looking for a mechanic

[DJack]

I have a 64 monza convertable with motor oil dripping from the bellhousing. I'm not equipped to do the fix so I am looking for a mechanic in the Ironwood, MI - Hurley, WI area to either help me or do the work.

[bbodie52]

Welcome to the Corvair Forum!

600 miles from Detroit and a long way from anywhere! I don't envy you your winters! My mother grew up in Frankfort, Michigan and that was quite cold enough. Are you willing to travel some distance to find Corvair-qualified mechanic to work on your beautiful convertible? Does your car have a manual transmission or a Powerglide automatic transmission? Can you tell if the oil type leaking from the bellhousing is engine oil or gear lubricant/transmission fluid? Is it a slight accumulation or a significant fluid leak? Accessing the source of the leak in the bell housing will require the complete removal of the powertrain (engine and transaxle) from the raised Corvair (on jack stands). That procedure is depicted in the attached Corvair and Corvair 95 Power Train Removal & Installation. Then, the engine must be separated from the transaxle to gain access to the clutch or torque converter, so that the source of the leak can be determined and corrected.

Normally I would recommend contacting the nearest CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapter to seek local maintenance and repair advice. There are a couple of CORSA chapters in Michigan, and three in Wisconsin. But the closest is about 230 miles south of your location, and the others are even further away. It is difficult to locate skilled professional mechanics who are willing to work on an older, classic car from the 1970s and earlier. And few of those will work on a Corvair! Local Corvair owners often will offer DIY advice or assistance for the "shade-tree mechanic", but in your remote location Corvair mechanics and Corvair owners are likely a rare commodity.



3 hr 46 min (232.3 mi) via US-51 S and US-10 E

North East Wisconsin Corvair Kaukauna, WI
http://newcc.weebly.com/
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/NEWisconsinCC/

Joining CORSA (Corvair Society of America) -- if you are not already a member -- and a local Corvair club chapter is another good way to see and to learn more about Corvairs. You might check out the CORSA chapter in your area. Contacting a local club and making Corvair-knowledgeable friends can often be a big help.
https://www.corvair.org/index.php/compo ... =9&reset=0
CORSA (Corvair Society of America) Chapter Locator
Locating a local CORSA chapter near you can be very helpful, and attending meetings, parties, Corvair shows, etc. can greatly add to the enjoyment of your Corvair

The link below will provide you with a list of useful websites that are Corvair-related. Some of the links will lead you to an extensive technical library that will allow you to download shop manuals and other technical references in Adobe Reader format at no cost. There is also a link that will help you to locate nearby CORSA (Corvair Society of America) club chapters. You will also find a list of essential Corvair parts suppliers. Clark's Corvair Parts in Shelburne Falls, MA is the biggest and oldest Corvair supplier in the world. You will find a link that can provide you with a series of videos that amount to a tour of the Clark's Corvair Parts facilities. Parts suppliers such as this truly make our Corvair hobby possible.

Common and Useful Corvair Websites

Corvair Forum http://www.corvairforum.com/forum/viewt ... 225&t=6007


I would like to encourage you to expand on your initial post and tell us more about yourself, your Corvair interests, and your goals for your Corvair. If you can describe your personal assessment of your mechanical skills and abilities, that would help a lot. Members of the Corvair Forum love to be helpful in assisting other Corvair owners with technical support and advice, but it helps a lot if we have some understanding of your technical background and mechanical abilities, Corvair-related knowledge, etc. Helping us to know more about you will help us to write comments to you that are tailored to your needs and experience. Knowing your location may also suggest some helpful ideas. And, of course, we love to see detailed pictures of your Corvair!

[DJack]

Thanks for the link to the club. I bought the car to drive. I do tinker a little bit, but I'm no mechanic. I have a good idea what seal needs to be replaced and I believe the motor will need to be pulled. I also want to know if a rebuild would be warranted while the motor is out.

[bbodie52]

A complete engine rebuild is a major undertaking, and often an expensive one! Simply removing the powertrain and having the engine out of the car does not unlock the possibility of an engine overhaul! Frankly, jacking up the car, disconnecting the links between the car and the powertrain, and removing the three nuts that hold the engine up so that it can be lowered to the ground is not that difficult. I did it for the first time in 1969 during my high school summer vacation. There was a lot of nervous perspiration from that 16 year old high school student as I carefully balanced the powertrain on my father's floor jack and a small sheet of plywood! I managed to lower it down and roll the jack over to a working area, where I set the engine on a couple of stacks of 2x4's. It was the beginning of a learning process as I carefully removed the engine from the transaxle, dismantled, the frozen engine, and with my father's support in funding for replacement components, gaskets, and machine shop services, I managed to successfully teach myself to rebuild that engine using only my father's hand tools, a Corvair shop manual, and a little advice from some of my father's mechanically-inclined friends (he had been transferred out of town by Lockheed, and my mother, sister and I did not move to rejoin him for more than six months -- so I was pretty-much on my own that summer!) But then, it occurred to me in 1969 that Neil Armstrong probably felt very alone that summer, too, as he discovered just how to land on the Moon with almost no fuel reserve! Anyway, my effort was successful, and a few years later I was married at nineteen, and that engine that I overhauled served to power my 1962 Corvair on my wedding day and on our honeymoon!



Anyway, what is it about your engine that makes you want to consider an overhaul? A cylinder compression test can often tell you a lot about the internal mechanical condition of the engine. Does it run poorly, leak oil a lot, make internal noises that worry you, or????

Don't be too anxious to assume the worst and then take on a complete engine overhaul. Let us know your thoughts and observations. Post detailed pictures of your car, the engine compartment, etc. and ask questions. You can receive a lot of good information from other owners here on the Corvair Forum!

Considering your isolated location, driving a 55+ year old classic car takes a bit of nerve. If you would consider the possibility of learning to do some maintenance, tuning and repair yourself, your enjoyment of driving your Corvair may increase as you build self-confidence by learning its condition and what it takes to maintain/repair it. The more you can learn with a DIY approach, the better you will be at evaluating the car and maintaining it in good condition. While serving for 24 years in the Air Force, we owned and drove several Corvairs all over the USA and in Germany. I had a number of occasions where i had to make some repairs during some lengthy journeys across country, and my experience that started as a young teenager and grew over the years helped me to have the confidence in our Corvairs that I needed as they transported us for decades. If you feel up to learning, members of the Corvair Forum and the purchase/downloading of maintenance and technical guides can help you a lot. Only you can decide if that type of "discovery adventure" would appeal to you.

[manofsteel]

I livein Milton, De ans I just had my 4 carbs rebuilt by Wolfs Carbs of Florida and they came back now. Need to reassemble them and would like a qualified mechanic to come to my house and help me. Anyone nearby that can and will? Contact me pls
Jim H

[vairmech]

You could contact Dale Dewald, he is in Hancock, MI. I'm sure he would be willing to help but not do all of the work.