Cars that lived in the Midwest or East will be in far worse shape than a car from the South, Southwe...

1. The Rear Engine, Air Cooled 1965-69 Chevrolet Corvair
Cars that lived in the Midwest or East will be in far worse shape than a car from the South,
Southwest, or West. Does the radio work? If no, replace the radio, check the speaker, which may be
bad, check for antenna connection.
Once established, the IBM 704 computer was used again to determine the correct engine to build for
such a car. Finally, have a small amount of rust acid compound on hand.
As a rule, if the seller does not provide details about the car and provide photos in his online ad, I am
skeptical. Engineers found out that within the engine compartment, 18 cubic feet of air per minute
per horsepower. The thinner the metal, the better chance rusting will occur. It operates at its
lightest load when in idle and in heavy traffic since the blower is regulated by the engine speed, not
the load. If you are not a mechanic by nature, you will become one just to save money and time.
Even mechanics who know your standard type engine, knows little about the Corvair engine, unless
they worked on VW's, its closest cousin!
The fan belt is one notable feature of the Corvair engine as it turns and twists a total of 540 degrees.
Actual mechanical damage in the camshaft lobe or the lifter itself.
2. If the seller responds to questions with non-direct answers or just short curt ones, look elsewhere
or confront the seller with the issue.
7. A driver could easily oversteer and flip the car over because it only weighed 2000 lbs. Coil springs
on all four wheels also smoothed out the ride. Weight ran from 5000 lbs (American luxury cars) to
2000 lb. Sadly, while the car was stable if the tires were correctly inflated, it was not (front wheels
would lose traction) if the tires were inflated to what would seem the "normal" range, that is, 26 psi
all around. If you cannot personally inspect the car or have a proxy do it, be sure to asked the
correct questions.
Most Corvairs one can buy fall in between this range depending on where the car spent most of its
life. You will have enough frustrations without additional rust ones!
16. One main issue that continues today are the pushrod rubber O-rings. Although this pressure was
quite adequate for the very lightweight Corvair front end, owners and mechanics, either through
ignorance of the necessity for this pressure differential between front and rear or thinking that the
pressure was too low for the front, would inflate the front tires to more "normal" pressures (25-
35psi), thus ensuring that the rear of the car would lose traction before the front, causing it to
oversteer. The design was, as an answer to the growing popularity of small, lightweight imported
cars (namely VW).
A dramatic redesign of the Corvair body and suspension and several powerful new engines came in
1965. You can post a question and within hours someone will provide the answer. At worst, heavy
rust to make the car's chassis unsafe and the externally nice looking car, worthless. Again, not a
hard thing to fix. For example, placing a steel wool pad in water and exposing it to air will cause
almost-immediate rusting. It usually is a lovehate relationship. Do some research or talk to other
owners and prepare a series of questions that will reveal the condition. Then, the rust stain should
be wiped away with a damp sponge. Other than those features, one could not tell the two apart.
Running it less than 15 min, does not get the engine hot enough.

2. Keep in mind that removing rust from a car should only be done when you can re-prime and repaint
the sanded area within the next twenty four-hour period. The placement of the fuel tank in the front
between the front cross member and passenger compartment nearly made it impossible for it to be
impacted upon collision from the rear, front or side. This is why one does NOT to race your engine at
start up! Let it idle for at least one minute.
1. It was also found out (despite folklore) that the car can be driven at slow speed for a limited time
without the belt.
White vinegar is another rust remover commonly found in homes. Does the car have white or bluish
smoke when running? If yes, the white smoke may indicate that ATF is getting into the transaxle
because of a bad modulator, while bluish may indicate that the engine needs new rings around the
piston.
10. Not a big deal when you learn how to do it.
Corvair's luggage capacity was also significant for a small car, with the rear seat folded down, the
rear area had 17.6 cubic feet, and the front trunk, 11.3 cubic feet.
Owning such a car is usually reserved for the mechanically inclined or a rich guy who can hire
someone. It can create holes in the body, stop restoration (even the most minor things like getting a
nut off), forces you to spend more money, causes frustration. Do not rush with this step, as moving
too quickly makes it easier to cause damage to the metal. Oddly enough, despite its sporting look, it
was never intended to be a muscle car with high HP. Early on, performance was also clearly defined
with a target of 0-60 mph in 20 seconds and a constant fuel economy at 50 mph of 25 mpg. Most
likely are the O-rings that fit onto each end of the Push Rod Tube. In a 704, thousands of cores were
strung on a complex of wires in such a fashion that several wires passed through the center of each
core. The early model (EM) style is a more boxy, dated body style, while the later model (LM) from
1965-69, is a timeless design that continues to appeal due to its sporty corvette type look and a
European sports car.
