How True is This Statement?

[Phil Dally]

A poster on BaT just said this about the current front engine early auction.

"The 1960 – 1964 Chevy Corvair , 1961 -1963 Pontiac Tempest , 1961-1963 Olds F-85 & Cutlass , and 1961-1963 Buick Special & Skylark all shared the same basic GM Y body .

The roofs , glass , and “greenhouse trim ” was all shared across body type lines . ( 2 door , 4 door , etc . )
Many inner body panels were also shared."

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963- ... nts-anchor

[Phil Dally]

ralf-who replied with the fact that Corvairs are X-Body...not Y-Body.

[66vairguy]

I recall the Corvair wagon rear door glass was different vs. the other wagons.

The front engine cars definitely had floor pan differences vs. the Corvair, but there was an effort to use some of the Corvair design. Initially the plan was to give Pontiac a "Corvair" with some sheet metal changes. I remember the prototype pictures.

It came down to numbers, the Olds and Buick body was chosen for Pontiac to spread out the tooling costs as the Corvair body was expected to outsell the Olds and Buick bodies by a significant amount. While the Olds and Buick cars were very similar, Pontiac decided to modify the body to use the Corvair (like) transaxle in the rear and the "rope" drive from the engine bell housing (which turned out to be far more reliable than many claimed it would be). The Pontiac also used larger wheel rims. Unfortunately the "swing axle" design had handling issues from jacking up/tucking under before Pontiac revised them and beefed up the transaxle to handle the 326 c.i. engine option (I think that was a one year only car). That very scarce Pontiac transaxle was used by at least one person to make a mid engine V8 EM Corvair.

While the Buick aluminum V8 was available in the Pontiac, few were made due to the high cost of the option. Most of the Pontiac compacts got the "half a 389 V8" four cylinder that was very durable, but had vibration issues.

This was back when GM had tons of money and allowed all these separate variations. By the mid 60's that all came to an end as GM profits declined.

[Wittsend]

"The roofs , glass , and “greenhouse trim ” was all shared across body type lines . ( 2 door , 4 door , etc . ) Many inner body panels were also shared."

For sure not with the Corvair. Likely within the B-O-P brands. Saw one of those Tempests with the convertor hanging out the back at Pick Your Part YEARS ago. That and "rope" (cable) drive.

Tempest Auto Trans.JPG (21.53 KiB) Viewed 305 times

[vairmech]

While the transaxle looks similar the other cars have a big car ring and pinion in them, unlike the Corvair's small one. The 4 spd is almost identical with a couple of changes but in a pinch you could bolt up a Corvair trans. The Counter gear is a little thicker in the web of the gears but identical otherwise. There is a provision to put a tail shaft on the front of the trans for the rope drive so that means the trans mainshaft is left solid, would a Corvair mainshaft work? Yes! All of the shifting inside is all the same.

I have a 3spd Tempest trans to build sitting here and I suspect it will be the same as the 4 speed trans, parts will interchange.

[RexJohnson]

It seems that I heard that the 4sp trans had a diff with 4 spider gears?

[vairmech]

It seems that I heard that the 4sp trans had a diff with 4 spider gears?

Only with the V-8 but yes! When I start on the 3 speed I'll try to remember to post here.

[66vairguy]

It seems that I heard that the 4sp trans had a diff with 4 spider gears?

Only with the V-8 but yes! When I start on the 3 speed I'll try to remember to post here.

Ken, about the 4 spider gears. Are you referring to the small 215 V8 option or later with the Pontiac 326 V8?

[vairmech]

It seems that I heard that the 4sp trans had a diff with 4 spider gears?

Only with the V-8 but yes! When I start on the 3 speed I'll try to remember to post here.

Ken, about the 4 spider gears. Are you referring to the small 215 V8 option or later with the Pontiac 326 V8?

I seen to remember the guy has the 326 in the one I completed.

[66vairguy]

I seen to remember the guy has the 326 in the one I completed.

Thanks Ken. That is probably the setup that was used to build the Corvair EM midengine V8 car. I wonder where that car ended up.