All About Corvairs
I just bought a 1963 Corvair with all 64 parts and
I love it. I also work at The Corvair Ranch if
anyone else would like to talk about Corvair's or
would like info. about The Corvair Ranch write
back.
I love it. I also work at The Corvair Ranch if
anyone else would like to talk about Corvair's or
would like info. about The Corvair Ranch write
back.
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I hope you got my email. We ship cars to so don't worry about were you are in the country. I think you will be pleased if you buy a corvair. They may not have alot of horsepower but they look good and they are alot of fun to drive.
How does that stock turbocharger on the Corsa 180 hp engine hold up? How do the engines in general hold up?
My choice would be a Corsa coupe. Never could talk the old man into it.
But the unfortunate thing was that Nader's criticism of the early cars stigmatized the later cars, which had been corrected and no longer exhibited all those handling problems.
GM screwed themselves on the Corvair, it wasn't Nader's fault. Their response to his criticism was to hire private detectives to try and ruin his life. Great, just great...a $15 rear stabilizer would have have the problem of the rear wheel tuck and we'd probably have had an American Porsche.
I had a 1966 Fitch Corvair for a while...outstanding car that could hold with most high performance foreign cars of the day, both in acceleration and handling.
I like Corvairs a lot. I think the 1965 4-door hardtop is still one of the loveliest 4-doors every designed.
I did see a Porsche=powered Corvair van / camper conversion once that was beauifully done. Lotta work.
Interesting you mentioned this conversion, when GM was firt testing the Corvair in 57-58, they ran around the country in a Porsche 356 powered by a prototype Corvair engine...so they anticipated the porsche 911 by 6-7 years!
I'm still looking for a 64 Corvair convertible with an automatic. I'm willing to pay market value but it has to be in very good condition and pass muster with Lee Hamilton, a well known Corvair repairman near Annapolis. If you have any lines on such a car please let me know.
I knew a kid who installed a water-cooled domestic engine in a Corvair and cut a hole in front for a radiator. Very crude looking. He said it was reliable, and this particular kid was not much of a braggart, so I'm inclined to believe him. I think he used a Buick V6.
He's a car designer now for a major firm. The Corvair was kind of a high school project. You shouldn't hold it against him.
I will say one unqualified good thing about the Corvair, that is the 1965 on up models...best drum brakes I ever tried on a car.
Did you call the Corvair Ranch we can get you just about anything.
I don't have a clue I have never heard of the Rustang Ranch. But if it is alot of junk mustangs it's the samething.
So, I guess they are similar...
The models at the Corvair Ranch probably have lower mileage and a lot less abuse.
Oh, what some will pay just for a comfortable ride!
I go past a gray, primed 65-67 Corsa coupe on my way to work. It's for sale and if anyone's interested in details, email me and I'll be glad to stop for info.
I used to rally a 65 (140) Corsa w/a college friend. What an experience that was! All was fine except the very awkward throws with the long shifter that made it feel a bit like a stand-up bread truck when you missed a gate & had to search for the gear! Loved it.
But we were cool cuz I had lakes pipes I could uncap for some extra noise. Fun. (Don't tell my kids!)
Take care.
Joe W.
I think the modern Corvair is the Dodge Neon...I can see the same pattern....lots of promise, then some problems, then the manufacturer slowly backing away, producing fewer models and options, and one day looking at the consumer and saying "Really, did we make that car? Gosh, we don't remember!"
You are a guy who doesn't usually make mistakes.
You did this time, buddy!
Rear wheel drive all of the way!
I guess I read too fast!
My humble apologies!
P.S.
What is with the server problems? It's almost impossible to use this!
In 1965, there is a completely redesigned rear suspension and the car is perfectly fine--a great handler, actually.
But honestly, you wouldn't get me into a 60-64 Corvair unless I was driving it and had inspected it beforehand. I think Nader was right, more or less, but not very precise.
This is unlike the Audi 5000 "sudden-acceleration" business, which appears to be nothing more than a hatchet job by "60 Minutes", at least as far as current evidence suggests.
Stiffer chassis? More sophisticated suspension?
Anything that's within the capability of a modern-day Corvair enthusiast with some disposable income? Any components that could be adapted from junked 356s and 911s?
Corvair engines run in the opposite direction from VW or Porsche engines, so you have a big problem to solve there, vis a vis conversions. And if one is thinking of stuffing a Porsche engine in a Corvair, geez, save the time and money and buy a Porsche and be happy.
I think that if they had beefed up the engine and made it breath right, and if they had sorted out the turbo system (which gave boost only at extreme rpm that the engine could barely reach or use), and redesigned the heater/ventilation business, put in supportive seats, did all of Fitch's improvements, worked on engine sealing, put on at least front disk brakes, bumped up build quality a notch or two---then they might have had a winner, IMO. But all the GM performance juice went into the Camaro and Corvette, so that was that.
Man! what a sleeper! I knew a kid that had one! I didn't know at the time, and he pulled a wheelie as he SMOKED my '62 Buick Special V-8!
Only the engine cover was different. It had a bulge in it to cover the larger engine.
As I remember, it didn't take him long to grenade the old VW transmission.
I hope to have it ready for SCCA Solo 2 running this next season.
I have found that Clarks Corvair is excellent for parts and information. They have a web site which is helpful and you can order parts on line.
Best of luck to all corvair owners
Wayne
Here's the link for those who are interested:
http://www.corvair.com/tech.html
Good luck on your project--you picked a great model to put your time and energy into. My favorite is the '65 Fitch coupe.
I'm curious--how do you propose to make the turbo of any use on the low end of the power band?
The extra weight of the Corvair engine made the front end even lighter. That's why he could pull the wheels off the ground. It was a sight to see...
In those days, I don't think there was a whole lot of hop up equipment for the bugs like there is today.
But now you've got me wondering...Those engines did turn the opposite way. How did that work?
I can tell you this...IT WORKED ! That '63 Beetle could kick butt!