Engineers at Chevrolet began designing the rear engine Corvair in 1955 or 56 by investigating the
foreign cars being imported in to the US at that time, namely VW, Opel, Fiat etc. Most are either on
craigslist or Ebay. When you begin to sand the rusted area, tiny particles will fly in every direction.
Failure to remove the acid could lead to pitting and even more work. With older cars, you hear the
engine, so they are more noisier. These types of sellers are more likely just wanting to sell and could
care less about the answers they provide. Make sure none of the fine rush particles have a chance to
settle and begin to imbed themselves in other areas of the car body.
Odds are if you are under 40 yrs, you have never even heard of a Chevy Corvair as they stopped
making them in 1969. His more serious accusation was its steering. This step will handle even the
tiniest of particles and leave the exposed metal perfectly clean. If the stain remains, the entire
process should be repeated.
This young lawyer nearly destroyed the car with his book, Unsafe at Any Speed. Sometimes, it may
take 45 minutes of soaking and banging until it is freed. Thus, both Nader and the muscle car fad
from 1964-71, killed the Corvair. So if you have bought a Corsa, make sure by its VIN that it is really
a Corsa, not a Monza made to look like a Corsa! To complicate things, you could buy a Monza or the
most base model, the 500, with a 140 hp motor, and except for the trim, little else was different.
For any new Corvair owner, the most helpful resource is the Corvaircenter.com. Broken parts within

3. the lifter.
Engine temperatures range from 300F at 20 mph to 445F at maximum speed (100 mph). They were
for their time, but driving a car made today (or since the 90s) and driving a Corvair is like night and
day. This weight ratio would allow for responsive steering, fairly uniform braking wear, and better
traction. If you have a free weekend coming up, here are the basic steps involved in removing rust
from a car.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ran a series of comparative tests in
1971, studying the handling of the 1963 Corvair against four contemporary cars: a Ford Falcon,
Plymouth Valiant, Volkswagen Beetle, Renault Dauphine and a 1967 Corvair (with a revised
suspension design) was included for comparison. Why? Corsa failed because the difference between
it and less expensive Monza, was small: a Corsa had more gauges on the dash giving it a racing look,
the trim and emblems were slightly different, the engine was a 140 hp or more. You want to hear a
steady engine with minimum clicking or tapping, steady hum and one that is near vibration free (the
coil should not be moving very much). leak. The Ford Explorer (many years later) had widely-
publicized stability problems when equal pressures were used. This is the group you do not want in
your car. Dual brake system was also introduced allowing for independent braking.
Low quality oil or excessively high metallic anti-wear additives (ZDDP) in the oil increase the
deposits. There are plenty of books about them. If there is excessive vibration, this may indicate bad
engine mounts or engine balance.
Why should you care?
Chevy had decided early on to go with an aluminum engine to reduce the car weight, however, one
early engine design had the engine heads and cylinders casted into one piece, each consisted of
three cylinders, a head, and intake manifold. Does the car leak oil after the engine has been running
for 15-20 minutes and turned off? If yes, it indicated that the O-rings, valve cover gasket, oil cooler
seal may be defective. The rest of the book deals with car manufacturers in general and why safety
was really a political issue.
ENTER RAPLH NADER
OIL- use only CI-4SL
CORVAIR DESIGN NUANCES
Here are few key questions:
15. Rust destroys. Does the car have problems starting? Maybe be the Starter that is going bad, car
may need a tune-up, fuel pump may not be good.
Rust will halt your restoration process and make it more expensive at every turn. The thicker the oil,
the slower it travels. From 1965-69, the problem was no longer there as Chevy had made changes to
those models, yet, they still recommended to properly inflate.
18. Are there rust holes on the floor of the car or car body? If yes, this is a nuisance issue if the car
runs fine, but the floor will have to be replaced with new sheet metal, it can get very expensive.
Some Corvairs look like new cars externally, yet their chassis is so rusted (snow, salt or rain) its

4. safety and structure is compromised making it dangerous.
