Soon to be mine! Let me know what you think.

I just bought one yesterday!





Any suggestions on how to tighten the steering up? The wheel turns almost a quarter turn without moving the wheels.

 

I like it. Nice car. I like the hub caps better than the rims she has on it.

 

Rebuild the steering box and get new rod ends and a new idler arm... My 65 was like that, I tried to pick routes with roads that had good crowns on them so I hold the steering wheel to the left to keep a straight line.

 

I think the tin 'gland nut' around the center end cap wrench flats controlls that, not sure. If it's that sloppy though, it might be worn out to the point where tightening it up might make it hard to turn the wheel everywhere but in the center (where 'normal' driving would put the most wear on the components in the box).

 

I've never diven my Mom's, so I'm not sure if the steering is loose. Is that a common Corvair issue?

 

Beautiful car. Corvairs are a ton of fun to drive. Only negative is the '60 Corvairs were very different then the other 61-64 early style. Lots of one year only parts outside and in and some are hard to come by.

 

Nice car. Have a ball with it. I've had a few beaters and man, they can take a whompin! Good advise as usual but nobody has said CHANGE THE FUEL LINE.
First thing! they burn so fast you barely have time to get the sterio,cooler and camera out before its engulfed. True story. I had my first one for three days and it went up in the middle of New Mexico like you wouldnt believe.
BTW, ralphie got a ship load-o-caish and the fool still dosent have a car

 

Pee on Nader. When I was a rookie cop back in '65 I chased one of these damned things all over north Tampa. I was in a '61 Chevy cop car and if Nadar had been right that damned Corvair would have came apart in that chase. Had he not ran up a dead end street I'd still be chasin' him. Turned out it was a buddy of mine that I hadn't seen in years and for him to see me as a cop was as big a surprise as it was to me to see him in a Corvair runnin' from the cops. BTW, what's wrong with the wheels? I think they look good ..

 

My first car was a 61 monza--fond memories--they never had much for heaters, maybe a step above a volkswagen if you know what i mean. That really looks like a nice 60, take care of and enoy that baby.

 

I have a 62, I'd but some steel wheels back on it with some wide-whites and dog dish caps. Few things to watch out for: Engines always leak oil. Watch your rear wheel bearing, if they fail the axle shaft can come out. You'll hear the bearings going first. Like said previously the heater suck. Usually just pumps fumes into the car (unless you want to get high.) If you have sloppy steering it is usually your pitman arm bushing, replace it with poly. Lastly, if you ever need parts: www.corvair.com they have everything.

Have fun.

 

So did you arrest him? Or go have a beer?

 

Might have an extra nylon pitman arm bushing laying around if you need one. It will get rid of that sloppiness. PM me and I'll look. Otherwise here is the link ($6).
http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog.cgi?function=goto&catalog=MAIN&section=MAIN&page=156

 

greatest corvair picture ever...

 

Make sure you under coat it for wisconsin wet weather. I took a 69 pontiac 2 door back there about that condition. And after 2 years I came back to colo, and the rust started to show up. Great looking car take care of it...ghost

 

have had several since the new 61 monza. we kept it for several yrs. 30 mpg with a 4 speed. the push rod tubes always need new seals. viton is the way to go. easy afternoon job. nice car.

 

Extremely nice looking car. Love the color, and yes, the wheels need to go. Keep us posted.

 

Great looking ride...
but if you really want to go the rod route do this to it!

 

I like it. Especially the "wings" on the front grille area.

 

Some people have the greatest imaginations and they're not bad artist either!

 

I had a 61 and it was a good car, but my 65 Corsa was far better. Have neither today, but wish that I did. I think you've got a really nice find there.

 

Best feature about a Corvair: open the trunk, front, take out the spare, fill the well with ice and presto!! World's best beverage cooler and will hold many brewski's...oh yah there's a drain in the bottom...

Did My senior essay on auto safety. In the early 60's there were rolled over VW bugs everywhere, but didn't see a lot of rolled corvairs....nader was getting paid off by somebody or on the weed or both....

BTW slightly OT- we used to put corvair engines in VW based kit cars; only problem was the rotation on the 'vair was backwards of the VW. Rumor had it VW did that on purpose to keep the hotrodder's from putting the 'vair motor in the VW. As usual, the krauts underestimated the intelligence of the Amelican hot rodder; flop the ring gear on the vw transaxle and voila!!! Reverse rotation!!!

Monza Spyder had one of the first automtive turbos...way ahead of it's time!!!


" Hey, John- there's a badass '55 Chevy lookin' for ya...."

gaspumpchas

 

I still love the body style. I had a '63 Spyder coupe & I remember that I just couldn't stop looking at it. It has many unique winter features such as the questionable gas heater, plus the nice little foot heater vents for the people in the rear seat. I once left a pile of my buddy's record albums on the floor in the back & warped them all. I think one of them was The Big Sounds of the Drags. Ha!

 

Your lucky your mom took such good care of it. I'm surprised she put any aftermarket wheels on it but I'd change them.

 

Two words: Crown Kit.

 

Very nice, that is my favorite style corvair. The later ones with the different grill don't seem as cool.

That pic of the Mongoose SHOULD LEND A LOT OF INSPIRATION

 

that is cleen. nice to see car getting past on in the family.but wheels have got to go.

 

I heard these things are unsafe at any speed so haul ass!

 

Yep that's the one!!!

 

Brings back memories,I got my drivers license in one.Nice ride. Giz'

 

nice little ride ! Ralph who?