Reliving my youth as a Corvair owner and aenthusiast

[dbDoctor1200]

Re-beginning a Corvair journey. I grew up with a "60, 4 door, 3 speed 'Vair as my first car. Graduated to a 62 coupe with a smashed rear fender, then to a 63 coupe with a great body, bad motor. (transplanted the 62 motor to the 63). Then it was to a 68 convertible with a transplanted turbo motor for my cruising days in St Louis in the early "70s. Finally found a Greenbriar panel van in a corn field in Iowa, had to kick a cow out to tow it home.
Flash forward to today, I'm old and crusty, but have a few $$$ saved to re-live the good 'ol days. I will be searching for a 64 coupe as it is the last year of Gen 1, or a 66-69 coupe, a much more beautiful body, but it demands a higher price.
Any advice, guidance or otherwise help to get up to speed with the latest trends and innovations would be appreciated. My plan is to restore to daily driver status, mild motor upgrades, modern suspension and a clean, integrated sound system.

Thanks for letting me ramble on, looking forward to your vast knowledge.

[66vairguy]

OH OH!! ANOTHER new person with a NUMBER at the end of the name --- RED FLAG for a bot!!!

No current location, misspelled aenthusiast. Hmmm.

Nice day here, break is over. Tomorrow I'll be helping a real live person fix his Corvair.

[66vairguy]

OH OH!! ANOTHER new person with a NUMBER at the end of the name --- RED FLAG for a bot!!!

No current location, misspelled aenthusiast. Hmmm.

I noticed 690 non logged in users visited the site in three minutes!!! Are there that many people left that still own Corvairs?????? Seems the bots are looking for opportunities.

Nice day here, break is over. Tomorrow I'll be helping a real live person fix his Corvair.

I noticed

[66vairguy]

OH OH!! ANOTHER new person with a NUMBER at the end of the name --- RED FLAG for a bot!!!

No current location, misspelled aenthusiast. Hmmm.

I noticed 690 non logged in users visited the site in three minutes!!! Are there that many people left that still own Corvairs?????? Seems the bots are looking for opportunities.


Nice day here, break is over. Tomorrow I'll be helping a real live person fix his Corvair.

[Phil Dally]

This time I think it's a real person.

AI wouldn't spell enthusiast wrong!

Basic reading, writing, arithmetic.

[chief]

Welcome "doctor",if you are VAIRY patient,and you research this forum a bit,, I bet you will soon have your TARDIS,,
I have mine, I drive it as often as possible.
Takes me back in time, every time.
Paul

[dbDoctor1200]

So I'm a robot, eh? Nope, just an ol dude looking to find a good 64 coupe. We are heading to the Springfield OH swap meet on the 23-24 of this month. In the past a few examples have surfaced at the show. There seem to be a lot of automatic equipped Corvairs for sale. Are the manual versions getting snatched up quicker?
Will advise what we find, wish us luck!

[Dennis66]

Most people seem to prefer the manuals over that automatics. Probably biggest reason is the "boredom" of drivig a two speed Powerglide.

[66vairguy]

Most people seem to prefer the manuals over that automatics. Probably biggest reason is the "boredom" of drivig a two speed Powerglide.

Agree --- if you drive a Corvair rarely and only for FUN, then the manual transmission just adds to the pleasure, especially on lightly driven roads. HOWEVER, if you drive the Corvair a lot and in city traffic the PG is a real pleasure, same if your old joints don't like "clutching".

I'll add that I like a manual in my Corvair car, BUT prefer a PG in a FC truck. Except for moving heavy loads the manual in an FC is a nuisance to me. I really like a 110HP and a PG in an FC, much more pleasant to drive. Just me.

If you haven't made up your mind --- I would strongly suggest you DRIVE both types of Corvairs before buying.

[66vairguy]

Re-beginning a Corvair journey. I
Any advice, guidance or otherwise help to get up to speed with the latest trends and innovations would be appreciated. My plan is to restore to daily driver status, mild motor upgrades, modern suspension and a clean, integrated sound system.

Just my , but the 110HP engine is a great daily driver choice, plenty of go. You could go with a 140HP, but I don't recommend this engine unless you like to "tinker" as the four carburetor setup can be a challenge, although for the talented "wrench turner" it is a fine engine. The 64 was the best suspension setup for EM cars - NO NEED to upgrade - just repair it. Only need for "upgrades" are if you are going racing. All the LM cars handle fine, only upgrade is the excellent KONI shocks and modern radial tires. That said the KONI's are expensive and there are lower priced alternatives that are fine for "daily driving". I have yet to find a disc brake kit I like. While it can take some work - the drums brakes can be made to work fine for "daily driving". As with the EM, the LM suspension should be repaired as required, but no need to "modify" for normal driving.

KEEP IN MIND Corvairs are 60's cars and you may be a bit shocked if you haven't driven an old car in decades as new cars drive differently. To me the "old car" driving characteristics just add character. Others prefer a modern chassis with the old car body on it - RESTOMOD. There is no such thing (economically) for a Corvair.

Good luck --

[rhet67]

I think most Vair owners will agree that the most important thing is to start with a rust free body. Everything else can be fixed over time. It took me two years to find a good 67 coupe! Good hunting.