Having bought both of my Corvairs online- you must have trust and faith in the seller. Not a big deal.
4. It was available from 1954 to 1960. Either it needs to be replaced or the ground wire that
attaches to the car frame is gonedisconnected. Then, the area should be sprayed again with white
vinegar and allowed to sit for twenty to thirty minutes. If the car was in the Midwest, the same
applies, but may be not as bad. There are ways that you can do the job yourself, although it will take
several steps and a couple of days to accomplish. Wax, sludge, or varnish deposits cause internal
parts to stick. Its swing rear axle reduced wheel hop. Settings must be close to specifications or it
will not run correctly, even for these more primitive engines. In 1965 the Corvair got a fully
independent rear suspension closely resembling that of the Corvette, even sharing some
components.
There some universal items one should check into or look at if (if possible) when buying a Corvair. A
word or number stored in the magnetic core memory in this fashion was available for calculation in
12 millionths of a second.
Assuming the valves are properly adjusted, there should be no "play" in the system and the lifters or
rocker arms should be silent. Use this book to supplement the other books on Corvairs, mainly those
by Bob Helt and Richard Finch as well as the GM manuals. The doubling of speed in arithmetic, plus
the use of index commands, made the 704 a very versatile and capable data processing machine for
its time. The Corvair Service Manuals recommend SAE 10W-30 or SAE 30 for most operating
conditions anticipated. The bellows thermostat below the left cylinder bank has a temperature range
of 185-195F, at which time discharge occurs and the door vents open. Do the instrument gauges
work on the dash? If the fuel gauge does not, it is the fuel sending unit in the gas tank. The top of
the line was the Corsa. The engines are simple yet temperamental. Focus on the chassis and engine
first, then the interior.
YOUR RUSTING CAR
Corvair production finally ceased in 1969 with sales of only 6,000 cars, a victim of Nader's book,
Ford's Mustang, and Chevrolet's own Camaro and Nova and the other mid-60's muscle cars, all
having way more horsepower. Some 20-30 somethings think they are a Japanese car. Roll up the
windows on the vehicle. Combinations of electrical pulses on these wires altered the magnetic state
of the tiny cores, and a line of cores, some altered, some unaltered, stood for a certain word or
number. When he reported back to me, I knew the chassis was probably quite rusty.
A BRIEF HISTORY
RUST
3. Chevy's only fault was that they did not emphasize how important it was to the new car owner and
old habits are difficult to break for the general public. Had the Corvair lasted until 1973-4, when the
oil embargo occurred and fuel economy was important, the car might have survived.
Because of the car's balanced design, brake wear remains very little. They all have their role. The
drum could be used for storage of parts of the program, intermediate results, rate tables, or other
information. The swing axle also proved to have excellent roll stability. Many of the issues can be
asked of any car-it is not rocket science. As this happens over time, they weaken the metal, making
the structure brittle and crumbly.

5. http://perrya.hubpages.com/hub/The-Rear-Engine--Air-Cooled-1965-69-Chevrolet-Corvair
Begin by covering and taping off the area surrounding the scratch or dent. A sanding wheel along
with a few sheets of sandpaper will also come in handy. Chevy had made the necessary changes to
the chassis as a result of his book.
6. Early on, it was decided the car would have an aluminum engine to reduce weight and more
importantly, a 40 front60 rear percentage weight ratio for its stability platform. No chance for
ignition.. If salt is present, corrosion will likely occur more quickly. It was found that when the car's
tires were properly inflated, 15 psi in front, 26 psi in rear, the car handled better than other's with
larger tires around corners and was a very stable platform. The computer multiplied or divided in
240 microseconds, or approximately 4,000 operations per second. It is on every Corvair-somewhere.
One tip-off regarding the rust was that when I demanded the car at least have some braking
capability, the owner acquiesced and tried for three hrs to remove a bleeder nut on the front wheel.
It was not until the 70's that a new O-ring was created for other uses. Rust formation is a cancer that
cannot be stopped easily, but metals can be treated to resist the most damaging effects.
Rust translates your Corvair into an expensive mess. If there are no brakes in the car, both 5 and 6
are the reason. The rust spot increases as oxidation on the bare metal that is exposed by a hairline
scratch or a small dent causes the rust to spread. Then, it either could be converted directly to
magnetic tape before being read into the system, or it could be read directly.
