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 cl*** 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 fibergl*** 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 gl***pack rap. The camera makes it sound like a lawnmower, but it doesn't sound like that in person.
to read more and see construction: http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,521187,page=1 http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,538903,538917#msg-538917
I'm a little late, but if this is the early rounded apal coupe, it would be worth picking up, a beautiful car.
Here is another video with teh Harley mufflers driving down the street. Sorry for the shaky camera, but a 6 year old was holding it. I just listed the car on ebay.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No flame.... but your memory is going..or gone!! LOL!! "Spyders" were only '62-4, then the Turbo was offered in Corsa's '65-6....after that nothing... Corvair engines..1960-69 80-180 hp all had Flat top pistons... only "Smog Engines" 110 hp or less starting in '66 /Calif., had domed pistons. [open chambered heads too] "Over Boosted" Turbo engines do not blow heads off even at 30 psi boost..... they bend rods or break pistons... What your friend most likely had was a '67 Smog engine with A.I.R. and pump...many cars are advertised as being turbo's only to find out they are smog engines! But if you put Non smog heads on..think SBC combustion chambers... then the pistons hit the heads and could possibly pull studs and let them fly...if the fool driving didn't hear them first! As far as Toro /Eldo powered Vairs.... lots were built and a few still around.... one was in Albq. for several years...now in Phx. They are fast in a straight line...but do not handle well... Here's a vid of it.
The Jalopy Journal
