1961 Rampside

[Corvair.crazy]

New purchase, 1961 Rampside. Hasn't been registered since 1968. Was a forestry truck in its youth. I plan on putting a 140 in her and putting her back on the road.

[fred bagnall]

It looks real solid. A great start into the FC world. Keep us posted on your progress.

[bbodie52]

http://www.corvair.org/chapters/corvanatics/index.php
Glad you see you are taking on such a restoration. Rampside and Loadside Corvairs are something of an "endangered species". Many of the few have been lost forever to industrial use, neglect, road salt damage, etc.



If you have not yet obtained an engine for your Rampside, I would suggest that an expensive and somewhat rare 140hp engine may not be an ideal choice for a Corvair van or truck. Its primary advantage over a two carburetor 110hp engine is at the top end, high revving, higher speed end of the power spectrum. The high speed and handling limitations of the Corvair truck are not likely to be able to take advantage of the 140hp engine capabilities enough to justify its higher cost.

Both the 140hp engines and the 110hp engines had the same displacement and camshaft, so they had good low to mid-range torque and horsepower curves. The value of the greater top-end horsepower of the 140hp engine in the high RPM ranges may be lost somewhat in a heavy van. The 110hp 2 carburetor heads might be a better arrangement for your truck. In actual driving and use in a Rampside, you might discover that the secondary carburetors are seldom, if ever in-use. The Rampside's size, bulk and handling characteristics make good use of the low-end torque that is nearly identical in both the 140hp and 110hp engine configurations. The open throttle, high revving usage that the 140hp engine excels in is more applicable to the Corsa and Monza passenger car, with its improved handling abilities, than in a truck application. The 110hp engine has a good reputation for reliability and is easier to tune and maintain than the four-carburetor engine. The 110hp engine's ready availability would put less of a budget load on your project. Performance and reliability improvements can be added to the 110hp engine via electronic, breakerless ignition, and perhaps dual exhaust and even electronic fuel injection, if you want a modern, more exotic path for your Rampside restoration.

This will give you some idea of the differences between the 140 hp engine and the 110 hp engine.

140 hp vs. 110 hp...

• Same high-performance camshaft on both 140 hp and 110 hp engines. Low performance camshaft in the 95 hp engine.
• Same 164 Cubic Inch displacement with same bore and stroke on all 1964-1969 engines.
• Stronger, nitrided crankshaft on the 140 hp and 180 hp turbocharged engines. (Nitriding is a heat treating process that diffuses nitrogen into the surface of a metal to create a case-hardened surface).
• On the 140 hp engine, a 4x1 carburetor arrangement, with two primary and 2 secondary 1-barrel carburetors, connected with a progressive linkage to open the secondary carburetors as you approach full throttle. (Equivalent to a 4 barrel carburetor on the 140 hp engine, vs. a 2 barrel carburetor (2x1) on the 110 hp and 95 hp engine).
• Dual muffler, dual exhaust with larger exhaust ports and larger exhaust manifolds on the 140 hp engine. Single exhaust on the 110 hp and 95 hp engine.
• 9.0:1 Compression Ratio in both 140 hp and 110 hp engines. 8.0:1 CR on the 95 hp engine.

140 hp Heads...

It's all about better breathing at full throttle at the high RPM ranges. At lower RPM the big valves and dual exhaust don't make much difference, and the secondary carburetors are not open for business.


110 hp Heads...

[bbodie52]

You might enjoy this...

CONCOURS CORVAIR — Rampside Restoration

viewtopic.php?f=178&t=6780

And here is a Cal Clark video tour of his restored Rampside. WOW!

[Corvair.crazy]

Thank you Brad for that very detailed reply.

I have two 102HP engines in various conditions. Honestly the 140HP is complete and just needs a freshen up to get it running. So that is why it is the winner!

[Corvair.crazy]

Thanks Brad,

I saw that article. I wish Clarks sold more body panels for the FC''s but what are you going to do.

I have it registered on the Registry.

It also looks like it was Omaha Orange like the Clarks truck, but it was actually born as Cardinal Red. Which am have been told fades to a orange.