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Event Coverage The Corvair Adventure

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by squirrel, Aug 12, 2017.

  1. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,931

    squirrel
    Member

    Last year, as some of you might recall, I got an Edsel, fixed it up, and went on an adventure, called the LeMons Rally. My twin brother David went with me, and we had a blast. I sold the Edsel last December, so when spring rolled around, I decided I had to get a new car, and go on the Rally again. After an Edsel, where in the world of LeMons can you go? Corvair!

    In May, I found a nice 63 Monza coupe a couple hundred miles away on CL, and we fetched it. It needed some reassembly, and the brakes were mostly not there, but the rest didn't seem too bad. I got it running, driving, and stopping. It used a LOT of oil, so I ended up dropping the power unit, and putting rings on it, as well as one replacement used cylinder jug. After putting over a thousand miles on it, we think it's ready to go.

    Oh...we also added a rather wild stereo system, because as kids our dad had a similar setup in our family wagon when we went on trips--a Terado AC inverter, Dynaco preamp and amplifier, and a Sony reel to reel tape deck. David found some huge old Pioneer speakers, so they sit where the back seat used to be. There's enough room inside now for a cooler and two suitcases, and the trunk is mostly filled with tools, parts, etc to keep the car going.

    We are heading to LA tomorrow, meeting up with one of David's friends. Then Monday we are all heading up to Monterey, for the start of the Rally Tuesday morning. There are about 50 cars entered, some of them are old, most seem to be really crappy. I think we'll have the only Corvair, though.

    Hopefully we'll make it to California, and have some stupid fun. Follow along, I'll try to post some pics here of the adventure. And maybe some pleas for help when the car breaks.

    (I am again bringing a 35mm film camera to take a few artsy pictures...here is a sample of how bad my film photography skills are)

    JFcd527_JFcd527-R1-005-1.jpg
     
  2. 6inarow
    Joined: Jan 24, 2007
    Posts: 2,361

    6inarow
    Member

    Awesome. Ill follow along and cheer you guys on from the sidelines.
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  3. RichFox
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 10,020

    RichFox
    Member Emeritus

    I'm telling Nadar.
     
    BrandonB, els, Malcolm and 9 others like this.
  4. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Have fun! Little tip: Bring two extra fan belts.
     
    els, Woogeroo, lothiandon1940 and 2 others like this.

  5. 1964countrysedan
    Joined: Apr 14, 2011
    Posts: 1,131

    1964countrysedan
    Member
    from Texas

    Looking forward to the chronicles.
     
    els, 6inarow and loudbang like this.
  6. cs39ford
    Joined: May 1, 2012
    Posts: 960

    cs39ford
    Member

    IMG_0024.JPG Warning you can hide a. Case of beer behind the back seat but it gets warm quick. My first car at 16 ,paint job , and rebuild Car cost $35.00 the rest priceless. Mine was a 62
     
  7. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Color me jealous.
     
    hotrodharry2, els, raven and 2 others like this.
  8. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    Solid state Dynaco? I've got an earlier Stereo 70 and FM3, both came as a kit. Tubes. EL34, 7199, 12AX7 etc. Great sound, but they double as space heaters. Best to run in the wintertime.
     
  9. OFT
    Joined: Jun 1, 2005
    Posts: 574

    OFT
    Member

    Sounds like a fun trip!! I'll follow along on your posts
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  10. Thor1
    Joined: Jun 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,664

    Thor1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Jim, I am subscribed and looking forward to the trip! Thanks for the invite to tag along.
     
    els likes this.
  11. Steve Ray
    Joined: Mar 2, 2001
    Posts: 693

    Steve Ray
    Member

    Didn't know Lemons did a rally! I'll be following this.
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  12. Fabber McGee
    Joined: Nov 22, 2013
    Posts: 1,286

    Fabber McGee
    Member

    Great fun to follow last year, I'm onboard.
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  13. LostBoy
    Joined: Mar 16, 2016
    Posts: 217

    LostBoy

    Good luck squirrel! Should be a great adventure. I wish I could go, they don't have anything fun like this near me. I love my corvair, and I bet you'll really enjoy yours. Post more pics of the stereo and car.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    els, lothiandon1940 and loudbang like this.
  14. low budget
    Joined: Nov 15, 2006
    Posts: 5,566

    low budget
    Member
    from Central Ky

    This will be good!
    upload_2017-8-13_7-17-25.gif
    Good luck!
     
