C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

OT R.I.P. Corvair engine!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 18, 2004 | 11:23 PM
  #1  
Wrencher's Avatar
Wrencher
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Default OT R.I.P. Corvair engine!

Sad, sad news, my fellow enthusiasts :cry

I was driving my hot little Corvair up one of the local twisty roads (Lake Berryessa road) humpin' on it when the ungrateful b***h swallowed an exaust valve! :mad

I just spent the big $$$ on the best valves and seats money can buy, so me and the machinist are gonna have words :nono: Seriously, I'm mighty bummed as this is the most fun car I own and now it's tear-down time again, to say nothing of the Keith Black piston it almost ceartainly ate for lunch :cuss

:rant:

Hans
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 02:13 AM
  #2  
comp's Avatar
comp
Team Owner
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

man i'm sorry for your pain i love my 68 and 69 vairs :flag Nader sucks :thumbs:
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 04:42 AM
  #3  
Love My 72 and 77's Avatar
Love My 72 and 77
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 0
From: Chico Ca
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

My '65 Corvair Monza 140HP. Extensively modified engine and working on the suspension. My best Hiway 1 car...

CRAP SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE CORVAIR!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 06:40 AM
  #4  
billy78sa's Avatar
billy78sa
Advanced
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: calhoun city ms
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Love My 72 and 77)

Anybody got a Corvair they would like to sell, I am looking for a 65 to 69, preferably a convertible? I have always liked these little cars. :auto:
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 07:28 AM
  #5  
Paul Borowski's Avatar
Paul Borowski
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,468
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (billy78sa)

Time to drop in a Chevy V8 :yesnod:
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 07:38 AM
  #6  
Cookwithvette's Avatar
Cookwithvette
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 0
From: New Wilmington PA
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

Lake Berryessa road
Hey! I've been there! I was just a little kid at the time but we used to live nearby in the Travis AFB/Vacaville area. Every now and then my dad would take us to Berryessa in the boat. :cheers:

Sorry to hear about the motor. :(
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 07:47 AM
  #7  
71coupe's Avatar
71coupe
Melting Slicks
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 14
From: CA
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

Too bad about the motor.
I like the sound of that flat 6. Do you know of any good Corvair websites?
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 08:02 AM
  #8  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (71coupe)

Do you know of any good Corvair websites?
The best discussion board is the Corvair Center. They have been in the process of changing servers so if that link does not work try this one: Alternate

Another is Corvair Central Vair Talk

Then there are the two major Corvair Vendor sites:

Clarks Corvair
Corvair Underground

Here is my '64 'vert



tom...


[Modified by Tom73, 9:52 AM 5/19/2004]
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old May 19, 2004 | 09:31 AM
  #9  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (comp)

Nader
Nader did not drive, accused Ford of covering up the Corvair handling issues by hiding a video Ford made which showed the Corvair spinning out in front of the camera & racing around the track to catch :eek: the Ford before spinning out in front of the camera. :nopity
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 10:57 AM
  #10  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Ganey)

The early Corvair, 60-63, did have some handling issues. It used a swing axle that would allow the rear wheel to tuck in on hard cornering. This was the same arrangement used by the VW bug, early Porsche, and the Triumph Spitfire. Could have been cured by a roll bar. In '64 they added a single transverse leaf spring that cured the problem. Then with the redesign for '65 they went with the Corvette rear suspension, just with coil springs rather than a transverse leaf spring. :)

tom...
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 12:03 PM
  #11  
Wrencher's Avatar
Wrencher
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Tom73)

Wow Tom , must be karma! I'm looking at a '64 Spyder (turbo) 'vert on Friday. I'll have to take a '66 coupe as well if I want it (oh, darn :D ). I understand the floorpan is rusted through but the rest is complete, including the ultra-rare air cleaner! Yours looks great.

