Engine build and swap

[Mantis]

After reviewing my options with my Frankenstein motor, I decided that finding a project motor to rebuild and swap in to my '62 EM 4 door was a good plan.

The engine in it now "appears" to be from a '64 and is a ZF code engine. I would love to find an appropriate ZG code engine for this car since it came with factory AC, but I am sure that would be a long and potentially fruitless search. As luck would have it, there is a boneyard an hour from my house that has a large array of vintage cars. Among the many cars they have about 5-6 Corvairs. They have been well picked over, but there is a '63 that had of all things an intact windshield. Since I need a new windshield, I decided I would get that at a minimum. The car had the motor in it as well which appeared to be completely original. The carbs still have the tags on them and still have casting flashing, so I am guessing they had not been removed or rebuilt. I know that the one head where I could see the number is the correct head for the engine. I was able to get a wrench on it and turn it over, so it was not seized. I got the windshield and engine for $350, with the motor being complete with torque converter, carbs, generator, starter, distributor, tin, and an oil-bath air cleaner. They even pulled the parts, so I think it was a decent buy.

I started to take it apart and thought I would share pictures of the mouse nest I found. The fins and such are completely filled with crud, so I will be working on this a bit to get it clean. After that I will determine how far I will go on a rebuild.

[Flying_Dan]

Oh wow, that needs a good vacuuming!

[GasDaddy140]

Wow! That engine looks worse than mine was! Let us know when you discover the spider sacks and hornets nests. I had about 35 hornets nest in my whole car. Spider sacks looked like tight packed cotton-balls plugging all of the ducting. Fun!

[perfectreign]

Where are you located?


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[Mantis]

I am in Southern Colorado, near Pueblo

[perfectreign]

Ahh I was going to suggest you pickup my 61 engine if you wanted.


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[64powerglide]

Looks to me you have a 63 ZF 102 HP. It has the older fan, the 64 110 ZF has a magnesium fan & a harmonic balancer pulley.

[Mantis]

Ahh I was going to suggest you pickup my 61 engine if you wanted.

Do you have a ZG code engine?

Looks to me you have a 63 ZF 102 HP. It has the older fan, the 64 110 ZF has a magnesium fan & a harmonic balancer pulley.

Yes, the core I picked up is a 63, the carbs are a matched set of 7023102. The engine I have in the car now appears to be a '64 ZF code engine. It has a magnesium fan and at least one of the heads is from a '65.

[Mantis]

My wife was out of town, so my son and I worked on cleaning the engine. Spent over 3 hours trying to clean out the fins. Got most of it, but man was the stuff caked in...

[VairsRule]

I have a '62 sedan with a 102. Is anything wrong with the engine that came with the car? Just wondering why you decided to replace it...

[Mantis]

The only thing I can say that is wrong is one of the plugs was stripped out and had a thread repair on it. I can also say that I do not know the exact year since it is a ZF coded engine and one of the heads is from a '65. The carbs were also mismatched. It runs, but when I found a decent core that appears to be original, I grabbed it.

[VairsRule]

The only thing I can say that is wrong is one of the plugs was stripped out and had a thread repair on it. I can also say that I do not know the exact year since it is a ZF coded engine and one of the heads is from a '65. The carbs were also mismatched. It runs, but when I found a decent core that appears to be original, I grabbed it.

Ah, I see. I've owned 4 Corvairs. Only one came to me with mismatched parts. The other 3 were all original. Guess I got lucky.

Did you try using hacksaw blades to clear the guck and any flashing from between the cooling fins? If for some reason, they are clogged with oil/dirt, and the normal liquid degreaser is not working, I recommend liberal application of "Gojo" hand cleaner (formerly GOOP?), the creamy white stuff (not the gritty "orange" cleaner). Use a stiff parts cleaning brush, get it as far in as possible, and let it soak over night. Power wash with hot water if possible (cold will do). I use this stuff for all my degreasing.

[Gregory_Miller]

Looks like they were de-flashing the heads in one of the pictures above.