‘63 Spyder Convertible

[Beers]

Thanks 61!

Yup, can’t wait to get the turbo installed, will try and do it over the Christmas holiday timeframe.

That’s a really sharp engine compartment you have there, super clean, and nice turbo touch on the oil filter cap!

[Project65]

I’m just tapping into your story and am amazed! I need to go through it in it’s entirety, but my first reaction is wow! Looks great! Hope to learn a few things from your story!

[Beers]

Thanks John! Feeling the same way when I go through your thread on the restoration of “Scrat” - you are a metal crafting machine on that Vair!

I did clean up the heater controls the last couple days and will get them back installed tomorrow, but now the focus is on cleaning up the convertible frame.

I’m having a local guy with a lot of Corvair experience install the top for me. He removed the old top this week so he could use it as a starting template, it will save him a lot of time as he’ll have a good starting point for the new top I got from Clark’s. I also picked up some new hydraulic cylinders for the top (this car has the power top option) as the old ones seemed to really strain when operated.

[Beers]

Over the holidays and into January, I finally got the top done. Removed the frame after taping over all the painted surfaces to protect them (did it by myself but definitely recommend this as a two person job!).

Then disassembled into major components and just spent time with brushes, rags, and solvent cleaning and fine sanding down the pieces.

I painted the frame with a new paint from Eastwood, their 2K Duraspray Deep Noire Satin (the sheen came out nice, almost a semi-gloss). I really liked it, went on nice and dried hard, looks like it was painted out of a gun. After it dried, I reassembled and lubricated the joints with Lubriplate 630 AA lithium grease. Taking the frame apart and reassembling was easier than I expected having never done one before, just take a lot of pictures.

Also put down some Dynamat and the factory style insulation in the package tray area by the pump.

Frame reinstalled on car

[Beers]

Then had the local shop install the top. I went with Clark’s original white heavy duty top.

Now on to installing the turbo

[Dennis66]

Wow! That looks great. The white interior with the red looks good too (kind of a negative of mine being white with a red interior). Glad to see another EM convertible being done. Dennis

[Beers]

Thanks Dennis! Appreciate the comments.

I will say a white interior is worth its weight in gold when the car is parked in the summer sun with the top down!

[Beers]

Finally got the turbo back on the car.

Shout out to Steve Goodman at Rear Engine Specialists in Golden, CO who rebuilt the turbo and Carter YH carb for me (as well as providing sage advice on them!). No one better on these than Steve, who has been working on Corvairs since they were new. (and heck of a cool guy too)

This car sat in storage since the ‘80’s and with the date tag on the carb reading Sept. ‘62 which matches the engine and car build month, I’ve little doubt this is the original carb and turbo.

Like most exhaust related installs, get everything fastened together loosely before going back and tightening to make sure it all lines up.

Parts as found in the trunk when I bought the car.

Installed.

I haven’t wound it up too high yet, but boost comes on easy in 3rd and 4th and goes right past the 10-12 inch mark. Also installed a Dale advance/retard canister on the ‘63 turbo distributor. Runs great.