If I can get contact info about the previous owners, I try to contact them to their history of the car
when they owned it, good info may be provided.
17. The aluminum in the engine weighs only 92 lbs, or 28% of the total car weight. If the blinker arm
works properly, yet no blinkers, may be the bulbs or a new Flasher unit needs to be installed or
other troublesome electrical issue.
Rust is oxidation, which occurs when oxygen comes in long-term contact with certain metals. If you
were a kid in the mid to late 60's, you probably know about them. Even with them you may be! If you
don't already have them, you will be investing in more tools. Do the lights and wipers work? If the
lights do not work, either the bulbsconnectors are bad or wiring is bad. Very important! Using oil
not labeled with this classification will work, but over time, your engine will deteriorate faster
depending on driving habits and frequency. The most noticeable item is the near all metal dash,
more strength is needed to steer the car, thicker body metal, more chome. The CI-4SL type contains
the correct amount of ZDDP, which is a combo of zine and phosphorus to protect and reduce wear
on the engine parts!

6. Using an IBM 704 computer (yes, computer!) engineers entered over 300 different types of cars over
a four year period, both American and foreign. There is a reason the car does not run or has no
brakes- and it probably is bad and costly!
In a nutshell, you want the least amount of rust. I was suspicious. How bad depends on whether the
car was in a protected area. The combination of understeer built into the front and rear suspension,
small wheels, proper tire inflation, and low to the ground made the Corvair one of Chevy's best
handling car. Again, over 300 were entered and data was retrieved. In his book, only one chapter
specifically mentions Corvair issues and only with those made from 1960-64. Surface rust does not,
it has not done any damage yet, just discoloration.
As a buyer, you must investigate and interrogate the seller. If the car blinkers do not work, it is
probably the turning switch inside the steering column. When you prime the car, remember that
primer is not paint and water is not repelled. Some were answered, most were not. Make sure to not
leave the compound on the exposed metal longer than recommended in the instructions. There are
probably still over 40,000 of them in the US.
The oil cooler also plays a vital role as air moves through the fins keeping the oil temp to 280 F when
at full throttle, at an ambient temperature of 100F. Also, ask if the Master Cylinder or wheel
Cylinders leak brake fluid.
Owning a Corvair is an experience. The Corvair TTF level is checked when the engine is hot and
running, if the reading is nil, something is wrong. Does the car stall at stop signs or lights? If yes, it
indicates that the carbs are not synchronized and the idle and fuelmix screws on both carbs are not
at the correct setting (both must be near identical settings), timing may also be off, a vacuum leak,
clogged carb jets or filters are key suspects. Rust is your enemy so try to minimize the war by buying
a car with the least amount! If you see the rust is heavy on the chassis and floor, think about the
problems it will cause even if the body and interior are mint. It was decided to use the air fins so
commonly found in aircraft engines to channel and deflect heat and air. In either case, you will need
to find and purchase the year model chassis manuals for your car. In cold weather or when the
engine is started the cooler is bypassed and oil is sent directly to the oil galleries. In Chevy tests, the
average wear on the brakes after a 1000 mile test was only .004".
Viscosity is thickness. Requiring the seller to send detailed photos or video is common and if they
cannot, be a little more cautious.
The car was originally an experimental two-passenger fastback and was a "new aerodynamic design"
for the sports car class. During engine destructive testing, tests showed that the Corvair engine
could withstand temperatures of up to 600F without serious damage. This idea was discarded since
special coatings would be required which was beyond that era's technology. The Borax or baking
soda can be replaced with other similar products because their main purpose is to add grit to the
solution without causing damage to the surface when used. The Corvair was the economy car for
Chevy, yet, it is as big as many of today's cars! The Corvair is low to the ground, comes with either 2
or 4 carbs that need to be synchronized in air flow and idlefuel mix. To make this rust remover, a
teaspoon of cream of tarter and a quarter cup of Borax or baking soda should be mixed with enough
hydrogen peroxide to make a thick paste.
I was going to buy a LM corvair on Ebay. If you choose to leave the bare metal exposed for even a
short time, the process of oxidation will take place and the damage will be worse than the initial

7. problem. Water alone does not cause steel to rust, but the acidic reaction allows oxygen to attack
vulnerable exposed metal. As a novice, all of those books did help me but all were lacking in some
way and all were written for those who were much more experienced with cars in general.
