Sons first car

[justansmih21]

my son wants a 1962 corvair it has no motor or tranny in it. i dont know much about corvairs, so could someone point me in the right direction on finding one and what kind i can use thanks

[MBlaster1]

Welcome. What kind are you looking for. You can go to craigslist or ebay.

[Corvair.crazy]

Welcome, you must have one in mind. Are you looking for a power plant? Do you want a good running unit or a one to rebuild?

[bbodie52]

Welcome to the Corvair Forum!

With little Corvair experience to help you along, I'm not sure why you would want to start with an empty shell? The engine and transaxle in a Corvair is an integral part of the rear suspension. Without it you can't even push it up the driveway!

My father started me out with a complete 1963 Corvair 500 coupe in 1969. The engine was frozen and the Powerglide automatic transmission needed to be rebuilt too. I was 16 years old. My father provided the basic car, a garage full of tools, funding support for parts and machine shop work, and a 1961 Corvair shop manual. In 1969 Clark's Corvair Parts would not exist for a few more years, and the Internet and Corvair Forum were not even imagined! But I spent my summer vacation learning to remove the powertrain and learning how to rebuild the engine and transmission. Several years later that engine had been transferred into a 1962 coupe, and that was my transportation to my wedding and on my honeymoon!


Our 1962 Corvair Monza Coupe - On Our Wedding Day - April 1972 - Thousand Oaks, CA

If your son is self-motivated, safety-conscious, and you can help him with tools, funding and a place to work, looking for a complete Corvair "fixer-upper" may bring you together in a fun project car. You should avoid cars with serious rust problems, and look for one that is complete and a good basis for learning. An incomplete car may be a real headache — one that will be discouraging and riddled with one problem after another. I would think that you would want a project car that would form the basis for a project that is reasonable and attainable. Self-motivation is a hard commodity to come by, and project "burn-out" and depression is hard to overcome. You and your son should choose carefully in selecting your first project Corvair. Depending on where you live there may be a CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter nearby. Attending meetings could be a source of information and inspiration for you both. This Corvair Forum can also be a great help. As you look for a project car, establish a budget, and form your goals I would encourage you both to look to the Corvair Forum — and possibly a local CORSA chapter — for advice and assistance before you take the plunge.

Finally, I would like to invite you to expand on your initial post and tell us more about yourself and your son, and your goals for your Corvair project. If you can describe your personal assessment of your mechanical skills and abilities — and your son's — that would help a lot. Members of the Corvair Forum love to be helpful in assisting other Corvair owners with technical support and advice, but it helps a lot if we have some understanding of your technical background and mechanical abilities, Corvair-related knowledge, etc. Helping us to know more about you will help us to write comments to you that are tailored to your needs and experience. Pictures are great too, because pictures of your prospective Corvairs will help us to form helpful comments. Knowing your location is also useful, because knowing where you live can sometimes suggest possibilities to resolve some issues or problems.

[justansmih21]

i found some on ebay found a 80hp one but he wants more power. so i found a 180 hp but i dont know if any type of engine will fit in the corvair and what can of tranny i would need to bolt up to it.

[rowin4]

It is interesting that the car has no transmission, usually you find a car just without a engine . If you are looking to be a first time corvair owner , I would look at a car that was at least all there. You will find that you will be a second corvair owner in a short time. By the time you start buying the engine, transmission and who knows what else is missing it will add up to a lot more in dollars than you would ever thought you would put into a car. It would be cheaper to buy a good condition running car than to try to piece one together. This is if you and your son can do all the work yourself. If not hope you have a boat load of money. Just my opinion.

[bbodie52]

If you live in an area that has a CORSA club chapter, you may be able to ask questions and perhaps ride in one or more Corvairs to get the feeling for it and the amount of power it produces.

A 180 hp engine can be rare and expensive. It is turbocharged, somewhat difficult to tune, demands expensive Premium fuel, gets relatively poor gas mileage, and is probably a poor choice for a first Corvair to serve as a learning platform. It will fit in coupe or convertible bodes, but not in vans, trucks, or station wagons due to lack of clearance above the engine (for the turbocharger).

All other Corvair engines are pretty-much interchangeable. The 140 hp 164 CI engine has four carburetors, large intake valve heads and a dual exhaust system. The 1964-1969 164 CI 110 hp two-carburetor engine is a solid performer, relatively easy to tune, will usually tolerate Regular fuel and gets 20-24 mpg. Engines from 1963 and earlier Corvairs were rated at 80 - 102 hp and had a displacement of 145 CI (except the first model year (1960), which had only 140 CI displacement).

A new body style was introduced in 1965 that also included a Corvette-style rear suspension redesign and larger brakes. It was available in a 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, and 4-door sedan. The powertrain, weight, suspension and brakes were basically the same for all 1965 and later cars. Horsepower ratings were 95, 110, 140, and 180 hp. The car was offered with a 3 or 4-speed manual transmission, or the 2-speed Powerglide automatic. Air conditioning was rare, but can be found occasionally.

