Hello everyone,

I`m a Corvair enthusiast from Europe and last week I came across a 1965 Corsa Convertible that is for sale for a very good price. The car needs a total restoration, but while I`m kinda used to body repaid and rusty panels - so no surprises here - I`m concerned about the engine. The seller said that the car has around 60k miles on the odo, but when I asked for a video with the engine running, this is the result:

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So the engine is knocking and I don't have any real expertise on Corvair engines. The seller said that is nothing serious (maybe something grinding on the fan), but I tend to have other concerns regarding heads, cams, rocker arms... something internal. I know it`s hard to tell from a video, but any advice would be welcomed. Should I take the risk and buy this because the price is good and the car is already on European soil?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2022 06:32PM by MattNall.

It's not unusual to have a hydraulic valve lifter bleed down and take several minutes to pump back up.
It could be a valve seat has come out holding the valve open for the piston to contact.
Like you say it's hard to tell in a video. I would choose one of those over the other by the mechanical feel of being there in person.
A Compression Test or Leakdown Test should let you know if a valve is open.
I'm not going to be the person to recommend running it to see if a lifter pumps up because I'm not sure if that is the proper diagnosis.

Jim Brandberg
Isanti, MN
CorvairRepair.com

Sounds more like rod knock to me but hard to tell from a single video/audio presented online.

Dave W. / Gilbert Arizona
65 Corsa 140/4 Butternut Yellow
66 Corsa 140/4 Stinger Tribute
66 Corsa 140/4 w/factory A/C Aztec Bronze
65 Monza Convertible 110/4 Hunter Green
65 Monza 4DR 140/PG w/factory A/C Ermine White
65 Monza 4DR EJ20T/5 Light Mettalic Blue

I would only buy it assuming the worst and hope I would luck out. sounds pretty bad to me

I concur with jfreez!

Assume that it's a rod knock or worse, plan for complete engine tear down & rebuild and ensure that the purchase price reflects this situation.

Dean F. Gemberling
Columbus, Georgia
Heart of Georgia Corvair Club Webmaster
Springfest Webmaster

1963 Rampside w/305 V8 - Built by Ken Arnold in 1998

Does the noise go away when the clutch pedal in depressed?

Frank DuVal

Fredericksburg, VA

"The seller said that is nothing serious (maybe something grinding on the fan)... ."

Sounds evasive or significantly uneducated in engine sounds to me. As others have said approach it as if the engine needs a rebuild. At 50+ years and only 60K miles it likely is rather gummed up engine and needs new seals. And if you are taking it that far apart... .

Sounds like a dropped valve seat to me beating the crap out of things inside.







1960 4dr sedan caveman car
1961 Rampside (Chetside)
1962 Rampside (Barnside)
1962 Short Rampside (Shortside)
1962 Monza 700 Wagon
1963 Monza 900 coup (General Nader)

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Rust Free Lancaster Ca

Sure sounds like a bad rod bearing to me or a valve seat. Price accordingly - but that’s a full engine rebuild to fix right.

>>The seller said that the car has around 60k miles on the odo,<<

More like 160k or 260k. Sounds like dropped seat to me as well.

Thank you all for your thoughts. So the car is 5500 euros, and I will spend another 600 to bring it home. Let's say 6000 overall.

As I said, it`s a Corsa (I checked the VIN) made in 1965, Convertible, red with black interior. From what I saw from the pictures, it`s pretty rusty (rust in the fenders, sills, inside the frunk) so there will probably be some welding work to do, then a fresh paint. It needs a new soft-top, new tires, some trims to restore, the dashboard is peeling (the black paint), the driver`s seat is a little damaged.

I like the idea of buying it, securing it to be mine, and then restoring it in the future. I have other projects in cue and a Cherokee XJ under (re)construction, so I`m not a newbie to restorations.

What do you think, does this worth it? How much costs a full kit for engine rebuilding? I tried to search on clark`s, but found no answers.

Monday I`m leaving to see it in person and take it home with a trailer (considering that I`m going to travel almost 1500 miles to take it, probably I`ll buy it anyway).

Any further advice is welcomed.

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I bet its a loose rocker arm! I have heard rods bent and broken but it doesnt really sound like a bent rod..Bent rod would not make the engine run that way.. But then it could be a valve seat..Valve seats are not that prominent when they let go..Sometimes..just loss of power.. Me thinks its a loose rocker arm..

"Been there and done that! Well Not everything.
65 500 2dr Coupe
63 Greenbrier

In order to give you any kind of realistic answer regarding value, we need to see pictures of the rusts areas.
On a convertible, the most critical areas are the front door posts, and the rocker panels.
I am not say those are the only areas to be concerned with, but those two are the most important places to check.

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WA. state, 1 mile south of the Canadian border, I am not at the end of the world, but you can see it from here.

I guess I will have to check it myself next week. The only problem is that when I traveled thousands of miles to see a car, I bought it regardless of its condition.

So, online conversion calculator tells me that 6000 euros, is approximately 6236 American dollars.
Seems kinda high for a Corvair with an engine knock.
BUUUUT, considering there are probably not too many Corvairs currently available in Europe right now, that may be a screaming good deal.
I could not say.

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WA. state, 1 mile south of the Canadian border, I am not at the end of the world, but you can see it from here.

Sounds BAD,, need rebuild. Corvair engines are COSTLY to rebuild !

Orangeville, Ontario. CANADA

Can anybody give me an estimate for the parts? 3000$ 5000$ ?

hard to put a price on a car that you love.

Here in the states, I would say keep looking. For a few grand more you would be able to find one needing much less work.

if you need a full rebuild and you are able to do the research to do the engine yourself, it will still cost you a couple thousand once you get all the little bits that should be done while your there.

my guess is that it will be a good car to have in the euro market and you won't loose too much over a few years while drive and enjoy it.

I feel these cars are undervalued and I am hoping people will start to see that soon.

I did a quick ebay search for a complete engine and found the link below. I would think shipping would be a lot for this, but it should give you a good idea of what it would cost to have one done.

corvair long block

Let`s think of the worst-case scenario. That I will need a new crankshaft, rods, bearings, pistons, camshaft, valves, seats, all the seals, and gaskets. Including all the bits for those 4 carbs, thermostat, belt, repair kit for the alternator and starter... did I forget anything?

Aprox cost for such a list? I will see later how to ship them to EU.