Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

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Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

Post by Storm »

Well I've been slaving away working on this Lakewood, I have made much progress & I will list some items I have done throughout purchasing this in the beginning of June.

It was a barn find & not driving since 72. Started life as a S.D. Games Fish & Parks wagon. Then after it served it's time in the S.D. wilderness it was auctioned off to a lady (maybe late 60's early 70s) then the lady sold it to the previous owner whom then drove it from S.D. to Minneapolis to park it for 48 years!

Now I have taken everything apart minus dropping the power pack. Cleaned & cleaned & cleaned, got it to run, redid all the brakes, repacked wheel bearings, (will buy new as soon as ready to drive), new gas lines, cleaned old tank (was very clean inside & no holes), cleaned dash, currently welding in floor pans.

Anyway hopefully will be soon putting the tank back in once I'm done welding up the floors. The rockers need some patching but in time. I'm working on getting floors in, then tank & fuel parts to see if I can feed the carbs enough fuel to get the car to idle & do the 3 speed transmission test. If all passes, then comes interior parts slowly.

Thank goodness I have a primary Corvair for my day to day! Excited for this wagon coming together so well so far. Most likely will take a trip with the wagon to The Corvair Ranch to see about having all my work once overed beside my father whom was more of a Nova guy. Haha

Anyway I know I have asked questions on different topics & have received great help! I want to thank this community for all the help that you provide & for giving me inspiration to purchase a barn find Corvair to bring it back to life! A certain Wagon across the pond was also great inspiration as well!

Anyway thanks again!

Kyle
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Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
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flat6_musik
Posts: 2659
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:03 am
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: Been busy

Post by flat6_musik »

Looks like a barn find! Way to go!!

And there's the CHOKE knob.....those '61s..... :coolphotos:
Beers
Posts: 178
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2020 5:38 pm
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Re: Been busy

Post by Beers »

Wow, those cooling fins were packed solid! Nice work on the floors too
1963 Monza Spyder convertible
joelsplace
Posts: 1950
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northlake, TX

Re: Been busy

Post by joelsplace »

If the bearings were good there is no reason to replace them. That is a huge expense on the rear. I have lots of Corvairs with 50 year old bearings that work great.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
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flat6_musik
Posts: 2659
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:03 am
Location: Hesperia, CA

Re: Been busy

Post by flat6_musik »

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(This is what I imagine when I read posts talking about pinging and overheating). 😳
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by 61SuperMonza »

Kyle,
That is a great project.its going to be nice when its sorted. I have always liked the 61 trim package. I would like a Lakewood some day as well. Are you going to repaint or leave the patina?
Norm
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
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Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

Post by Storm »

I'm going to leave the patina.
Here's a question. I have to replace the heater components. The hoses inside the rockers, the ones to the front window.
My question is how can I take apart the heater area to clean mouse crap & housing? I have the panel removed to see it, but can I remove it? The manual says I have to remove the power pack.
Any tips for this?
I also picked up factory tinted glass for the wagon too. All but the front windshield. Are they difficult to do? I've done the front & rear on my 64. Not the doors though.

Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
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Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

Post by Storm »

Floors in. Time for some seam sealer & duraglass to seal it super tight.

Whoooooooo!!!!
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Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by 61SuperMonza »

I like the patina look Storm. Great job on the floors, I must admit that welding isn't one of my strong points.
As far as your heater box, I removed and rebuilt mine while the powerpack was out. The 61 coupe and sedan have a removable panel in the package tray and I'm told you can remove the assembly through that panel. I'm just not sure about the Lakewood and I haven't removed it with that method. Just pull the powerpack. It will only take a few hours tops. However you choose good luck.
Norm
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by 61SuperMonza »

When you replace the heater hose/ducting use the rubber style from Clark's. They will last much longer than the OEM hoses.
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
User avatar
Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

Post by Storm »

I did purchase the rubber style over the fabric ones. Figured to be a no brainier plus they really aren't visible to the eye.

As for the powerpack, the only thing stopping me is the lack of a lift (I know you can take it out without a lift), I'm 6, 3 & it is rough laying down just with the car on ramps & jack stands. Plus I'm rounded & I seem to notice my stomach rubbing the bottom of the floor after my burger & fries for lunch.

I plan to take it out within a year, but by then I will have a lift. Only would take it out if the rear main seal decides to leak more than a drip.
The Lakewood has that removable panel, I'm guessing I can get access to do some cleaning.

I did purchase a 61 assembly manual for putting stuff back together as some of the small stuff I have forgotten where it goes.... Luckily I labeled by parts in ziplocks with a title to them!

I think today I will take my carbs off my 64 & do some adjustments after getting the carb book from Bob Helt on Clark's.

If it would stop raining here in Ohio, I would seam seal my Lakewood & get to glassing.

Oh does anyone have any leads to finding the plastic pieces that covers the bars that actuate the rear door of the wagon?

Lastly is there anyway to adjust the hood? It seems to sit a little higher on the passenger side then the driver's.

[emoji316] Happy Halloween [emoji316]

Thanks again!

Storm

Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
Wagon Master
Posts: 474
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:36 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by Wagon Master »

joelsplace
Posts: 1950
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:51 pm
Location: Northlake, TX

Re: Been busy

Post by joelsplace »

Why are you glassing it? With all that nice new metal it should be fine.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
61SuperMonza
Posts: 310
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:51 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by 61SuperMonza »

Kyle,
You should be able to adjust the boot with a shim or shims at the hinge. I know at first thought it seems that the shim would raise the boot, but it will lower it and you should be able to get it flush. The fender/body shims are what you want. The other issue you could have is that the boot itself is bent. If so there should be some visual evidence of this.
First corvair in 1985
Have owned 4 corvairs since
65 Corsa coupe 180 turbo
66 Monza coupe 110 PG
66 Monza coupe 140 PG
61 Monza club coupe w/ 150 turbo
Anchorage,AK
User avatar
Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Been busy

Post by Storm »

joelsplace wrote:Why are you glassing it? With all that nice new metal it should be fine.
Just addressing the areas I didn't weld. That way no water gets in! Not the whole floor.

Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
User avatar
Storm
Posts: 169
Joined: Sat Feb 29, 2020 9:54 pm

Re: Been busy "restoring" my 61 Lakewood 500

Post by Storm »

Quite happy I was able to do a photoshoot today. It's snowing now here in Northeastern Ohio.

I will attempt the shim today at some point as well!
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Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza/110hp/4 Speed
1961 Corvair Lakewood/80hp/3 Speed

-Kyle Storm

1964 Corvair Monza Coupe 110/4spd
1964 Corvair Monza 4 Door 110/Automatic A/C
1961 Corvair Lakewood 500 85/3spd (restoring)
1961 Corvair Greenbrier 110/4spd (sold)
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