I want to make a thread to hold not only the information I have learned but information for others to who want to customize a FC. I like the way this forum is set up, unlike other forums with one single colume of only new posts. Maybe if we can get a nice thread going we can draw some other FC guys into here. There is so much misinformation or confusing information on the net I want to start a thread to clarify everything, and I would like others to help with their input, experience, how too's and pictures.
I want to cover a little bit of everything here.
I am going to use some pictures in this thread that are not mine. If you are the owner and want them removed, just request it and I will.
Suspension:
-Airbags: There are 3 FC's that I know of that are bagged successfully. I'm sure there are more but I have only seen three. The first and I would say most recognized is John Jackson's Not Stock Photography Van.
The second is an 8 Door White Panel Van. I know this guy did a photoshop picture for me before, but I can not remember his name.
The third is a Loadside but only the front is bagged, I saw a youtube video of it once.
Here is the dilemma, I have read every forum post and article that I could find on FC's and air ride and I have yet to find a thread which lists the components used. Some suggest shockwaves, some suggest bags, no one make a direct mount kit and I am not fluent enough in air bag speak to design a new system nor do I have the money to keep trying stuff until I find something that works.
-Drop Spindles: I think I have this one figured out and I used to have a picture printed out but I can not find it.
I have seen that a few, very few, FC owners are running Heidt 55-57 Tri-Five Chevy 2 inch drop spindle and then adapting their bolt on disc brake setup to fit the Corvair. From what I have read there is only one small obstacle, the lower ball joint hole is too small and needs to be reamed out to fit the ball joint. From my research i have found that the ball joints are the same as the corresponding year full size truck ball joint. I'm trying to find out if there is another ball joint that will work without reaming out the drop spindle. Maybe the 55-57 Chevy ball joint will bolt in, who knows, I'm not there yet.
-Disc brakes: I am assuming through the information I have found that this setup will work with the Tri-Five drop spindles. Again there is very little information on the web for a FC.
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-Drum Brake Shoe Replacement: Drum brakes on all FC's are the same. They all use an 11 X 2 shoe, National #'s 228 and 189's.
-Shocks: FC's use the same shock front and rear even though they originally had different part numbers. NAPA part# 94002 will fit with no modifications. There are many other shocks that will work. May people have used Dodge D-150 shocks, I personally have installed a set of KYB front shocks from a 96 S10 onto the front of my 63 Panel.
-Front End Rebuild Kit: From the research I have done, I have found that 90% of the people who have bought a front end rebuild kit from the ebay seller "11KarKrazy" are happy and have had very little complications. The kit is $189.00 and includes (from the sellers ebay listing):
***INNER LEFTHAND TIE ROD***
***INNER RIGHTHAND TIE ROD***
***OUTER LEFTHAND TIE ROD***
***OUTER RIGHTHAND TIE ROD***
***LEFTHAND TIE ROD SLEEVE***
***RIGHTHAND TIE ROD SLEEVE***
***LEFTHAND UPPER BALL JOINT***
***RIGHTHAND UPPER BALL JOINT***
***LEFTHAND LOWER BALL JOINT***
***RIGHTHAND LOWER BALL JOINT***
***LEFTHAND UPPER ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***RIGHTHAND UPPER ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***LEFTHAND LOWER ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
***RIGHTHAND LOWER ARM BUSHINGS (2 EACH)***
THIS KIT ALSO CONTAINS THE COTTER PINS, RUBBER GREASE SEALS/BOOTS, ZIRC FITTINGS, PLUS THE TIE ROD SLEEVE BOLTS, NUTS, AND CLAMPS.
-Air Filters: For factory Replacement: Purolator Part# A20055.
-Muffler: For factory replacement with a little added rumble I originally chose the Cherry Bomb part# 16803. Honestly it was too loud even for my taste. I ended up cross referencing the size at Advanced Auto to a Walker Muffler made by Dynomax. No modification, fits the muffler area nicely. I believe I used a 2ID coupler then I welded it. Is still loud and the flat 6 boxer sounds great with any muffler attached to it.
-Stock Wheels: The following info comes from Autoexer (Bryan Blackwell)
Diameter: Vertical dimension of the wheel, measured where the tire's bead seats. All Corvair FCs are 14".
Width: The distance between the inner lips of the rim, where the tire beads seat. All Corvair FC wheels are 5" wide.
Lug Pattern: FCs use 5 lugs on a 4 3/4" circle (5 x 4 3/4").
Center Hole Diameter: 2.8".
Backspacing: FC wheels have a backspace of 3 1/2". For reference, more backspace moves the wheel further in the wheelwell, less backspace brings it out. For FCs it's a little more complicated, 14" wheels are limited to the stock backspace because a deeper set wheel will hit the tie rod.
Well that is all for now, I will keep updating this thread, feel free to talk, converse, add, tell me I'm wrong, ect.
1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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