here is the build thread on his 409 vair https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/409-powered-1960-corvair.614530/
Amazing!.. I would think that all that cast iron hanging off the back would induce some pretty wicked handling characteristics, making driving fast on twisty roads a real “white knuckle flight “ lol. I love this thing! , even if it’s just for the Shock factor alone. Very cool…
Rear end is supported by stock 64 Corvair springs, 409 has alloy heads and intake manifold, yes it is a bit scary to drive .
The ultimate sleeper!! Sure hope you get to go to a Corvair meet, open the hood and piss-off some purists…
I can not tell you the numbers of hours I have looking at your Corvair. A true grandma car with a healthy teenager kick. So clever !!
I had a crazy experience with a 66 Corvair, I was on my way home and it was raining, like most guys I was driving too fast and as I rounded the curve going down hill I tapped the brakes and the rear came around on me and I went off the road into a deep ditch in front of my parent's house, the cars rear end was in the ditch and the headlights were shining straight up in the air, I no more had dropped out of the car into the ditch when my dad rounded the corner. He wasn't too pleased with me, he had bought the car just a couple of weeks earlier, fortunately there was very little damage, cost me about 300 bucks. HRP
How...does one "beef up" a Corvair trans-axle ? I started a mid-engine Corvair years ago. I wasn't too concerned with the OEM four speed, but one day with the Corvair ring gear in my hand...I thought...no fking way is THIS little thing gonna work ! I stopped all work and sold the package. And this was with an expensive adapter to bolt the engine to the trans-axle, a full roll cage, and a few other tid-bits. Mike
If anyone has a Corvair 110 hp 164 engine or cylinder head lying around and can measure the exhaust stub ID, OD and length from the gasket backing ring I would sure appreciate the info. I’ve been wanting to build a slick set of custom headers for my wife’s Corvair for a long time but I was holding off until I found a set of 140 hp heads and built a big bore motor. Well, I don’t think that’s going to happen. I don’t want to tear it apart to measure the exhaust ports, you know how that can lead to it being disabled for an unexpectedly long time. If I have the dimensions I can make the flanges and get everything ready before hand. Thanks in advance.
You could give California Corvair Parts a call (909) 287-0741 . I'm sure they could give you that information with no trouble . There are several big bore threads on Corvair Forum and Corvair Central. Good luck with your project
I’m on the search! Does anyone know what became of this awesome car after the passing of the owner /creator Jay? This needs to be posted again. This is one of the neatest Corvairs that you will ever see. Jay Eitel's V 12 ' Jaguar' Corvair . Read about his background and look at the engineering that went into this. I have always thought it was incredible. He has passed now but what an interesting story. http://www.corvaircorsa.com/V-12-01.html http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog...rsons-who-made-their-wildest-ideas-come-true/ http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=158037672 All you other Corvair owners can only dream of doing something this neat with your cars. This one sets the bar and I can't help but wonder where it is now.
Another Corvair on par with Eitel’s V12 version is Ray Goulart’s ‘65 Corvair. Yep, that Ray Goulart, of custom Oldsmobile fame. He built a front engined version using the unmentionable L ess drivetrain and I defy anyone to look it over and not think it came from Chevrolet that way. It’s amazing and he did it all himself in his shop in NorCal. It’s dark gray metallic, black interior and all of the finishes and details are GM correct. I may still have some pictures but they were taken in the cramped quarters of the shop where he parks his hot rods. I helped him out with an old Ford steering column and he gave me the drivetrain that came out of the Corvair. He’s in his eighties now but he’s been building amazing, unusual hot rods all these years.
Just on your side issue here with the '53 Buick.. a fella I know recently lost the brakes on his clean original FIFTY-FIVE '88 Olds. Hmm..
I have to agree with leaving a Corvair a Corvair. The front engine V8 conversions kinda make them more like a conventional car. If I was younger, I would be building a big bore flat six with a belt driven supercharger for the wife’s ‘62 and converting to the later 4 spd and IRS. That would be a fun combination and still keep it all Corvair.
The same thing happened to a friend in high school. Mind you, it was 1967 so whichever pre-65 it was it was still a relatively new car. He rolled up the bump into the school parking lot and the engine made its escape. I had a '63 at the time and, fortunately, never had that experience.
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