Corvair Corsa 140/4spd

[cheesy]

Corvairs have come out of the woodwork on Marketplace the last couple weeks here in Illannoy. I don't need another project, though I did come across an early seventies MGB that's been stored indoors for the last 20 years with 63K on the clock. Rust free and $4K. Sigh.
We'll be paying off Mrs.C's cancer surgery and my ankle for awhile yet.

[2LZ]

I can say one thing for sure, this is BY FAR the easiest car I've ever worked on. Plus, since it's got a skirt that seals all the way around the engine, dropped nuts and bolts never vanish into the abyss.

[2LZ]

I swear, the older I get.....
Went to pre-oil the engine since it hasn't spun in over 20 years. I wanted to make sure the pump worked and flowed before I dropped in a battery and did the compression check.
1- Hook up oil pressure gauge (check)
2- Make long tool for drill to spin pump (check)
3- Make sure oil is full and clean (check)
4- Crank drill and stare at gauge (check)
5- Notice oil spraying all over because the old bastard forgot to spin on a new filter (check)
6- Mop up shop floor and spread lot of dog training pads (check)

[cheesy]

So it's not just me?

Or,

Well, you are old now, Sir Leaks A Lot.

I'll grab my hat on the way out.

[Darkrider]

Was looking forward to seeing a thread on this. I have been idly looking at corvairs for a few years now and there is one that keeps hanging on constantly on Kijiji for $2500...Best part is new gf is up for the idea of picking it up. So it remains to be seen if its still around after we get the truck I'm buying at the end of April so i can finally shift my old C10 to project Status.

[2LZ]

Since the body and interior are "as good as they're gonna get" at this point, I moved to the engine compartment. Been replacing all the rubber grommets and accordion gizzy for the accelerator at the firewall. Plus, of course, a top of motor tear down including carbs, yadda yadda.
.All the bearings in the fan, alternator and idler pulley are in excellent shape and silent. Good news there.
According to Fitch (look him up), by dumping the stock air cleaner and going to four separate units, plus re-canoider the PCV system, along with advancing the timing by 3', it's worth 15hp. I'll take it. Sounds just like a China bike mod!
In addition, since it's a quad carb setup, I bought some exhaust adapters and Dremeled them to custom fit. VIOLA! Instant velocity stacks! The real reason for this is to tap the PCV into one of the primary carbs, but what's the point of synching all four carbs if only one has a stack? The way I see it, anything that gets the airflow straighter to the venturi cluster is a good thing.

[2LZ]

I also converted it to an electric fuel pump. All the new replacement mechanical pumps are garbage. They make a bypass plate for the mechanical pump, so I rebuilt and prettied up the one I have. All it does is route fuel now.

The Corvair Guru's say "No rubber under the hood for fuel!"....so I did everything in metal line. Word to the wise, I bought steel line which was a BITCH to bend and flare. I'd try aluminum next time around.

One of the Guru's also pointed out, "Your fan looks cut down". Sure as heck, it's supposed to be 11.25" and has been cut to 9.5". The same fan mod Yenko did to his cars. Supposed to take less HP to spin it. Someone really put effort into this. You simply can't buy one and only certain people will attempt to cut magnesium. I guess someone REALLY wanted this mod.

[cheesy]

I’d love to be there the first time the key is turned.

[2LZ]

Finished the stacks and the carbs yesterday. Still waiting on main jets for the secondary carbs but that's easy. The PCV fitting worked out perfectly. Gotta love JB Weld.

I just keep getting deeper though. I figured...."Well, since I'll be replacing every gasket and o-ring under the car I can get to, including the notoriously leaking pushrod o-rings, I may as well swap out the 1965 old lifters while I'm there!" It never ends......

[2LZ]

The Corvair Crowd. Generally very nice, not as quickly accepting as here, but this has been a learning curve for me on the forums. It finally dawned on me that at 65, I'm probably the youngest one there. I told Mrs. 2LZ, "It's like hanging with your dad. They all have they're advice, good or otherwise, and I get the distinct feeling that some think I am 'under talented(?)' ", for lack of a more descriptive term.

Now I confirmed reading something today that it really IS like hanging with her dad!

"Yes....I looked that information up online, then printed it, and put it in a file for easy access."

[cheesy]

Originally Posted by 2LZ

The Corvair Crowd. Generally very nice, not as quickly accepting as here, but this has been a learning curve for me on the forums. It finally dawned on me that at 65, I'm probably the youngest one there. I told Mrs. 2LZ, "It's like hanging with your dad. They all have they're advice, good or otherwise, and I get the distinct feeling that some think I am 'under talented(?)' ", for lack of a more descriptive term.

Now I confirmed reading something today that it really IS like hanging with her dad!

"Yes....I looked that information up online, then printed it, and put it in a file for easy access."

I find that on some other forums, too. Some I've walked away from.

And, yes, I print stuff out and put it in a file. The wi fi is sketchy and not to be relied upon in the Barn, where I keep those files.

[2LZ]

Very happy with the internals. I spun the motor by hand and everything is nice and snug regarding rods, both sideways and end play. I saw no reason with pop caps and whip out the mics and feelers.
There was a little sludge in the pan, but to be expected. The pickup was spotless.
Got the pan, breather and fan cover all done and ready. I'm one valve adjustment from hopefully going the other way and reassembly.