I would recommend reading the Wikipedia article for some fairly complete coverage of the model years and to see some photographs of the various cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Corvair

Many photographs of good examples of Corvairs can be viewed by browsing in the Corvair Forum Corvair of the Month and Corvair of the Year sections.

[MBlaster1]

Where are you located? I have a complete 64 110hp drive train 4 speed and suspension so you should be able to bolt it right in and it will handle better with the 64 suspension. It needs a ring gear for the flywheel but the motor has a recent rebuild. PM if interested

1389800352923.jpg (33.26 KiB) Viewed 2205 times

[Scott H]

I have a complete '62 coupe that is in great condition for a restore, no rust, stripped down, ready for body work and paint. Its a 102hp, PG trans car.

[justansmih21]

i read your guys posts,i don't know anything on a corvair. i am mechanically sound tho. i work on all my cars myself. i like in Ellsworth,ks so if there are anyone close by here or know of parts that be great. as for my son he doesn't know too much bout cars but iam teaching him. he is 13 b3 14 this October, he likes older vehicles. we were in the junkyard looking or some cosmetic parts for his sisters car when we came across it, and he fell in love with it, the guy said it's a 1962 and he has the title for it and wants 800 bucks. the car looks pretty damn good tho no rusts or dents paints in good shape, has all the trim and chrome on it the interior in bout the same shape. the car looks amazing for the year and in the junkyard. the only thing its missing is the engine and tranny. i will try and upload a pic i have of it when my computer will let me but it looks pretty good to me. dont really know if 800 is a fair price or not, but my son loves it and wants to fix it up, so any info would be greatly appreciated!

[justansmih21]

Where are you located? I have a complete 64 110hp drive train 4 speed and suspension so you should be able to bolt it right in and it will handle better with the 64 suspension. It needs a ring gear for the flywheel but the motor has a recent rebuild. PM if interested

1389800352923.jpg

iam in Ellsworth,ks..how much would u want for this

[justansmih21]

I have a complete '62 coupe that is in great condition for a restore, no rust, stripped down, ready for body work and paint. Its a 102hp, PG trans car.

can you send me some pics

[bbodie52]

If the "junkyard car" is really complete and relatively solid in body and suspension/brakes, and has a complete, tolerable interior that could be restored, it could be possible to save it and to marry it up to a Corvair powertrain from a 1962-1964 source. You did not mention what type of transmission the original car had — Powerglide automatic or manual. Converting from one to the other is possible, but adds to the complexity as you have to locate all of the shift linkage and clutch linkage components if moving to a manual transmission car from one that was based on an automatic, and the rear cross-member, powertrain mounting, etc. becomes problematic. Probably better to stay with the same type of transaxle that this car was originally equipped with — especially since this car is your first Corvair, it is intended to be a learning experience, and you don't need the added obstacles, complexity, and expense of a conversion.

There is one CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter that is somewhat close to you (about 115 miles southeast, near Wichita). If you and your family choose to join such a group, it could be a learning source that might help to keep things moving in a positive way. They may also know of local body shops, mechanics, and parts sources that could be of help in the project. Some clubs are stronger and better-organized than others, and I cannot vouch for this club based on any kind of experience with them. But there is some potential there that you might want to explore. Face-to-face contact with other like-minded Corvair enthusiasts could lead to positive social interaction and support that might help your project effort. Here is some contact information if you are interested...

CORSA Chapter Locator - Mid-Continent Corvair Association

Chapter ID: 672
Organization Name: Mid-Continent Corvair Association
Street Address (Primary): 1212 Patrick Henry St., Derby, KS 67037-2825
President: Doug Horstman, Phone: 316-777-0351, email: doughorstman@cox.net
Vice President: Bob Bright, Cellular Phone: 316-619-5800, email: bobenterprises@sbcglobal.net
Secretary: Julie Strecker, email: juliestrk@cox.net
Treasurer: Ned Madsen, Phone: 316-680-3483 or 316-788-1724, email: aeroned@aol.com, 1212 N Patrick Henry St, Derby, KS 67037-2825
Newsletter Editor: Terry Kalp, Phone: 316-755-2458, email: tkalp@cox.net
Newsletter Name: The Flat Six Journal
Sample Newsletter:

The Flat Six Journal - February 2014.pdf

The Flat Six Journal - February 2014

(3.28 MiB) Downloaded 77 times

Website:http://www.corvair.org/chapters/chapter672/
Email (Primary): mcca@corvair.org

If you want to download some free shop manuals and technical documentation, check out the following link. Also, a number of Corvair used and new parts suppliers are listed. Just paging through the online Clark's Corvair Parts website can be very informative. It can give you an idea of support, cost and parts availability for all aspects of Corvair restoration. Clark's has been a successful Corvair parts supplier since 1973. There are also a series of videos that display various aspects of the Clark's Corvair Parts operation. Viewing some of them may help you to feel secure in the knowledge that taking on such a project car is well-supported logistically. Parts suppliers, the Corvair Forum and similar websites, and perhaps the local CORSA club chapter can all be supportive of an encouraging and successful outcome.

