65 Corsa Convertible project

[Am-Iron]

Mart maybe you can start a build thread. Your car is much worse than I thought, but Bob's thread is getting hijacked again.....

[mart]

Good idea I might just do that

[rfw66]

Thanks for your input Allen!
Not to interrupt this hijacking but we could talk all day and night about how crappy others work is. Lets concentrate on the issues at hand. WELDING in good panels and finishing them.
Here are the latest pics on my 65 Corsa convertible project. The passenger fender is coming off next and replaced. More pics of that when it happens.
Allen, you were doing the same thing to yours. Did you support the inner fender wells when you cut off the driver fender?
Any support or bracing necessary?

[TikiRalf]

dammm good metal work NICE like to see that, KEEP ON GOING will be nice when al the hard work is done !!!

[Am-Iron]

Bob, I did not support the inner fender. It seems a though it worked out well. I had a real body pro that was supposed to help me and he could have told me the proper way, but he was gone for a couple of months and I could not wait. Everything lines up nicely. It was very difficult to get everything lined up and ready to weld. You need to pay attention to the gap at the hood, and the main peak in the body line. If you get those two nice the repair should be great. I think I used a ratchet tie down to help hold the fender in position as well as clamps. I double and triple checked as you have in your recent repairs. Fit, cut, grind, file, etc. as need to get the best fit you can then when you are happy with it, tack it in a few places and re check it. I am sure with what I have seen you doing it will be a fine repair!

[rfw66]

Hey Allen, Did you fine my '68 project in my FB albums.I'll post a picture.....in process....
Saturday I went to see its progress. It should be finished in no more than two weeks, then my work really starts. Putting it back together is going to be a chore, but a fun one.
I did talk to the painter about silver with Camaro stripes for this project. All he asked is what color exactly on the car and what color do you want the stripes, and how wide. No big deal to him.
Well, both projects have 140's and run great, but now I need to build something fitting their looks!
Triple throat Webers? EFI , Turbo Charged, 3.1 Suggestions?

[rfw66]

'68 at the paint shop. Doors and drip rails shaved!

[Am-Iron]

I saw a silver car at the convention and it really looked good and there was only one, maybe an early too, so that is good. After seeing UNSAFE the car. I think do what he did! If you can afford it. Nice heads, deep seats and angled exhaust with triple Webers, modified stock carbs work great too! Starr Cooke has a bunch of Webers and a 92 MM set up right now on ebay. Maybe he would make a Special deal with heads manifolds and the 92MM kit. He seems to be pretty easy to deal with and he has so much cool stuff! Kevin (unsafe) had his stuff done at wheelerizing but said to go to Michael at LeVair Performance. He is a great guy and I would suggest that too. I had a bunch of questions for him and did not ask him them before they left. He was more than nice and informative on the ones I did ask. I think UNSAFE"S engine is a 3.1 so 94mm or better? That car was so fast and handled great, It just needed race tires and it might have been able to be in the top 2 or 3 (it might have been already!) against the race cars. Is was drifting around the corners though with those tires. I will do something a little different it is just my style. Probably the NA engine will be FibreMotives, Big bore, angle exhaust and 32 36 Webers. The turbo I hope to be Salih Weber or blow through with water injection. I think Turbo is going to be better in Colorado Springs! 6,035 feet above sea level. Kevins car seemed to run great here though, I don't think he changed much if anything for the altitude. I hope that helps. The 68 is nice! I shaved the drip rails on my truck, the last project I did.

[rfw66]

I will send you a PM about my engine options Yes Michael and Tracy are great people. I got to psend time with them at the Indy event and then at their home in Anderson, IN. A great time.

[rfw66]

trying to get the passenger fender replaced here is my days work on getting it fitted....

[rfw66]

Not much happening this HEAT! Trying to "tweek" the fender before I start tacking it in place.
Here are 2 pics of different hoods. They are not tuned in and don't even have the hinges.
Just wanted to see how the alignment was for the fender with both hoods.

Checking the original hod for fit

'65 hood, front view. This hood was intentionally "bent' at the front headlight to get the body seam and the "fit" looking right. It is not the hood I sill use!

[rfw66]

Fender all fitted, aligned and tacked in place! Finish up the welding and send to the painter.
Now for a list of parts to order, to finish up this project for the summer! New top and complete interior.....
All new Weatherstrips, windshield and ???
Winter will see the front suspension rebuilt and a new warmed over 140 engine. A/C is even possible. Does a Sanden compressor fit around 40IDA's... Just a thought.
After replacing this front portion of the fender and all the alignment issues that were involved, I have come to this hypothesis.
It is this: The different Corvair "Assembly Plants" Jigs were not exactly the same.
The attachment points in the inner fender wells, AKA, the pinch welds do not align up exactly! Even with the body metal lined up, the pinch weld metal was not the same width! (That can be seen in the 3rd pic. look close at the fender well pinch weld) With too much metal removed, certain places will have to be filled in with small patches.
Even the inner well and outer fender lip did not ling up where the spot welds were cut out. Close for sure, but not exactly in the same places, they were off as much as half the diameter of the removed spot weld. Tweaked them in place. The body lines are straight (I think)...
Opinions guys???

[Corvair.crazy]

Well first off congratulations on getting it to the paint shop. Second I wonder, did they use robots in 65? Just a thought maybe that would explain the various'

[Am-Iron]

Wow Bob! That really looks great! I am sorry I have not been on in a while as we are getting really busy with the move. That is nearly the mirror image of my fender repair. We both cut at the same places! I wish I could be working on my car but more pressing matters at hand...... I can't even send for parts or work as all the money is going to the house. Electricians bill $14,000+ We have to do it in stages. The car will be a dream for a while for sure! Again great job, I love to see your progress. Update when you have engine or paint pics please.

[rfw66]

Sadly enough the '65 has been put on the "back burner" while I finish up the '68!
I have it back from the painter and have been slowly putting things back together. For instance; I took all the bumper brackets and bead blasted them and powder coated them myself. Not that is that hard to do, it is just that I have been working to make Corvair monies and only get to work on the project a few hours a day.
SO it will be a little while until I am finished. We are having the Great Plains Corvair Round Up in KC starting the 30th running through the 2nd so that week end is shot. I will get back to it soon, get the trim and a new WS installed and then post some pics of it.
OH yes ! Congrats on the house move!

[Corvair.crazy]

Thanks for the update, Is the powder coating a kit you buy? Did you have to bake it in your oven?