toss the flat six, flip the tansaxle, rip the back set out, set a 427 in, add a radiator up front, hook it all together and you got a ride that will make you see god
Corvairs are proof you don't need a big-block to have fun! I've had 3 or 4. A buddy in high school bought one brand new, a '66 turbo convert, and proceeded to have the heads milled to raise the compression. I told him you don't do that on a turbo car, but he wouldn't listen. First time he hit full boost (right in front of the high school) it blew the heads out the sides of the car... pretty impressive show! When I last had one, it was getting hard to find the rear arm bushings; maybe Clark's or someone is repro'ing them now. Looks like you need them.
I had a 1962 Spyder coupe that did real well in local autocross competion. That little thing handled well with good shocks and tires. You need to put the three speed shifter/tower on it to tighten up the shifter throw or you can also just modify the four speed part if you want. The turbo came off and two carbs went on for the autocross though, the turbo had too much "lag" to run that type of compe***ion.
This sad little 66 Corsa is sitting just a few miles away in a local junkyard as we speak! The engine is partially dis***embled, but all four carbs are still there (although two of them are in the back seat!) and it evan has all four stock hubcaps! The price is right, and I've had to talk myself out of buying it almost every day since I first saw it! I may cave in eventually...but for now, my willpower is holding out!!! Very cool cars...
I have a 1964 Monza sedan, pulled out of a 34 year garaged hibernation. It took three washings to get the dust off, but the body is straight and almost rust-free. I hope to have it running this spring. It will be a custom. Start by joining CORSA - the Corvair Owners Society. They will send a great book and CD with tips on fixing up your 'Vair, easily worth the price of a year's membership, plus you get a monthly magazine.
Im putting together a 65 Monza right now. I traded a home stereo for it, took it home and rebuilt the carbs, and the thing runs great. In the process of finishing the body work and paint right now. You mentioned the rain rails need work.... I shave mine right off. looks cool too. a couple other guys at the corvair center did it also.. I think if you look up "VAIRKING" he posted a step by step when he did his. Im a member at the corvair center forum too. Good stuff!!!!!!!! Have fun with it cuz parts are dirt cheap but thanks to Ebay they are going UP
My daily driver in college was a 1966 2 door with a 455 Oldsmobile Toronado drivetrain in the rear. The radiator was in front of the motor and pulled air from under the cars open floorpan in the rear. The car looked stock but had that sweet rumble that turned heads when we went cruising. It could pull the front wheels on street radials and I never lost a 'run what ya brung' street race. This car had a killer holeshot and was a blast to drive.
this project of mine is no where near at the top of the list, but w/ all this encouragement and positive talking, it will for sure get done. im actually pretty excited about it.
I have a midengine 65 corvair that has turned in to a life long project. been working on it on and off, mostly off since 1985. I have a 283 installed in it. mechanically its complete. needs body work and interior to finish. the last time i saw it it looked pretty cool. It currently has so much **** stacked on and around it i can hardly see it. I have some old pics of the build up in the album ill try to scan and post.
in the eighties, I had a 66 corvair with a mid-engine Crown V8 kit. It had an LT1 and that ****er flat out flew. My girlfriend refused to ride in it because the engine sat so close to the occupants. It had a fibergl*** piece that seperated the interior from the engine compartment and the seats were molded into the piece. When the car got up to about 70 on the freeway, it used to lift. Zoicks!! I remember it being so fast it would make my knees knock. It cornered like it was on rails and had great weight distribution. . Unfortunately, it used to snap half shafts and I had neither to time or the wherewithall to upgrade the set-up. Consequently, it spent more time broken than fixed. But when it ran, nothing that could touch it. He he.
I'm still working on my rear engined 4.3 V6 '66 Corvair. I had a '65 SBC 350 rear engined Corvair in 1971.
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