13. When the car brakes, are there any scraping or squealing noises? If yes, probably needs new
brake shoes or relined drums.
The car was designed to avoid terminal oversteer by using very low air pressure in the front tires,
typically 12 to 15 psi , so that they would begin to understeer (slip) before the swing axle oversteer
would come into play. Chevroletdesigned this engine to run on oil that is between 5W-30, 10-30, 30,
0-30, 10-40W.
The Corvair was radical for an American car and litigation and controversy followed during its life.
This is still a good economy in 2008! To achieve these goals, engineers focused on making the car
light.
The IBM 704 used the highly advanced fixed point or a floating point type of arithmetic for the first
large-scale produced computer, both of these modes of operation are completely automatic. It was
always an economy car even to the end. Facts, had I known about, would have made me not bid for
the car. This is a forum for only Corvair owners with none or years of experience. GM failed to
convince the public and due to sluggish sales of the 1954 production model Corvette deterred GM
from moving forward with the fastback coupe. Also, carbon monoxide could also enter the passenger
compartment if the engine hoses connected to the heater had become disconnected or fallen apart (
I recall this vividly as my friend in high school had a Corvair and picked me up in the morning. Even
these additions were weak in power when compared to a stock Mustang with a 289 hp.
Naturally, car inspection is always best because opinions differ. This version was a rear-engine
vehicle in the style of the Volkswagen Beetle and the Porsche 356 Speedster and shared very little
with the 1954 concept but for its name.
5. In the dead of winter, we drove with the heater on and windows open to avoid being
asphyxiated!). When climbing long hills or mountains, the engine temperatures rises only 20-30F
higher than its maximum speed on a flat road. Does it hesitate on acceleration from a stop? See #1.
The problem with nearly all previously published material is that it presumes the target audience is
either a mechanic, was a hobby mechanic, or knows a lot about the 60s era cars. Not so. It can make
a simple job turn into a costly, long, nightmarish episode. If the metal is iron or steel, the rust is
properly called iron oxide. The Corvair pioneered such technological advances as turbo-charging,
true four-wheel independent suspension and unit-body (or unibody) construction, and its
independent suspension was adapted for later model Corvettes.
Today, 41 years after its introduction and 30 years after production ceased, the Corvair still enjoys a
loyal following. Besides these, I ask the basic common ones regarding previous owner, mileage, how
it drives, paint condition, issues that are critical for operation and non-critical ones, how long the car
has been not running, why?, when it ran last, when the car was bought, what has the owner done to
the car, last time oil was changed or tune-up.
One of his gripes was that the steering column, upon impact, would be shoved into the driver
causing serious injury. The air passing over the engine came to 60% over the cylinder heads and
40% over the barrels. When using white vinegar as a rust remover, it should be sprayed directly onto
the rust stain and scrubbed in. The noise that you hear is the banging of metal, whether internal to

8. the lifter or directly against the ends of the pushrods. If you do not get satisfactory answers, ask
again, if no answer comes back or only half an answer, that is a red flag. Soaking it in Liquid Wrench
and tapping and banging can usually help get it off. It will halt the process with a simple rusted bolt
holding a brake line. Its principal language was FORTRAN. Hence, the Corvair was not developed.
Parts are easy to find from Clarks, Corvair Underground, and Larry's.
Many people consider lifter noise normal. To combat this, the Corvair could be bought with a 180
HP, which was still way under the others. Parts for restoration are not an issue at all. As a kid, I had
always thought that the 60s cars were sophisticated machines. Meanwhile, oxygen combines with
metal to form the destructive oxide compound. Most buy them because they were exposed to them in
the 60s when they were kids. Areas with only rain will fare much better.
1. Once the oil leaked onto the hot exhaust, the burnt oil smell permeated into the interior at times
or could be seen while at a stop light or when the car stopped coming from the vents. I would rather
buy one that looks so-so and have it near rust free.
