Decided to start a project page.

[Ricks65]

With all the little things I am finding broken while repairing and restoring on the Corvair I decided to start a project post instead of posting a new topic each time. I will just keep posting under this post when working on the car.

A little history - I remember back in the 60's seeing my first LM Corvair. A neighbor down the street had a nice red LM convertible. I knew then that one day I would have one. Fast forward 49 years and I finally have one. Glad I am not impatient. I am also into Ford Mustangs I have a 66 mustang convertible. I would show you all a pic of it but I don't think that would go over good on a Chevy forum. Here's some pics of Corvair I purchased in Dec.

[flat6_musik]

Cool!.....I certainly wouldn't mind seeing your mustang! I own old cars from all the big 3. BTW, I think your mustang's gonna get jealous of the 'vair. LOL I'm pretty sure it'll turn more heads, that's for sure.

[UNSAFE]

I am also into Ford Mustangs I have a 66 mustang convertible. I would show you all a pic of it but I don't think that would go over good on a Chevy forum

You are welcome to post pics of your (ahem) other car

The Mustang played a role in the Corvair's history .

[Ricks65]

Here's one pic of the "other" car. When I am done with the Corvair project, I will have it looking just as nice and parked right be side the other at car cruises/shows. The Goal is to be ready to go by late summer.

[bbodie52]

Nearly the same color too! How did you manage that??? If you add some Corvair wire wheel covers they could be fraternal twins!

[Ricks65]

They are very close in color. That just happens to be a coincidence. Been debating if I should paint the vair a different color.

[bbodie52]

I don't know... I'm kind of intrigued by the prospect of a mid-sixties face-off between two convertibles -- a Ford Mustang vs. a Chevy Corvair in the same garage! Both with white tops, same color paint, and wire wheel covers. A unique historical presentation of a natural competition that existed in those years. In fact, my parents were seriously considering a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback or a 1965 Corvair Corsa Convertible for their next car. They chose the Corsa, and I suppose that is why I still drive a Corsa convertible today!

But you have both! And you have the unique attention-grabbing possibility of matching fraternal twin vintage cars in your family.

[Ricks65]

I have a question for the carb gurus. Pulled the carbs to rebuild them and noticed what looks like someone did some TIG welding in two places. Here are some pictures. At the top it looks like the choke piece was welded on and at the bottom the vacuum port. This doesn’t seem normal to me. Are they welded from the factory or was this done later and why? Both carbs are welded in the same places.

[64powerglide]

I'm no carb Guru but did someone switch them to a manual choke.

[Ricks65]

They are automatic chokes. They move good with no binding. Here is a pic from another angle.

[flat6_musik]

Whoa, those are rare Yenko carbs!!



Just kidding. That's actually sort of mind-boggling. They DO have idle mixture screws, right??

[Ricks65]

They do have idle mixture screws. The number cast on the bottom of the carb is "7016781" I am now thinking that originally they were 1960 H carbs that were converted to later model HV carbs. What do you all think? Has anyone heard of this being done?

[DAVECS1]

Thanks for posting both your cars. My wife had been telling me for 10 years plus how she like convertible mustangs, then at a car show one night she ran up to me and said I found the mustang I have been telling you about. Come to find out it was a corvair! I was like no way this is exactly the kind of mustang I have always wanted :-)

The carb looks like someone converted a normal 1bbl for use on a corvair.

[Ricks65]

Decided to do a compression check and got some bad results. Did the compression test a second time with the same results. Only number 2 cylinder had a good reading.
Cylinder 1 = 95#, 2 = 160#, 3 = 145#, 4 = 140#, 5 = 140#, 6 = 130#
To find out where the compression losses are, I then did a leak down test. Did the test with 100 PSI, Number’s 1, 3, 4, 5, & 6 had serious leakage past the pistons. I could hear it blowing by clearly at the PCV tube. Didn’t hear anything in the intake or exhaust ports. With number one cylinder being real low on the compression test I continued to look for a reason. Next I pulled the shields around the bottom of the motor. Found number one also looks to have a head gasket leak. Here’s a picture.
I guess it’s time to pull the motor and open it up.

[Bobby65]

my 64 has a blown headgasket on cylinder 1 too!

[Ricks65]

Here's another thing to watch for on a 49 year old car. The rubber grommet that protects the wire going to the temp sensor in the head is hard as a rock and rubbed the insulation off the wire. My "to do" list for the vair keep growing, but that's part of the fun of doing a thorough restoration.