Corvair Lakewood 61 - NL

[Iceland Spyder]

Keep up the good work.

[TikiRalf]

I have cleaned some brackets and other small parts ready for paint.

Also cleaned and rebuild the distributor, and fit it with new spark plug wires.

We finished the back seal of the engine and put the fan cover in place. Bolt everything in place. the valve cover clips are changed and turned around, so they are correct (sorry no photo yet)

Got the PG dipstick tube finaly loose so that will be ready for clean up and paint. We are close to get the engine back in the Lakewood

See you in the next update!

[TikiRalf]

Put the front wheels on for some balance with the engine. They look good aswell.

13inch original steel rims with Maxxis 13inch white line tires. I got some dog dishes for the rims to finish it.

[Freejax]

Engine looks really good, keep up the journey.

[toytron]

I Love that color combo on the Lakewood.

Ed Stevenson

[TikiRalf]

Last evening we put the drivetrain in the Lakewood. It took me some years to get to this point, but it's in

Position the drivetrain

Lowered the Lakewood and it almost fits itself

Total view with the air cooling shrouds

We removed the shrouds for better position of the drivetrain and we figured out how the engine to body seals are attached. (it looks like a step back)

All in place, ready for finishing the rear suspension, axles and some other small things

Top view of the drivetrain at the moment. Soon more and more parts will be added

That's for now, a new goal is set put it on it's own wheels

[TikiRalf]

New axles, boughed them years back. Checked them today and repaint them from the transport damage they had. They look like new!
New bearings aswell, ready to join the rear suspension soon!

Thanks!

[TikiRalf]

Finaly recovered from a virus, so back to the workshop! Axles are in place

1st axle

2nd axle

Small part fitted, the oil stick for the powerglide. (I need to keep an eye on this tube when the Lakewood is on its wheels, i think it's pretty close to the suspension, hopefully it doesn't hit eachother)

Next step is Brake parts time, and some other small parts / little things to solve!

[TikiRalf]

Nothing better than working on your Lakewood with your best friend!

[terribleted]

Looking AWESOME!!!

[Gregory_Miller]

Better than new.

[bbodie52]

I wish that I had even a fraction of the patience and focus that you continually display towards accomplishing the most beautiful, detailed restoration of every aspect of your Corvair. It seems that every component of your car is the recipient of a most loving and dedicated restoration possible!

If you're willing to consider it, I would like to make a suggestion. Your 1961 Corvair was manufactured with the early design distributor that was abandoned late in that model year for the new design distributor that supported the remainder of Corvair production. If you intend to drive your restored Corvair regularly, I believe you can benefit greatly from upgrading the distributor to the newer design. The new design would allow you to upgrade to a breakerless electronic ignition system. The use of the newer distributor cap and rotor and a breakerless ignition system would improve reliability and simplify obtaining replacement consumable components significantly. I believe that the later design distributor was phased-in before the end of the 1961 production year. If retaining and all original Corvair is important to you would still have the restored early design distributor that could be substituted at any time. The spark plug wires will plug into either cap, so swapping distributors would be relatively simple bolt on effort that would only take a few minutes. Since consumable components for the early design distributor are becoming increasingly difficult to find, operating your Corvair with a later distributor would improve reliability and ease the difficulty of obtaining consumable components.

The Pertronix or Crane Cams breakerless ignition systems are only compatible with the newer late design distributor. Since you don't already own an existing distributor that can be upgraded, my recommendation would be for you to consider the Stinger distributor as currently offered by Performance Corvair. This new distributor already contains a magnetic pulse breakerless ignition system in a modern design that is tunable to allow you to fine-tune engine performance. You would never lose the ability to revert back to the original distributor for car shows or competition events, but you would gain tremendous reliability while reducing maintenance difficulties, which must be an even greater concern with your location in Europe.

Along with a new distributor, you could consider upgrading to a new ignition coil, which would allow you to preserve the aging original coil by keeping it out of service.

https://www.perfvair.com/stinger-ignition-distributors/

I have included pictures of the two distributor designs below. You will note that the centrifugal advance assembly on the early design was above the points, and under the large rotor assembly. In the later design, the centrifugal advance was relocated to a location underneath the points and breaker plate assembly. The design of the early 1961 distributor, with the large rotor and centrifugal advance assembly positioned above the points will prevent the Pertronix or Crane Cams ignition module from being installed. Please note that the cap and rotor for the early distributor will not fit on the late distributor design.


Early 1960-61 Corvair Distributor


Early 1960-61 Corvair Distributor


Early 1960-61 Corvair Distributor (Exploded View)


Late 1962-69 Corvair Distributor


Late 1962-69 Corvair Distributor (Exploded View)


New (1962-69) and Old (1960-61) Corvair Distributors

http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... IN&page=74

[TikiRalf]

Thank you so much Brad Bodie for this information.

I'm sure i go upgrade it this looks awesome and good!, but for now i go use the rebuild "old" one.
I have met Seth Amerson in Knoxville, had a little chat with him, but i wasn't working on the engine back than, so no focus to get one to put in my suitcase (and they suitcase was already full of other parts).

I put it on my order list (and read the text again and figuring out all the technical details).

I want to drive it when it is done, so relaibility is important. To bad i live on the other side of the ocean, and shipping cost (and tax - import fees) are killing me on those amounts for just buying and shipping over. Its most of the times double the price and after that paid in euro's. So i try to combine things, "pick things up" of try to ship it as low as possible.

Thank you for all the information! i appreciate it a lot!

[TikiRalf]

After some modification of the thermostat houses, i used a regular corvair thermostat house for rebuild, but there was no hole in it for the oil filler tube. So after cutting a nice hole and re do the thermostat housing we put it back on the engine and placed the oil filler tube perfect fit!

Ready for the next step!

[TikiRalf]

Finaly the engine to body seals are on!

Left seal

Right seal

And the total engine view. It is looking like a corvair engine again this way

I got a to do list that i hope it will be done before the end of the year! see you all soon here on the forum!

[TikiRalf]

The Lakewood is ready for some electric parts, distributor and the tentacles

We did also the Last coat of noise & Heat isolator / killer

next step, get some missing brake parts, find the oil cooler plate, fuel pump + lines + Carbs, and the generator + Electric. A lot more to come step by step.