65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

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skipvair
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:17 pm

65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by skipvair »

I have read that all corsas in 65 came with 355 gears standard. A self purported expert told me this weekend that 140's came standard with 327's and 180s came standard with 355's. Whats the scoop?


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
Scott V
Posts: 707
Joined: Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:31 am

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by Scott V »

3.55 was the std gear for all corsas.

the std gear for other engines & models could be the 3.55 or 3.27. just depends on what model/engine/trans combo your talking about.

-Scott V.
skipvair
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:17 pm

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by skipvair »

Thanks, Scott. That's what i thought. Taking delivery of a 65 140 corsa this week, and was worried it might have 327's which were a dog in my 66 140 monza. 355's ran much better


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
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caraholic4life
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Location: Westminster, Maryland

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by caraholic4life »

I also prefer the 3:55 gears in my air cooled Corvairs but opted for a non posi 3:27 differential when I had my water pumper Corvair.
1962 95 FC Van
1964 Greenbrier Deluxe
1965 Monza Coupe
1965 Monza Convertible
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66vairguy
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by 66vairguy »

Yeah first gear on a 66 is a bit tall (revised ratios in 66). I have one with a 3.27 rear axle and it feels almost like starting out in 2nd gear, but it's fine as it was set up for the highway. Once you get rolling it pulls strong.

The 65 gear box had a lower 1st gear and with a 3.55 axle it should launch nicely off the line.
rfw66
Posts: 203
Joined: Tue Feb 09, 2010 5:38 pm
Location: Oklahoma

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by rfw66 »

skipvair...And these is why "self purported experts" of every kind should be taken with a grain of salt. They really don't know much.


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Bob W
65 Corsa convertible
68 Monza coupe
skipvair
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:17 pm

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by skipvair »

Yea but if its on the internet iy has to be true.


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
skipvair
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2017 8:17 pm

Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by skipvair »

Lol


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Frank Metasavage

65 Corsa 140 4 speed with Weber IDAs
66 Corsa 140 4 speed Stock
notched
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Re: 65 Corsa diff ratio 4 speed

Post by notched »

64-65 has a 3.20 1st gear
66-69 has a 3.11 1st gear
60-63 and 64-65 FC box has a 3.65 1st gear
early 61 FC has a 4.26 1st gear
Not much difference between the 1st gear ratios between the first two gear boxes. What makes a difference is the 140 engine which gives up some low end torque due to the larger intake log and runners. GM rectified it slightly on late 65-69 PG cars with the 889 cam and 4 degree cam timing retard to extend the power band of the 889 cam. Using a 891 or some of the after market cams with the 3.27's might result in less than stellar acceleration in 1st gear. To be quite honest, the Corvair would work a lot better with the 3.65 1st gear used in the 60-63 (and 64-65 FC) gear boxes.
1966 Corsa turbo
1969 Monza convertible
1987 Buick Grand National
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