    els, czuch, triman62 and 3 others like this.
  15. loudbang
    Joined: Jul 23, 2013
    Posts: 40,276

    loudbang
    Member

    Another "Nutty" Squirrel adventure... can't wait. :)
     
    Cliff Ramsdell, triman62, els and 5 others like this.
  16. Watching with great interest.:)
     
    els, Dino 64, triman62 and 3 others like this.
  17. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,931

    squirrel
    Member

    Thanks! I'm really curious how long this thing will keep running. It doesn't have much oil pressure...but I've learned to pop the PG into neutral when I come to a stop, usually the oil light doesn't go on if I do that.

    IMG_20170810_093704.jpg
     
    John B, RockinRivi, jp52 and 23 others like this.
  18. partsdawg
    Joined: Feb 12, 2006
    Posts: 3,503

    partsdawg
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Minnesota

    Hoping the reel to reel plays only 1965 and older music. Have to keep it traditional.;)
     
    brEad, els, Woogeroo and 3 others like this.
  19. Living vicariously through your adventure, Jim. Have FUN. Fun is GOOD.

    Ben
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  20. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,330

    slowmotion
    Member

    ^^^^^Reminds me of my buddy's set-up in the backseat of his '69 Nova back in the day.:eek:
    Good luck, Jim. This ought to be (another) hoot!:D
    (remember, those early 'Vairs can be a handful in evasive maneuvers. 'Least that's what Ralph said...:rolleyes:)
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  21. Rex_A_Lott
    Joined: Feb 5, 2007
    Posts: 1,148

    Rex_A_Lott
    Member

    Braver than Dick Tracy.:) Good Luck.
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  22. CRAZY!!!
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  23. BuckeyeBuicks
    Joined: Jan 4, 2010
    Posts: 2,705

    BuckeyeBuicks
    Member
    from ohio

    You guys are more fun than a box of comic books! I like your style, drive it, if it breaks down fix it and go on. Looking foward to the day to day updates. Reel to reel set up is wild, and I thought I was a rebel with my muntz 8 track.
     
    els, Murphy32, blowby and 1 other person like this.
  24. BuiltFerComfort
    Joined: Jan 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,619

    BuiltFerComfort
    Member

    I had a '65 with PG that had the same problem, it would die in drive at a light. I dealt with it the same way you are.

    There are valve tube o-rings (that I never fixed) that leak oil onto the pan below the motor, and air blows across that pan to give you heat. So I would never turn on the heat; it became stinky motor oil smell and even a little blue smoke in the car. So watch that too.

    Do you have the 2-carb or 4-carb motor?
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  25. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    els and loudbang like this.
  26. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    Good choice. Easy to push.
     
    RockinRivi, Hatchet, els and 8 others like this.
  27. Johnboy34
    Joined: Jul 12, 2011
    Posts: 1,588

    Johnboy34
    Member
    from Seattle,Wa

    The parking lot prowlers are gonna freak when they look in the windows and see that! :eek:
     
    RockinRivi, els, czuch and 3 others like this.
  28. Hdonlybob
    Joined: Feb 1, 2005
    Posts: 4,115

    Hdonlybob
    Member

    Love it !!!
    I bought a new Corvair in 1964...loved it...Ralphy was an idiot....as I really drove that thing hard, even cornering... Now a lot of my friends have made trikes out of them...Enjoy your ride :)
     
  29. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,174

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    "try" to have fun doing burn outs - have a drip pan to catch the leaking oil?
     
    els and loudbang like this.
  30. Fabber McGee
    Joined: Nov 22, 2013
    Posts: 1,286

    Fabber McGee
    Member

    In 76, I was 22 years old and racing a West Coast Modified (dirt track car). My daily driver was a 68 Mercury Cyclone with a 390 that was worn slap out. It would show the oil light at an idle also and it was a huge consumer of oil. Of course, all my time and money was going in the race car, not the daily driver. Since I was changing the race car oil every week, I solved both the oil light and the consumption problems by running the used racing oil in the street car. However, 2 gallons of 50 wt. wasn't always enough for a week, so I'd get supplemental oil from some of the other racers. Wish I still had that Cyclone.
     

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