My dad Just got back from the Chicago Corvair International convention. He won the Street mod class by a margin of 2 seconds and beat a lot of the Competition class cars
Not a bad 60th birthday present considering most of the field was 25+ years younger than he is.
Car is a 66 Corsa , 140 engine , built heads 11.1 compression , tripple weber carbs with manifolds modified to accept them. HEaders MSD 6al , front mount oil cooler , Lunati Cam , 3.55 gears , close ratio 4spd. balanced blueprinted ect. Duralight race wheels , Toyo RA1's redlines at 7500+ RPM.
Here are some pics:
I was suppose to go to the convention , but was detained with school work.
JM
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04:02 PM
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rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
Glad to see he's keep it alive, not many people know these cars handled fantastic (with a few minor changes), you just had to know how to drive them !!! Nader really did a number on that car, which was a shame.
A long time ago I was getting ready to convert one with the Crown V8 "back seat" conversion kit, but Viet Nam pulled me away.
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07:20 PM
Formula88 Member
Posts: 53788 From: Raleigh NC Registered: Jan 2001
I just did an inventory of parts for a vair build up. I have a Isky cam , a set of really worked 140 heads , headers, Yenko tuned Rochester carbs (rare) an 4 link suspension setup for the rear, a set of tuned springs, Cut down engine fan , Flowmaster mufflers , TRW forged pistons. Yenko 13" wheels , 3.89 Gears , Posi Axle
All stuff is new, amazing what you can accumulate in 35 years!! haah. After I ge tthe fiero done (engine swap in the next year) I want to build upa yenko replica.
My dad is in the midst of planning out and colecting parts for an LS1 mid engine setup that uses the corvette engine and transaxle. makes for a 6spd , mid engine monster. We already have one with an all aluminum Olds motor running in a 66 corsa..
yummy JM
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09:17 PM
Jul 31st, 2001
StuGood Member
Posts: 3172 From: Wichita, KS, USA Registered: Jun 2000
Way to do the Corvair proud!! That's one awesome car - represents a lot of care and hard work, I'm sure.
BTW, for you trivia buffs - I believe there's a kinda unique part used on the Fiero, that was also used on the Corvair! Can you identify it? It's visible in the 2nd photo above.
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01:04 PM
KRMFiero Member
Posts: 2711 From: Providence, RI Registered: Sep 2000
I like to compare the Corvair with the Fiero. Both have an "unconventional" drivetrain. Both were abandoned by GM. Both have an absolutely ravenous following of fans.
Stu, I give up. Unless you're talking about the hood prop, or the decklid vents.
------------------ Raydar - aka Steve
Black 88 Formula. Red 88 Duke coupe. "The Project" 88 Formula parts car. "The Donor"
[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 07-31-2001).]
Yenko decklid on my dads car so it's not really on all corvairs. But there are air intake vents back their , I believe our vents (fiero) are for heat to escape.
Flat 6 all aluminum motor , 2.7ltrs, A Corsa like the one pictured above is about 150-200lbs lighter than a Fiero GT.
Corvair is the first mass produced car to use a turbo charger.
Lots of people have converted there corvair to mid engine v8's. It's still a popular conversion today
Built between late 59 and may 14th 69. We own a low mile original owner (my mom) convert 140 4spd , Garnet red (bright red) black interiror , power roof, it was built may 13th. Also have another 66 corsa with an all aluminum olds V8 95.4 points in national concours
The 2 cars have a very similar life story (fiero and corvair) , both progressed from commuter into psuedo sports cars , both had problems in the start that caused their demise due to bad press. Both are very underestimated performance wise.
The car above has been in our family since 1969 , it has won numerous SCCA divisionals and placed a best of 8th at the SCCA solo 2 nationals ..which is no small feat (in CP) Cp cars usually being 500+ HP mustangs semi tube cars.
Driving a Corvair is very similar to driving a Fiero, lots of Fiero owners have corvairs soon. I personally hope to get a corvair within the next year or so. The corvair is more forgiving than a fiero due to it's longer wheel base.
Suspension is independant all around , 2 of our cars have a 4 link rear suspension much like a vette setup.
------------------ Jonathan McCreery 86 GT 4spd Koni's , Coilovers, Big Bars , 17" Trmotorsports Typhoons , 11.25" vented discs, Wilwood 4 Piston Calipers , Pirelli P Zero's, Short Shift, No cat , Cold air induction , Geni Stainless tips, White face gauges , Momo shift , momo pedals, White face Gauges , 70Hp Shot of NOS Autocrossed , Tracked , Dragged? (soon) abused.
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04:59 PM
Will Member
Posts: 14278 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
My dad used to have a Crown V8 Corvair. It used a 327/350 with the carb removed and replaced with Rochester fuel injection. We don't really know how much power it made since GM never put that cam in a fuelie engine, but we think it was about the equivalent of a 327/365. I was very young when it was totaled in an accident. I only remember that it was loud (solid lifters).
thats cool, I always just assumed they were camaro wannabes when people would talk about them, its about time for another GM behind the seat engined car!! 1960s, 1980s, and 2000s!!
Originally posted by Raydar: Stu, I give up. Unless you're talking about the hood prop, or the decklid vents.
That's it-! I was thinking of the telescoping latching hood prop. It sure looks like the same part as what holds up the front compartment lid on the Fiero (okay, so the brackets on the end are probably different).
Way simpler than those hydraulic/ pneumatic struts they use nowadays! And reliable, too.
50 points, and a chance at the washer dryer, Raydar!