page=1&year=&make=&model=&pr_id=&search=
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.