61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Non-Traditionally Powered Corvairs
lostbooger
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:05 pm

61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by lostbooger »

Greetings

I noticed nobody here has a 4.3 conversion so I figured Id show off my progress.

The car started off as a basket case as far as So Cal standards go so I figured it would be a good candidate for a conversion.

The rust was minimal except for the rear overhang. The interior was shot. The body was mostly straight.

Ive since rebuilt the front and rear suspension and installed urethane bushings.

Replaced literally everything except the pedal pertaining to the brakes.

Installed aftermarket 15X7 wheels and tires.

The 4.3 conversion was mostly easy. It required me to convert the engine to reverse rotation. I literally got the last bellhousing from Kennedy engineering. Theres other ones out there however. The hardest part was finding the parts. I can supply all the needed part numbers to anybody that request them. I converted a used engine from an 88 s-10 for temporary use especially since the radiator placement is questionable.

The crossmember was easy enough to fabricate from a universal one.

The alternator is just a normal alternator with a reverse rotation fan installed. I used the stock s-10 mount and modified the heck out of it.

So far the radiator is working fine but I havent really been able to put it through the paces since Im currently having a transmission issue not related to the conversion.

Speaking of trans it is a stock PG that I have done absolutely nothing to except change the fluid. I have plans to upgrade in the future.

I have yet to really romp on the car so I cant yet tell you how fast it is.

From what I have driven it there is definitly waaay more power then stock lol.

I have a few vids of the car and the engine I hope you enjoy.

First pic is the engine.
Second is the crossmember mounts to the frame.
Third is the side shot of the car with the 4.3 and the stock springs (this is to show that not too much weight was added)

Im in the car about $3.5k. Most of that was the cost of the parts needed to restore it. Like all projects I still have much more to spend.

The conversion for the most part is easily reverseable.

Any questions feel free to ask.




Attachments
0905101750.jpg
motor mount right.jpg
0907101618.jpg
Motornoggin
Corvair of the Year
Corvair of the Year
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 8:19 pm
Location: Laramie, WY.

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by Motornoggin »

Pretty cool! I like how well it fits. Wheels look nice too.
User avatar
indianalakewood1961
Corvair of the Month
Corvair of the Month
Posts: 194
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:24 pm

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by indianalakewood1961 »

very nice...
User avatar
flat6_musik
Posts: 2659
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:03 am
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by flat6_musik »

Hey, that's really nice! Yeah, it'd be nice to get some air flow for that radiator, huh?
lostbooger
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:05 pm

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by lostbooger »

So far there is enough airflow. Ive taken it on the highway up to 70mph and it was fine. Ive since done a couple improvements. I still have to build a bottom shroud for it. It is a pretty large radiator with a descent fan. I think it will work long term but only time will tell.
User avatar
Scott H
Site Admin
Posts: 4175
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by Scott H »

That is really cool. I like it allot. :tu:
Scott
1960 Monza Coupe
1965 Evening Orchid Corsa Turbo (project)
1961 Rampside (project)
1964 Spyder coupe (patina car, running)
1964 faux Spyder (project/parts car)
1964 Monza (parts car)
1963 Monza (parts car)
User avatar
65Ragtop
Posts: 465
Joined: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:45 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by 65Ragtop »

A 61 four door with a 4.3 sittin' pretty! Gotta' love that! Does your mom know you did that to her car! :evil: Good work.
Mike S.
65 Corsa 140 Ragtop
CORSA member
lostbooger
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu May 19, 2011 9:05 pm

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by lostbooger »

When my Mom was alive she didnt care for Corvairs lol.

Thanks for the backhanded compliment.

My other car is a 66 Corsa. I refuse to modify that car however. I chose the 4 door EM because I didnt mind modifying it and I really like the looks of it.
Attachments
l_591a25f170ad409fb6e8d51729e5ac02.jpg
l_591a25f170ad409fb6e8d51729e5ac02.jpg (66.99 KiB) Viewed 4230 times
User avatar
Scott H
Site Admin
Posts: 4175
Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:21 pm
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by Scott H »

I like that you chose a 61 4 door. Its different than the usual LM conversion everyone else does. :tu:

and nice looking CORSA! :chevy:
Scott
1960 Monza Coupe
1965 Evening Orchid Corsa Turbo (project)
1961 Rampside (project)
1964 Spyder coupe (patina car, running)
1964 faux Spyder (project/parts car)
1964 Monza (parts car)
1963 Monza (parts car)
User avatar
cvair4life
Posts: 802
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:22 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by cvair4life »

I like em both man. Sweet work up on that 61 though!
1966 Corsa Coupe
old Jerry
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2014 5:23 am

61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by old Jerry »

I am building a LM coupe with 4.3, rear mounted, with a powerglide. I had a bushing made to center the torque converter on the 14 inch 4.3 flex plate. How did you do it? I am not sure this is the best way but I think it will work. I am using a MID bellhousing I located. Any suggestions would be helpfull. My car has factory air but is in rough condition. I have owed it for 29 years but had to wait for retirement to work on it. Thanks in advance for any help. Jerry Casto.
1965 Moza 110 PG. Just turned up 68000 miles. Was in storage since the mid seventies. Fun to drive, a survivor.
1966 Monza coupe PG. Installing a reversed rotation 4.3. Not a hot rod just a fun project.
User avatar
bbodie52
Corvair of the Month
Corvair of the Month
Posts: 11872
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:33 pm
Location: Lake Chatuge Hayesville, NC
Contact:

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by bbodie52 »

:goodpost: :coolphotos: :woo: Aluminum radiator? Does that help with the heat transfer significantly? About 262 cubic inches. The stock Corvair Powerglide transmission is supposed to be pretty solid. What plans do you have for an "upgrade"?

Could this be done with a 4-speed transmission? It would be interesting to combine this with a LM rear suspension conversion, a beefed-up 4-spider gear differential and a Saginaw 4-speed from a 1966 or later Corvair. It would still look stock, but what a sleeper! It looks like a very clean conversion. Congratulations!

:tu: :thumbsupwink: :thumbup: :clap:

Love the yellow Corsa coupe, too! :tongue:
Brad Bodie
Lake Chatuge, North Carolina
Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
User avatar
SfcColts
Posts: 97
Joined: Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:15 pm

Re: 61 4 door 4.3 v6 PG

Post by SfcColts »

I love it!

Ive had an idea rolling around in my head to build a Corvair with 4.3 conversion instead of the V8. I love how you reversed the cam so you could use the original transmission. It would seem to me to be easier so you wouldnt have to modify as many parts.

I haven't put my ideas into motion bucause of a Mustang project.

I would be interested in knowing all the different parts you used and any other info you have.

Tim
65 Arrival Blue Monza
64 Palomar Red Monza
Post Reply

Return to “V8's - V6's - and...?”