As for racing, this WAS Chevrolet's B sedan class car in the early to mid '60's. The 'vettes were A and B production (racing against the Cobras). Early on they raced against Triumph, Morgan, Lotus, Porsche and Dodge. Later ('65)as Trans Am cars they raced against Alfa, Ford (Mustang) and Dodge (Valiant). They met with limited success and it wasn't 'till the Camaro showed up that Chevy started winning. It was Bob Tullius in the Dodge that dominated early sedan racing! Your trivia for today, class.

Hans
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 12:22 PM
  #12  
Wrencher's Avatar
Wrencher
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Paul Borowski)

Time to drop in a Chevy V8 :yesnod:
I'm keeping my eyes open for one that's already cut. I passed on a real nice one that was over-priced with a SB 400 (!) in it and a ZF 5 speed transaxle. Would have loved to surprise some of the poseurs with that one! It's called the "Corv8" kit, and it's still available from the Corvair vendors.

Hans
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 12:50 PM
  #13  
427V8's Avatar
427V8
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

Man that sucks!
I had a '65 Monza Vert. Not too fast ( well compared to my 69 442) but the thing handled fantastic ( unlike the 442 :lolg: )

Wish I still had it :banghead:
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 01:04 PM
  #14  
gmcclurg's Avatar
gmcclurg
Racer
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Crofton MD
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (427V8)

I had a Spyder back in high school. Great little car, but around 110 the front wheels would get a little light.
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 01:23 PM
  #15  
Tom73's Avatar
Tom73
Race Director
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 120 Days
All Eyes On Me
Liked
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

They met with limited success and it wasn't 'till the Camaro showed up that Chevy started winning.
Yep, and it was that Camaro that killed off the Corvair, not Nader. Chevy just quit developemnt of the 'Vair and put their money into the Camaro.

tom...
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 01:35 PM
  #16  
Wrencher's Avatar
Wrencher
Thread Starter
Safety Car
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (gmcclurg)

I had a Spyder back in high school. Great little car, but around 110 the front wheels would get a little light.
I solved that with a modified '69 Camaro chin spoiler and aftermarket springs (lowered). I also upgraded the front 10"x2" drum brakes :eek: to 12" discs and the rears to full metallic linings. The weight transfer is almost perfect under hard braking. It'll almost suck your eye ***** out it stops so hard :thumbs:

Hans
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 01:58 PM
  #17  
wacked's Avatar
wacked
Race Director
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,398
Likes: 0
From: If the world didnt suck, we would all fall off. Troy,Ohio.
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

Corvair's are cool cars :cool:
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To OT R.I.P. Corvair engine!

Old May 19, 2004 | 03:09 PM
  #18  
Sigforty's Avatar
Sigforty
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,941
Likes: 281
From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

Two of my friends from high school dealt but nothing in corvairs. Those are some fun little cars and a nice idea from GM. To bad that negative publicity ended their life.
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 05:05 PM
  #19  
LemansBlue68's Avatar
LemansBlue68
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Wrencher)

My buddy restored a couple of Corvairs. His favorite was a '65 Corsa with the 4 single barrel carbs. I used to tease him about the motor looking like a lawn mower engine when it was torn down.

Corvairs were banned from some of the later SCCA events of the '60's because they were making the Porsches look bad. All the spoiled rich kids couldn't bear to see their babies being beaten by a "Cheby" that cost less than half of what they paid. :cry :cry

A very unique car for it's day or even today. GM would never be as innovative as that again. :thumbs:
Reply
Old May 19, 2004 | 06:17 PM
  #20  
SanDiegoPaul's Avatar
SanDiegoPaul
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Default Re: OT R.I.P. Corvair engine! (Tom73)

The early Corvair, 60-63, did have some handling issues. It used a swing axle that would allow the rear wheel to tuck in on hard cornering.

I had a '60 once. For about a year or so! Great little car 'til it spun out on me, doing 70 on a freeway offramp in Phoenix. Didn't keep it too much longer after that! :nono:
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:00 PM.

story-0
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-1
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-2
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-6
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-8
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE