Well, I found a Greenbriar panel van and was wondering about them. I know Rashy has one and a few others here, but I don't know much about them. (BTW-how's yours coming along Rashy?) It has no engine (or possibly trans, not sure), but the body is in very good shape actually. How hard is it to find a drivetrain for these? Is there any other alternatives that are practical? Anything else that I need to know? The guy wants just under a grand for it.....worth it? I totaly brain farted and forgot that my phone had a camera on it and so I did not take a pic! Looks like I will be doing some research on them for awhile! Thanks!
I know Rashy has had a little trouble with location of parts. It seems all parts are ones that have to be ordered. And he hasn't had much luck by going to the local parts houses. The parts he has located are spendy! I think he found some sources through the national corvair club. That's about all I know. I know the van is kool, but other than that...? Reverend Jake
There is a turbo corvair motor and tranny on the pensacola florida craigs list for what seems fair money. Give it a look over. If it is close enough I can go look at it for you.
I know where there are a coupla window vans, a panel, and a rampside sitting all for parts or cheap. Let me know if i can help. I am in MO too
The turbo corvair engine will not fit in the van without raising the engine cover @ 10". Vans, trucks and wagons had low clearence air cleaners because the engine cover was lower then the engine cover on the cars. The engine transaxle set up you need would be 1960 - 64. The later engines will work but the later transaxle used different stub axles. Any 95hp or 110 hp engine will work. You can put a 140 hp engine in but you will have to fab up a diferent air cleaner set up as the 140 had 4 1 brl carbs and the 95-110 had only two
I bought parts for my from clarks corvair parts I got all new weatherstrips(that I still havent installed from Heavy Rebel weekend lol) I think there website is www.corvair.com and here is another good site for parts that I havent ordered from yet and they have alot of tech info available www.corvairunderground.com. I freakin love the boogie van we just drove it to Anderson S.C for a show and to drop it off to get the seat done in blue and silver diner material. I am glad more people are getting these vans. I just need to fix my oil pan leak and I will be set lol
Hey Acro Check out the aluminum oil pan at Clarks. He used to have a line of performance parts called Otto Performance. Pretty heavy-duty and much cooling fins to keep the oil cool. Nice 'briar! There is a windo van on Ebay that is white with red, and has room for 9 AND luggage!!!! Kinda Cool!
Yea I need to get mine road ready for out move to Texas thats going to be a fun drive. I know simple green will hate that I fix the leak because there sales are going to go down lol. I will check out that pan it sounds like a nice option
Clark's Corvair in MA and The Corvair Ranch in Gettysburg PA have everything you need. Clark's Corvair seems to be the major supplier for Corvair parts to all the other dealer type locations. Good luck with your briar
I've got one I picked up a while back. On my way to a local yard in a few minutes to get some parts for it.
Those oil pans will assist some in the cooling dept.,but they are still brittle aluminum! Best bang for your buck on an air cooled engine is an external cooler plumbed in.
My old age is showing here !! There are 2 different built in oil coolers that came on Corvairs. One is a 6 plate which I believe is for the 110 horse engine. The other is a 12 plate which I believe was for the turbo engine. They are under a small hatch just below and to the left of the alternator. If your engine is stock or very close to stock, either cooler will do the job. this is a 140HP engine out of a 1965
Thanks to Pops to alerting me to this thread, A new position at work and school have had me tied down the last month... The oil coolers are 8 core and 12 core. Anything less than 8 is junk. The problem isn't usually oil coiling anyway, unless the cooler is clogged or you lose the belt. You need to de-flash the heads. I'd be happy to tell you how if you don't know. And GOOD engine parts for these things are a WHORE to come by...
I read all these threads about Corvairs and the interest in them on this board, and I could just kill my myself. The car I remember him driving was a A Corvair Monza Turbo when I was a wee lad. The thing went like stink! If I had done well on my history test, or gotten an "A" in a class (a rare occurance) he sould let me shift from 3rd to 4th, after which he would dump the clutch, causing a great commotion and lightening of the front wheels....I would yell "Dad, pop a WHEEEEELLLIIIEEEE". Good times. Wish he could have kept that car, and the 59 Chevy with the 348 and tripower, and the TR3, did I mention my Dad was a car guy?
I just bought a 1963 Greenbrier. A guy was gonna crush it because he didn't want to move with it. So I saved it from it's demise. The guy took the light bezels and the grille off. I phoned Clarks and they had both of them in stock. And for CRAZY cheap!! I am VERY happy with their service. Especially living in B.C. Canada. They use post, so no hidden bullshit UPS hidden charges!! I have another list for them on Monday! Here are some pix of my Brier.
Since buying mine I drove it home from greenville S.C to Jacksonville FL, drove it to Leesburg Bike Fest,Myrtle Beach Bike week to meet my painter, He drove it from Fredericksburg V.A to Winston Salem N.C where I then drove it home to FL,and then turned around the next weekend and drove it back to Anderson S.C for a car show and to get the interior finished. I got it for my birthday mid april, and its been a blast ever since I have a great woman it was a great birthday present
I had a Greenbrier, but I only used it to haul trash, my buddy had a 61 Rampside with 400,000 miles that was re-ended by a drunk on Christmas eve as it sat parked in front of a friends house in 1998.
I'm looking for a 4-speed tranny from a '64 or '65 Greenbriar, Rampside or Corvan - know of anybody who has one for sale? Dave '65 Corvair Corsa project Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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