Things you did to your Corvair you later regretted

[scottymac]

Although you're welcome to address any topic here, I'm specifically interested in folks that have removed the hot air heater motor/fan and associated ducting (29lbs.). I plan to retrofit a/c components, so will retain the defroster capabilities. Also thinking about removing the rear seat in the interest of weight savings/balancing (73lbs.). There has to be someone in this membership that's removed those components and then regretted their decision, I want to hear your stories. I'm looking into other weight saving possibilities, but also challenged by additions (a/c components) which may negate my intentions. Did the deep oil pans aid engine cooling enough you stopped grinding your teeth every time it dragged across your driveway approach? Let me hear them all! Scott

[flat_six]

Riveted-on body side moldings. Had to weld the holes shut later.

[Wagon Master]

Unless you go full on custom, the factory a/c components did not include a defroster function.

[Phil Dally]

See that spoiler on Vairy V8?

So 80's...hated it the first day.

The air dam looked stupid too.

But Vairy still FRKN hauled ass!

[davemotohead]

Well there was that one time when I went a little to far doing body work and tried a "Frame UP" restoration on a unibody car!

[Frank DuVal]

Are you going to run the new AC system as a Heat Pump? If not, keep the stock heater. Unless you live in Florida, southern Florida that is....

Why the massive weight saving changes? Buy a smaller car. Leave off the AC, that weighs a lot. Buy an eastern car that rust has already removed a lot of weight! I have a 69 for you.

[kmart356]

"hot air heater motor/fan and associated ducting (29lbs.)" - no regrets (easy for me to say as heater not really required in central Florida). Don't have A/C either

"removing the rear seat in the interest of weight savings/balancing (73lbs.)" - slight regret due to increased engine noise but after adding sound deadening materials it becomes moot point.

Battery relocated to front along with spare - this was already done when I got the Spyder - no regrets on either as the weight balance is improved.

[RexJohnson]

Dave, the last time I did that much cutting to a car I ended up with a trailer. It looks like you are half way there.

[isucorvair]

I pulled every bit of the heater system out of my old autocross car (also, street legal) - every bit.

Regretted it on those cold autocross mornings, when I couldnt keep the windshield clear, even with RainX anti-fog on the glass.

Looking for a new solution for the next autocrosser.

Eric P.
DeWitt, IA

[vairchet]

Cutting up a fully equipped dent-free but rusty '67 Monza 4-door.

[cnicol]

"Upgrading" to a 180 turbo from a spirited 140. As a teenager, I thought "more is better" but not so much. It did look cool.

[Torskdoc423]

Dave, the last time I did that much cutting to a car I ended up with a trailer. It looks like you are half way there.

He's doing a RETRO sled for Santa. I now know why he eats so many cookies and Milk. No Blast deflector on the sled from Reindeer exhaust gas! Just don't tell C.A.R.B. or it'll be all ELECTRIC!

[Wittsend]

Pulled the heater "everything" out of my So. Cal. based Lakewood. Can't say I regret that as I only drive it twice a month 5 miles to Cars & Coffee..., and back. The plus was the wagons have a panel behind the seat that after removing the 17 screws..., would allow you easy access to change the starter and modulator/governor - staying dry even in the rain.

My BIGGEST regret was "reading into" a post where someone stated, "The fan and idler bearings are the same on the EM's." And, yes, the bearing is the same, but the shaft is not. Thus I attempted to press the (less expensive) already purchased idler bearing only "so far" into the hub and only "so far" into the housing to still get the proper fan height. I had a ClAnKiNg sound at the fan that I could not figure out and it took MONTHS (and I think 76 Forum posts) before it was sorted. Turns out there is a hollow section in the center of the fan hub bore and the top of the bearing obscured it but did not extend beyond it. Thus the fan hub and bearing were wobbling just enough to make noise..., but not enough to be seen. Live and learn.

Too deep fan bearing.JPG (38.08 KiB) Viewed 955 times

Fan Bearing Error.JPG (30.88 KiB) Viewed 955 times

[scottymac]

Can I get readers' opinions on trunk spoilers? Yenko is probably the default model, we know Phil's thoughts on his wing, but does anyone like this blue and white '69 Trans Am spoiler as much as me?

viewtopic.php?t=11949

[Phil Dally]

This is a thing in Japan.

[scooperman]

Front right corner got whacked in a parking lot accident. Thought I could fix it. Then thought it would be smart to start looking to see if it had any rust. Yes, it did. Started taking stuff apart, found more rust. I hate rust. Figured I had room in the 2-car garage to take off the doors, hood, engine lid, interior...wrong. Interior went in the den, body parts in the living room, boxes of bits in the spare bedroom. It still aint done.