Engine rebuild

All Models and Years
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jeremy cox
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Engine rebuild

Post by jeremy cox »

Just putting this out there...are there any decent engine rebuild books or manuals for the do it yourselfer? I had a 110 hp engine given to me in pieces in a box! Looks in decent shape and I want to rebuild it. Thanks

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bbodie52
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by bbodie52 »

:dontknow: You will need to inventory the contents of your engine-in-a-box. The shop manual illustrated parts breakdowns may help you to confirm that you have everything.

The Corvair shop manual is your basic engine rebuild bible. When I was sixteen and had never done anything more advanced than an ignition tune-up or a tire rotation the Corvair shop manual taught me how to overhaul the engine and Powerglide transmission in my 1963 Corvair in 1969.

Depending on your location, there may be a local CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter near you. If there is, I would recommend you join and get to know other local Corvair enthusiasts. They can advise and assist you with your first engine overhaul.

You will need piston rings, gasket sets, bearings, carburetor overhaul kits, etc. Most of your needs cannot be adequately filled locally. Corvair parts suppliers like Clark's Corvair Parts will be essential to a successful outcome.

You will need to find a good automotive machine shop. They can help you to evaluate the condition of the major components like the cylinder heads, cylinder barrels and pistons, crankshaft, etc. Then you can determine the serviceability of the components, reconditioning that may be needed, etc.

A foot-pound and inch-pound torque wrench is also essential, along with a can of anti-seize compound. There is a lot of aluminum in that engine, and the threads are soft and easily stripped or cross-threaded.

:search: :google: :fingerscrossed: :BradBodie: The Corvair Forum members can be a big help. When in doubt, ask! You may also find useful guidelines and helpful articles on the Corvair Forum in the Technical Section. The SEARCH function on the Corvair Forum can often help you in locating useful information. The same is sometimes true in the Internet when using Google. YouTube contains many Corvair how-to videos that you can search and view. (I wish I had had access to these things in 1969 when I was rebuilding my first engine!)

The link below will provide you with a list of useful websites that are Corvair-related. Some of the links will lead you to an extensive technical library that will allow you to download shop manuals and other technical references in Adobe Reader format at no cost. There is also a link that will help you to locate nearby CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters. While the Corvair Forum can be very helpful as you work on your Corvair, having local friends and contacts in your region who are knowledgeable about the Corvair can also be very helpful. These family-friendly CORSA chapters often offer picnics, group scenic drives, technical training and assistance, car shows, and competition events that can greatly enhance your enjoyment of Corvair ownership. You will also find a list of essential Corvair parts suppliers. Clark's Corvair Parts is the biggest and oldest Corvair supplier in the world. You will find a link that can provide you with a series of videos that amount to a tour of the Clark's Corvair Parts facilities. I think you will be amazed at the quality of the reproduction components they offer — particularly the interior carpeting and re-upholstery items. Parts suppliers such as this truly make our Corvair hobby possible.

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

More books, how-to guides, assembly manuals, etc. are available from sources like Clark's Corvair Parts. I would suggest browsing through the section starting with first page at the link below. You will find eleven pages of books, CDs, and other guides in that section of the Clark's online catalog.

:link: http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... _page=243A
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
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66vairguy
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by 66vairguy »

If you have not rebuilt an engine before, or are not familiar with the concepts, you might want to find a Corvair specialist to do it.

Keep in mind a "box" of parts could included mis-matched items from different years of engines.

The Corvair shop manual has some errors in it. Check with the Corvair Center forum in there Facts and Questions section were there is a list of known shop manual errors. Keep in mind the shop manual was for experienced technicians - it won't tell you everything.

Bob Helt has written some good books on the various changes in the engines for each model year.

On the other forum the engine guys post things they find done wrong by amateurs that they get to fix. Amazing how many wrong ways you can assemble an engine.
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66corsaguy
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by 66corsaguy »

This seems like a good project to learn how to rebuild the Corvair engine. After making sure you have what you need and follow brads advice. I encourage you to do this yourself and ask tons of questions before you approach something you are unsure of. Reading the manual and seeing it first hand in real life is a big help. Sometimes the manual is abstract.
It’s going to take time!! All my projects take 3-4 times longer than i anticipate. But it’s fun and worth it!
I’ve made plenty of mistakes. Recently i stripped a ton of bolts due to using a lbs torque wrench instead of inch torque wrench. Embarrassing and costing money but a great learning experience.

Keep us posted of your build!!


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bbodie52
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by bbodie52 »

Here are some links to some additional tips. In my first rebuild effort in 1969 it seemed like the most difficult thing I ran into was getting the upper row of cylinder head nuts off. They are exposed to years of moisture, rust, dirt and high engine heat from the cylinder heads, which helps to soften the old nuts so they easily round off if the socket slips. Most are buried with limited access between the intake manifold casting and the valve cover mating surface area, so a damaged nut is difficult to get at to chisel or cut off. I found that sometimes I would be forced to use a hacksaw blade to cut the stud in the area around the cylinder barrel. The lower row (behind the rocker arms) is easier because they are cooled somewhat by oil, are larger, and are not exposed to rust or dirt on the threads. A deep six-point socket is all that is needed after removing the rocker arms.

A six-point socket usually gives a better grip on a bolt head than a 12-point socket.

Image

NEW MECHANICS: Engine Rebuilding & Maintenance Tips
:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=4064

Removing Corvair Cylinder Heads
:link: viewtopic.php?f=225&t=4063

Because of the vulnerability of the exposed upper row of cylinder head nuts, Clark's Corvair Parts has paid particular attention to them...

:link: http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... N&page=181
Image

:link: http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... IN&page=13
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Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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terribleted
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by terribleted »

A tip on a on the13/16 socket to be used for removing and torqueing the rocker arm studs. I modified a 6 point socket slightly to give better grip on these. The "nut" part of the stud is fairly thin and all sockets are a little rounded going into their grip surface. To increase the grip of the socket, I took my deep 13/16 3/8 drive socket that I prefer for use here and ground the end of it so the edges in to the grip flats is square rather than rounded. Makes a big difference. It pretty much never slips.
Corvair guy since 1982. I have personally restored at least 20 Vairs, many of them restored ground up.
Currently working full time repairing Corvairs and restoring old cars.
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66vairguy
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by 66vairguy »

terribleted wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:05 pm A tip on a on the13/16 socket to be used for removing and torqueing the rocker arm studs. I modified a 6 point socket slightly to give better grip on these. The "nut" part of the stud is fairly thin and all sockets are a little rounded going into their grip surface. To increase the grip of the socket, I took my deep 13/16 3/8 drive socket that I prefer for use here and ground the end of it so the edges in to the grip flats is square rather than rounded. Makes a big difference. It pretty much never slips.
X2 - works well
joelsplace
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Re: Engine rebuild

Post by joelsplace »

As mentioned you want Bob's information. His carburetor book is excellent. You can download the service manuals if you do a search. You'll want the main '61 manual and then the supplement for your year. One of the main mistakes I've heard of in the service manuals are torque specs. Be sure you sanity check them by downloading a generic torque spec chart for the bolt size and go over the list of mistakes referred to above.
I would also recommend Bill Fisher's (updated by Seth Emerson) How to Hot Rod Corvair Engines. Not that you are asking about modifications but it has a lot of good information in it.
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