2. During winter months, the thermostat keeps the engine ambient temperature at 80F.
14. If there is any doubt of being ripped off, not getting the truth, don't deal with the seller. So, 0W-
30 or 40 travels through the engine fast, while 10W-30 is much slower, 15W-40 is the slowest. These
will help you repair and diagnose the inevitable problems, without them, you are lost. The Corvair
Society of America (CORSA) has a membership of over 5,500 people with 130 local chapters found
everywhere from Idaho to Amsterdam. So when you look at the container try to find at least a Group
II. In 1967, the 140 hp and 180 hp engine options were deleted as well, although the 140 HP option
would remain available until Corvair production ended in 1969. Again, once you do this yourself, it is
not foreboding. If you are unable to, buying the car on the internet whether from Ebay or Craigslist
is totally doable and simply requires an act of faith and more questions than if you could not look a
the car yourself. The worse case scenario is that you have to cut if off. These requirements
demanded that the Corvair blower consist of 24 vanes, producing 1850 cubic feet of air per minute
at 4000 rpm.
When the sanded surface feels smooth, gently wipe it clean and apply a thin coat of the acid to the
area. All information, whether part of the data to be processed or part of the program of
instructions, started out on punched cards. You probably still love the body style, sporty and sleek,
they are just cool looking. Once the tougher outer layer of rust is removed, switch to the sandpaper
sheets to get into the fine nooks and crannies. Your typical buyer did not heed the warning.
Rust is any old car's number one enemy. This Viton O-ring once installed correctly would create a
leak free Corvair as the rubber O-rings could withstand high engine temperatures without falling
apart.
If rust is showing up on the body of your vehicle, you may want to engage in some simple rust
removal and color blending in order to maintain the appearance of your car. If you have long periods
of snow and salted roads, it will eat any car over time. Today these base oils would be called "API
group I". Another thing, as a Corvair owner, always carry some tools and a spare fan belt, as one
minute it runs perfectly and the next minute it doesn't.
12. Running an engine too cold or many short trips without a longer/hotter trip weekly or so will also
lead to sludge.
The car is a time machine (well, any old car is) in that it makes one realize how far car technology

9. has come in 40+ years. Period.
The air flow of the engine is such as the air is not sucked in through the air filter, but is pushed out
from the carburators and through the filter, totally reverse from most other cars.
Cream of tartar, hydrogen peroxide, and a product such as Borax or baking soda can be combined to
create a homemade rust remover paste. Corsa's were only made in 1965 and 1966. In the end, I won.
Does car ride bouncy? If yes, indicates that shock absorbers andor wheel coils need replacing. They
usually range from $1000 to $6000, over 2 million were made. While the LM Corvair's looked great
and among the best style that has withstood the test of time, they were never a muscle car. The rear
suspension geometry of the car made for anti-lift during braking and in the front, anti-dive in the
front. That is, when the car brakes, it basically stays flat unlike all other cars. To compare, the
Corvair weighed 2382 lbs in 1960, versus a Chevy Biscayne at 3714 lbs., a difference of 1,332 lbs!
An individual magnetic core was about the size of a pinhead and was shaped like a doughnut -- with
a hole in the center. Does it idle steady? If no, same as #1.
9. I refused to pay and Ebay eventually allowed me to withdraw my bid and chastised the seller for
non-disclosure of material facts. The final result concluded, "The 1960-63 Corvair compares
favorably with contemporary vehicles used in the tests...the handling and stability performance of
the 1960-63 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover, and it is
at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles both foreign and domestic."
The Corvair names originated as a fastback show car in 1954, and like many Chevy concept cars of
the period were based on the Corvette (including the Chevrolet Nomad and Chevrolet Impala). This
is typical of an engine that sits for long periods (months to years) without use. Every "bang" adds up,
causing more fatigue, wear and distortion of the ends of each piece. Group I oil is old technology, so
to speak.
Chevy wanted the Corvair to have a smooth ride similar to its larger cars, to do so, they used
independent coil suspension and efficient swing axle with coil springs. So, their racy look was
misleading to all as they only had either 140 HP or 110 HP. Of course, the nameplate would be
recycled later for the infamous 1960 rear-engined compact car. The idea is to protect the immediate
surface that is still in great shape. I asked the same questions after and this time answers revealed a
very rusty chassis, ripped seats under the covers, brakes not working. While a few seconds could be
considered normal, any more than that is damaging the engine, especially on a Corvair engine that
uses pushrods between the rockers and the lifters. Think about how you can remove it. Does the car
shift easily? If an automatic, the shifting is usually between 10-30Mph, if a stick, if it does not go into
gear, may be a clutch or something else.
ZDDP tries to adhere to the metallic surfaces of the engine to keep it clean or keep it from wearing
during periods of contact. The leak would only get worse over time. The streamlined roofline swept
back into the jet exhaust-type rear opening. Corvairs that spent their life in the South, Southwest,
West, generally have the least rust.
