The story that always get me is the guy who knew a guy who had a friend who's Corvair engine fell out while he was going down the road.******'s
Here's the world's fastest Corvair powered Corvair..from CorvairCorsa.com Tom Keosababian of Oregon owns this Bonneville class record holder. In 1974, the Clean Air Corvair, with its twin turbocharged, water injected, Corvair engine running on propane through a 3.08:1 final drive ratio, averaged 173.1 miles per hour in two consecutive runs. It did it without going airborne, a testament to the Corvair's stability, wouldn't you say, Ralph? According to Virtual Vairs member, Frank Burkhard, there's more to the Keosababian Clean Air Corvair than its impressive Bonneville record. He wrote to tell me, " the car is pictured in the Water Injection chapter of Hugh MacInnes' book, Turbochargers, and described as using 'two Rajay turbochargers, two propane carburetors and water injection.' An earlier version of it went only 156.9 mph on gasoline, a 4-barrel carb, one big turbocharger, and lots of water injection. This car is, of course, the ultimate example of what water injection can do for a Corvair. In 1968 Car Life magazine had an article/roadtest on the earlier car called "Living With the World's Fastest Corvair". They stated it achieved 13.39 sec. and 105.26 mph in the quarter-mile at Orange County Dragway. They also said that Keosababian 'used it daily on his commute to work.' That's what I call versatile." It also went 137 in the 1/2 mile.
Might as well toss mine up here. 61 Lakewood with 64 110 engine, and rear suspension. I've also got a 60 coupe that I plan to make into a street/strip/track car, but that's on the back burner. -dd Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Firengine 103, funny thing you saying that, i own a 65 Corvair and love them BUT i did see that, coming out of work one day (i live in the rust belt) the guys engine sitting on the ground, the motor mount rusted out and dropped the engine in the parking lot , i guess he was lucky, he was still in the lot and not the street
Yeah, that DID happen with Corvairs... if you didn't maintain your vehicle, just like things break on every other car when they're not maintained and inspected regularly.
"Maintain" is the key word. I've owned Corvairs since '63, hell, I even took my Drivers Ed class in a '60 (it didn't last, switched us to a Biscayne). Never seen a well maintained Corvair drop an engine
I have worked on Corvairs for 40 years in the "rust belt"(Indy) and I have never seen the 1/4" thick (and usually oily) steel rear engine mount parts rust through. The only reason the rear engine mount ever fell was due to human error! Usually because the wrong fasteners were used, or damaged, or left loose. The rubber mount itself was a fail-safe design.
Sorry guys i'm just telling ya what i seen, i didn't say it was a gem, it was a rusty***** box that was neglected and if you knew the owner you would understand
Bought my own rusty piece of joy this past weekend, and I do mean RUSTY! I knew it needed floors, but holy cow! Looks like a good opportunity to lean some serious bodywork and sheet metal welding skills.
================================================ Do yourself a favor and make that "Yard Art" / parts car.... Although a few Vairs have sold for over $80k....and many see $25k+, the majority see less than $5k when actually sold...Check ebay's "Completed listings" You are in South Central Texas... just go west a ways and you'll find plenty of Vairs in driveable condition...sans rust! And join one of the CORSA Chapters... they know where the deals are! Here's a Car I paid $1500 for 3 yrs./8k miles ago....I've put about $400 into it and it's ready to go cross country...so this year I'll paint it!! ggg And YES... it has a "little rust"..why it was cheap..
Some really sweet looking Corvairs.Back in the early to mid `70`s,a friend of mine was building a Corvair with a tube frame and a mid engine setup featuring a 327 with an automatic.Don`t know what ever happened with the build. Good luck.Have fun.Be safe. Leo
================================================ Except for the tube frame... a very popular and common conversion.....the 6" differential will live forever behind a Powerglide! There's even a 500 ci Pro-Street Vair without a tube frame.... Go to http://v8registry.com to see lots of variations.
I always liked the style of the second gen vairs . saw one in a junk yard last fall that looked to be very solid and complete. took all I had not to try to get it and add to my stable of projects that I don't work on often enough. oh well.... if I had it I would just have to find a crown mid engine v-8 conversion and build a high revin 302 small block for it!
I have a very nice hood, decklid and both doors off a '63 Convertible if anyone needs em. All rust-free and in dry storage.
1970 LT1 mated to a TH425 Toronado trans. 1966 Corsa Turbo Rampside Lots of pictures and stuff here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Corvair-Owners-Group-COG/124200804308827
Im a real fan of Corvairs, especially like the looks of later model coupes. I currently own several including 3 69 Monza coupes, one is a California car with 37000 miles, not on road since 73. Rustfree body but needing total restoration. 140 hp with 4 speed. The only problem is its medium green in color. I would gladly swap for a Corsa coupe in similar condition
Had 3 Corvairs in my past. A 65 Monza coupe 110 4 speed, a 66 Monza 140, Auto with Factory A/C and a 1968 Monza convertible with a 140 4 speed. Loved em all but the most fun was when I put a 140HP in the back of a 1966 VW Transporter that a friend gave me after he threw a rod in it. Got the engine out of a dune buggy, turned the ring gear around in the VW******* and ran the huge 15" dune buggy wheels and tires on the back. Had to sabre saw a little on the rear wheel wells then found some fiberglass flairs that fit. Thing had a real rake to it. Only problem was the Transporters used gear reduction boxes at the ends of the axles so 60 mph on the freeway was about tops. And those boxes were expensive once the bearings went out. Still have my special homemade tool for knocking the push rod tubes out of the head to change O rings. Great little cars. Try to make the Great Western Fan Belt Toss in Palm Springs if you want to see some Corvairs.
I just added a dual exhaust to my '63 with Harley Sportster mufflers. It is slightly louder than the rusty original exhaust and gives a nice glasspack rap. The camera makes it sound like a lawnmower, but it doesn't sound like that in person.
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