I've gotten the itch to do another car project and my son (14) has been on me to build a car. After some research I'm close to beginning a late model Corvair project: Something cool with ageless late sixties styling, mechanically straightforward for my son to learn the hobby, yet nimble and fun to drive through a corner.
I first got into the car hobby with a '72 Chevelle (The Beast) in high school. It started life as a Centurion Bronze Heavy Chevy package (all looks and no performance - fake cowl induction hood, 350 2bbl, 3 speed manual, and drum brakes) that I rebuilt a 402 and dropped in it along with an M22, posi rear end, disc brakes, bucket seats, and revised suspension. Painted it Corvette yellow with black stripes. It was never more than a 10 footer at best, but were there ever some good memories made in that car
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I drove it all through high school and college, but let go of it in the early 90's for next to nothing as I didn't have anywhere to keep it and it needed some serious work to keep the rust monster at bay. Apparently it would now be worth $4-5K even in that condition, if not more - amazing what late 60's, early 70's A Bodies are going for these days. I saw what was claimed to be a numbers matching '72 small block SS convertible that was a total rust bucket listed for $10 grand - firm!
I thought about doing a pro touring style Chevelle (LS engine, Tremec, rack and pinion steering, etc.) for the nostalgia factor, but that's more than I think is in my son's attention span right now. Not to mention that's way too much car for a newer driver and there's no way I could/should keep him out of it once he gets his license if he helps build it. Feel free to insert a comment about the hypocrisy that I managed to keep from wrapping a high power, ill handling, poor braking muscle car around a phone pole when I was 16 here
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I've kept my fabrication/mechanical skills sharp with several cars over the years, especially a '99 Mazda Miata (The M Job) that I purchased new with the express intention of modifying and making mine. I've re-engineered the suspension, added a turbo, Willwood brakes, and many custom touches inside and out. Once again - not something that my son is going to get to drive for a while as it's about 240 HP on a chassis dyno - a real handful if you're not on top of it, but a heck of a lot of fun if you know how to drive. You can throw it into a corner, mash the accelerator and it will turn in, sit down, and put the power down. It's an absolute joy to drive on a nice day and damn quick around an autocross circuit, but it takes an educated right foot and quick hands to manage in the wet...
Since this would be a second extra, fair weather car, I'm thinking a convertible even though the late model Corvair is one of the few vehicles that I think almost looks better as a coupe than a convertible. Having a five seat convertible would also alleviate the issue of having three children fighting over who gets to ride in the open seat in the Miata - we could all five fit.
If I were to find a "perfect" car it would be a '66 (we would both be celebrating our 50th birthdays) 140 HP 4 speed Corsa convertible. Given my long history of not being able resist the call to improve/customize cars, perhaps it's just as well I build something to my tastes rather than start with a more collectible vehicle. I made that decision with the Miata - I resisted buying the limited 10th anniversary edition as I knew I was going to modify it. I'd have felt guilty modifying a rare edition.
In preparation for this project I got a Clark's catalog and ordered/read "The Classic Corvair", "Keep Your Corvair Alive", and "Performance Corvairs." Based on my reading and other research here and elsewhere my plans include:
- Quicker steering box and/or arms - after driving the Miata stock Corvair steering feels so slow
- Dual channel master cylinder and disc brakes
While the LM drum brakes aren't terrible, I have too many vivid recollections of doing the brake fade boogie around obstacles back in the day before I fitted disc brakes on the Chevelle. I literally cracked the steering wheel pulling on it to exert more force on the brake pedal when a semi jack-knifed in front of me on the freeway. I never want to have that feeling again and certainly don't want my kids to ever have it. Teaching them to drive a non-ABS car will be education enough.
- Corsa gauge set
I must have a full set of gauges (and as a pilot I love the idea of having a cylinder head temperature gauge). I found a guy in Arizona that does custom gauge faces and had him make me a set of gauge faces for the Miata that look like aircraft dials. I might have to see what it would cost to do the same on this to really buy into the air-cooled aspect of the vehicle.
- Camaro style front spoiler
- A proper HID headlight retrofit
I've retrofit HIDs into my Miata and conversion van (the Family Truckster) and there's no substitute for modern lighting. It's just as much a safety component as good brakes and tires.
I haven't made a final decision on color yet, but am thinking either yellow with black stripes and a black top as an homage to the beast or the Corvair "Danube Blue" with white interior and top. I've seen several pictures of deep blue 'vairs and it really looks good with the car's lines, especially with yellow lights fitted in the inboard locations. Speaking of color, is it just me or were one out of every two Corvairs red with a red interior? To each their own, but I'm not a fan of red cars in general and red over red is just WAY too much red for me.
I'm going to look this weekend at a '65 Monza convertible that a fellow Purdue alum has for sale. It started life yellow, but has been media blasted and is currently sitting in epoxy primer. I like that it's all there in front of you in its naked truth - no gallons of filler hiding under a pretty paint job. It needs a couple of patch panels at the front of the front fenders and a small rust repair on the front valance, but the rockers, rear quarters, and windshield mounts are solid. The bottom side looks very good as well with only minimal surface rust on the shell. The seller already replaced the trunk floor, but the original floor panels are solid. It needs some panel beating to work out dings and dents, but that would give us something to do over the winter.
I'm not sure of the driveline condition, but he says it runs reasonably well. My plan would be to get it running reliably and focus on stopping, turning, and bodywork first so we can enjoy the car while working on upgrading the driveline later. I think I'd like to build an engine with 140 heads modified for a set of three barrel Webers along with a posi diff, but all things in time. Interestingly enough I just saw that there is a Corvair performance clinic next March in my hometown of Kokomo Indiana. I might have to make a trek over there and check it out.
Thanks in advance for the help that I'll undoubtedly be asking for along the way. One of the reasons I'm leaning toward doing a Corvair project is the strength of the Corvair community and parts/aftermarket availability and price. I have enjoyed and greatly benefited from the Miata community on my other toy and know the value it brings.