A new Corvair in 1965-69 ranged from $2000-3000. to the engine.
Your first task is to address the thicker outer layer of oxidized rust. Even today's tweenies (10-14
yrs) love them, especially the convertible! Corvairs are known as the "poor man's" collectible car.
You love the car when its running great and looking good, then, hating it when you buy a costly part
and unable to install it because of rust.

10. The paste should be rubbed onto the rust spot and allowed to stand for 30 minutes. Others are
protected by water-resistant paints or other chemical barriers such as oil, dirt caked on with oil over
time. The causes of lifter noise are:
Engineers early on demanded that the car would have front and rear independent suspension in a
unitized format for handling and rideability. Not many cars at that time had collapsible steering
columns. Others buy them thinking they are a real "money maker" like a Corvette or Mustang. The
whole purpose of the ad is to sell. In 1966, one change of note was a more robust four speed
synchromesh transmission using the standard Saginaw gear set used by other GM vehicles. After
being allowed to sit, the rust stain should come off easily when the vinegar is wiped away.
The rear engine version design began in 1956.
I have the manuals and books from the "pro" owners, but many times the procedure was lacking in
detail for a newbie, so commonly found in many manuals in other fields. After removing the acid,
gently wipe the area with mineral spirits and a clean cloth, and allow the section to dry.
COMMON HOME REMEDIES
BUYING A CORVAIR
Those who own a Corvair have an unique American car, the only rear engine air cooled ever made.
This nuance remains critical to owners of 1960-64, and one that Ralph Nader honed in on. The 704
was considered a "super-computer".
A couple of key questions can reveal the state of the engine, depending on the answer. If you have
never seen on, you will probably also agree with that observation. Having it at the other end of the
car made it totally removed from the exhaust in the rear. Rusted aluminum would be called
aluminum oxide, copper forms copper oxide and so on.
The rusting process is water. A good CI-4SL (not SM) oil in the market today has 1200 to 1400 ppm
of zinc and 1000 to1200 ppm of phosphorous.
Nader is wrongly vilified for the demise of the car. Thus, while most of the Corvair engine is
aluminum, the cylinders are casted in iron, adding another 12 lbs. Over time, the oxygen combines
with the metal forming a new compound called an oxide and weakening the bonds of the metal itself.
Their advice and tolerance helped me a zillion times. The car suffered from a bad public image for a
variety of reasons ranging from being temperamental and oil leaker, unsafe (thanks to Ralph Nader)
and with early models (pre-1965), ugliness.
11. If it spent its life on the East Coast, due to snow and salt in the winter, the car will have serious
rust. If wipers, the wiper motor needs to be replaced.
General Motors produced nearly 1.8 million Corvairs over 10 model years. Chevrolet also considered
a front engine car but quickly came to the conclusion this was not the way to go. When compared to
other cars, it was underpowered, to wit: the 289 HP Ford Mustang in 1964, the Hemi engines of
Dodge and Chrysler, the GTO and Le Mans from Pontiac, even Chevy had the Malibu SS, Corvette,
Camaro. Even if the leak is bad, once these are changed, the leak will be gone, unless other gaskets
etc. Chevrolet did provide "muscle" car type packages, such as, a 180 Hp Turbo, a four carburetor
140 hp. The swing axle proved to have far less wheel hop and shake compared to rear axle cars. If
you prime the car and it starts to develop surface rust, you will have to sand it again down to metal

11. and prime again!
I call these my core questions to assess the car if I am buying from a remote location. Several places
on the East and West Coast sell only corvair parts. You can always ask for a video file to listen to the
engine. A car that needs no brakes will be silent and the pedal will NOT go near the floor, very little
foot pressure is required to stop. After considering all the pros and cons of each, it was decided to
create an entirely American rear air-cooled engine car, as none of the foreign cars were satisfactory.
Any Corvair you buy will have at best, just surface rust, which can cause problems. In the end, the
computer model designated a 3000 lb test weight (curb weight of 2400 lbs, with 600 lb payload).
During the auction I asked specific questions that would reveal the car's condition. This led the
writer to gloss over details instead of creating a detailed procedure.
In addition to this high-speed memory, the 704 had a magnetic drum storage unit. Changing the
Modulator is easy with the correct tools.