The following Corvair Forum link can provide you with a list of useful websites that should be helpful as a Corvair owner...

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

Corvair Forum viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

CLARK'S CORVAIR PARTS VIDEO

viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6004

[justansmih21]

If the "junkyard car" is really complete and relatively solid in body and suspension/brakes, and has a complete, tolerable interior that could be restored, it could be possible to save it and to marry it up to a Corvair powertrain from a 1962-1964 source. You did not mention what type of transmission the original car had — Powerglide automatic or manual. Converting from one to the other is possible, but adds to the complexity as you have to locate all of the shift linkage and clutch linkage components if moving to a manual transmission car from one that was based on an automatic, and the rear cross-member, powertrain mounting, etc. becomes problematic. Probably better to stay with the same type of transaxle that this car was originally equipped with — especially since this car is your first Corvair, it is intended to be a learning experience, and you don't need the added obstacles, complexity, and expense of a conversion.

There is one CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter that is somewhat close to you (about 115 miles southeast, near Wichita). If you and your family choose to join such a group, it could be a learning source that might help to keep things moving in a positive way. They may also know of local body shops, mechanics, and parts sources that could be of help in the project. Some clubs are stronger and better-organized than others, and I cannot vouch for this club based on any kind of experience with them. But there is some potential there that you might want to explore. Face-to-face contact with other like-minded Corvair enthusiasts could lead to positive social interaction and support that might help your project effort. Here is some contact information if you are interested...

CORSA Chapter Locator - Mid-Continent Corvair Association

it was a manual transmission.

Chapter ID: 672
Organization Name: Mid-Continent Corvair Association
Street Address (Primary): 1212 Patrick Henry St., Derby, KS 67037-2825
President: Doug Horstman, Phone: 316-777-0351, email: doughorstman@cox.net
Vice President: Bob Bright, Cellular Phone: 316-619-5800, email: bobenterprises@sbcglobal.net
Secretary: Julie Strecker, email: juliestrk@cox.net
Treasurer: Ned Madsen, Phone: 316-680-3483 or 316-788-1724, email: aeroned@aol.com, 1212 N Patrick Henry St, Derby, KS 67037-2825
Newsletter Editor: Terry Kalp, Phone: 316-755-2458, email: tkalp@cox.net
Newsletter Name: The Flat Six Journal
Sample Newsletter:

The Flat Six Journal - February 2014.pdf

Website:http://www.corvair.org/chapters/chapter672/
Email (Primary): mcca@corvair.org

If you want to download some free shop manuals and technical documentation, check out the following link. Also, a number of Corvair used and new parts suppliers are listed. Just paging through the online Clark's Corvair Parts website can be very informative. It can give you an idea of support, cost and parts availability for all aspects of Corvair restoration. Clark's has been a successful Corvair parts supplier since 1973. There are also a series of videos that display various aspects of the Clark's Corvair Parts operation. Viewing some of them may help you to feel secure in the knowledge that taking on such a project car is well-supported logistically. Parts suppliers, the Corvair Forum and similar websites, and perhaps the local CORSA club chapter can all be supportive of an encouraging and successful outcome.

The following Corvair Forum link can provide you with a list of useful websites that should be helpful as a Corvair owner...

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

Corvair Forum viewtopic.php?f=225&t=6007

CLARK'S CORVAIR PARTS VIDEO

viewtopic.php?f=81&t=6004

[glass8775]

My son and I just bought his first car yesterday, a '63 Monza Convertible with a PG trans. Amazed to find this car in such great shape for around $1500. Came with a spare engine and trans as well as 2 extra sets of front seats and a spare rear seat, carbs and other misc. parts. No rust thru anywhere and perfect top. Current interior is good but moldy and no carpet. He is soooo excited to get busy getting it cleaned up and ready to roll. It has been stored in a heated garage since '75 when 2nd owner parked it to begin restoring before he passed away. I really have little knowledge of Corvairs but have built numerous other vehicles so once I get more info it should be a pretty easy and fun project. Any suggestions on what to do with the spare engines and trans and seats, like pricing would be appreciated.

Is this '63 a 6volt or 12 volt electrical system?

[Jimmyvonviggle]

Congratulations, what a good father you are. Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I believe that gm switched over to 12 volt systems in the mid to late 50s. Being a 63 your car most likely still has a generator, which you might want to upgrade to a alternator. Please upload some pics of the car and your son with the car.