The usual method of input to the system was magnetic tape, but entry could also be gained from
punched cards through the card reader or from the operator's console, if special instructions were
required. The oil oxidizes where it is, forming varnish deposits. While his book did not help, fact is,
from 65 on, the muscle car fad was just in full swing. As designed, the belt is to last 250 hrs at 4000
rpm. Is there an oil leak from the Bellhousing area? if yes, rethink about buying it as the engine must
be removed to replace the seal.
Nader overstated the severity of the handling problems, as was later found by US National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration investigators, and Chevrolet made changes to the suspension: in 1964,
adding a transverse leaf spring extending between the rear wheels to limit rear wheel camber
change. Protect the car if it is sitting outside in the elements. It should be mentioned that the
Corvair is by no means unique in requiring different front and rear tire pressures for normal
controllability. See Firestone vs, Ford Motor Company controversy. The detail was lacking because
the target audience was presumed to know general items related to the field. In the 60s, oil was
different and more "primitive". Is the chassis and frame free from destructive rust? This rust
crumbles the metal, creates holes, cannot withstand pressure. The Corvair is the "poor man's"
collectable car. foreign four passenger cars. Even a sliding tappet has increased wear when it
receives a hit in the middle of its slide.
Rusting normally occurs because the finish has been damaged in some manner. There are probably
over 20,000 of them on the road. The hydrogen and water can combine with other elements to form
acids, which will eventually cause more metal to be exposed. Iron or steel structures may appear
solid, but water molecules can easily penetrate the microscopic pits and cracks in any exposed
metal. The total weight of the engine is 256 lbs, which was half of the normal Chevy car at the time.
On a cold start the oil is much more thick than at other times, creating resistance to flow through
the pickup screen and passageways. The car does have to be hot (15 min running) and turned off to
determine. If you are a mechanic, you will need the shop manuals as the Corvair is not a typical GM
car!
In general, a Group II oil will have better performance with 10% less additives than a Group I oil.
With gas only 25-50 cents a gallon until 1971, nobody cared, which favored the gas guzzling muscle
cars. Does the Automatic Tranny Stick read (when car is running and hot) empty or very little? This
indicates that the tranny needs ATF fluid added OR a defective Modulator on the tranny. I consider
it a red flag about the true internal condition despite the excellent body and external appearance.
This will help ensure you get all the rust from a car during this procedure, including any small

12. amount or residue that may have resettled during the sanding action.
Some pieces of iron or steel are thick enough to maintain their integrity even if rust forms on the
surface. During its production, the material to seal the tubes into the block and head was unable to
withstand the high engine temperatures and after about a year, the car would begin to leak oil.
Finally, the tapes themselves acted as bulk storage, each holding up to 5 million characters.
One item of concern for the engineers was the engine design and its ability to deflect heat. The
computer indicated the correct match would be a 140 cubic inch motor and 13" wheels.
As a newbie to Corvairs, make life easier--buy only a car that runs and has brakes. The car was king
for gas economy, averaging 20 mph or so, unfortunately, it was ill-timed. It should read something
on the stick. Failure to do this may yield a ca you should not have bought. A new fully independent
suspension similar to that used on the Corvette replaced the original swing axle rear suspension.
Corvairs built from 1965-69 do not have this issue. This was true if the tire pressure in the front was
25-35 psi, however, Chevy knew this and stated clearly the front tires should not exceed
http://irateaggressor856.pen.io 15 psi. Why? The Corvair will seldom bring in as much as Vette or
Mustang in the same primo condition. Until you sit and drive one, it is hard to differentiate the
obvious and subtle differences. Use the sanding wheel for this part of the job. Rust means it
multiplies everything: your time, cost to remove, cost to fix etc.
8. When braking, is the brake pedal spongy or near the floor when the car stops? If yes, indicates air
in the brake line or leak at the Master Cylinder or at the brake lines. Buying a car you cannot drive
poses all sorts of question marks and unknowns--some think this is fun--I don't. Any leaks from the
tranny area? if yes, you may have to remove the tranny to repair.
It is strongly advised by most Corvair owners to use only CI-4SL type oil in your car. The higher the
viscosity, the higher the fuel consumption, engine temperature, and load on the engine. Some
owners have several. The reason is about the wear on flat tappet valve trains and other parts of
these engines by the reduction of ZDDP in the newer oils (API SM and CJ-4)