I played a game today, its called the "something rusted off of here, and it looks like it was important" game.

So i decided to spend my spring break in the garage of minnesota corvair mechanic Jim Brandberg, soaking up a bit of knowledge while we fought with my 64 vert.

thankfully i took pictures!


I think i have posted some of this before, but i will again for completeness.

The first few photos are as it was when i got it in early 2010, It was "running" but smoked so badly you couldnt see out the windshield when at a stop. The top was gone, and so was most of the rear seat. The rest of the interior was useable without getting a 3rd world disease, but not good on the eyes.














This is wave 1 of 3 from clarks, the first $3000. included wide white wall tires, a full interior, floor pans, heating kit and whatever else you see there.




First step was a new top though.




and just because im a dork...



OH BOY engine work today!

ol' smokey leaving the engine bay.



fresh 110 ripe for the fiddln' with


If i ever have to change these again i will JUNK THE CAR



I wondered why the cabin smelled like oil...


If your a body worker, please sit down for this one.


the 62' 4spd trans is good and tight, so we are going to transplant that onto the new engine, the differential is getting a new ring and pinion out of a broken 3:27 to replace the VERY short 3:55 that was there



So far so good! if you have made it this far, congratulations on choosing a high speed connection. I will post more tomorrow, including the engine going together/in, and the radio concoction i worked up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2012 04:15AM by john ackley.

It's gonna be nice!

Art in VA
67 Sedan

the "something rusted off of here, and it looks like it was important" game.

lol..I thought only us Canadians got to play that game! lol....


1968 500 coupe 110 pg
1967 Fitch Sprint 4 door
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

Very nice.Looks like you're making rapid progress.

In the Hub City, Belen NM

Moderation is for vices,not for faith or convictions.
At some point you have to take off the "feelings" beanie and put on the "thinking" cap

Jim Brandberg is a fantastic guy - glad you are getting to spend some time with him.

I have a bunch of FC parts from him, waiting to convert my PG Brier back to a 4 speed, like it came. I still need the transmission.....I think he still has one for me.

Eric P.
DeWitt, IA

Things are looking up.It will be great when done.Thanks for the pictures.

Setterz54
Fulton,MD.

Keep up the good work. On MythBusters they proved that it "IS" actually possible to shine a Turd! Sooo regardless what anyone else may say... Bravo to you!

Corventure Dave



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2012 10:06PM by corventure Dave.

Seeing your photos reminded me why I loved my '64 Monza 110/4.

I'm very happy with my '66 turd; hopefully one day it will benefit from the skills and $ required for its full refurbishment.

Jeff

Jeff Aronson
Vinalhaven, Maine 04863
'66 Corvair Monza Coupe 110 hp 4-speed
'66 Land Rover Series II-A 88" SW
'66 Land Rover Series II-A 88" HT
'80 Triumph TR-7 Spider
[www.landroverwriter.com]
[www.dirgocorvairs.com]
[roversmagazine.com]

Thanks for the pictures, looks like a great project.

John

The thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
Vortec powered Rampside.
Sparta Michigan.

Even if I had dial-up it would be worth the wait. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Jon

1965 Corsa
1962 Spyder

not much of an update tonight, mostly because i forgot my camera

Diff is mated to engine and trans. now a 3:27.

blew a mouse apartment complex out of the first 3 feet of heater ducting in the back.

went to blow out the rockers but the air hose kept falling through the rust holes.

(are there any tubes for the rockers or did the air just blow through them?)

full tuneup in place and engine is positioned for tommorrow morning after i get the new heater motor in.

most parts are painted and assembled

one carb rebuilt, one to go.

the tires are older than i am, so i need to find someone who will do a rubber swap with my whitewalls for CHEAP.

Ahh. sweet almost success! we got the heat tubes in place.

the 64 differential has the leaf spring holes, so we used them! even had a proper bracket.

Got the engine in and hooked up, turns out there is an issue with one of the carbs dripping out of the cluster, so that is coming off today. But otherwise it runs well and blows hot hot heat

Heat is good!! Makes you comfortable.. and let's you know your engine is running great!

---

MODERATOR
Somewhere between Sea Mountain and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
............v8........................................PG...................................Turbo

Nice work!

The "Shining the Turd" title reminds me of my dad's Corvair.

In the early 1980's, he had a '65 Corsa coupe in need of paint and upholstery. Th epaint was faded, some surface rust, and a minor dent or two. He rebuilt the 140 in it, and had thoroughly cleaned and painted the engine sheet metal.

It's installed and running and my mother comes out for him to proudly show off his efforts.

Her comment: "Wow, that's like putting a flower in an outhouse."

I about died laughing...him, not so much.

David Clamp


1965 Corsa convertible
140 4spd/3.55/AM-FM

"Victory is mine!" - SG

Warner Robins, GA (15 miles south of Macon)

no wonder the torque was so good, the diff turned out to be a 3:89!

Now the rest of it really looks like crap!

But it's a gem underneath! Keep polishing!!! gg

---

MODERATOR
Somewhere between Sea Mountain and Coos Bay! SW Oregon Coast
Click HERE for My Website...Click HERE for My TechPages!
............v8........................................PG...................................Turbo

Funny title,, when I got my first Corvair way back in the 1980's I took it to my Mechanic and after a brief conversation he looked me in the ey and said "you cant polish a turd" I was taken aback but somehow managed to say " yeah well you can shellac it"
Proly the only time I remember him Laughing,, he did the work, got the car running great and threw in a state inspection for free

Keep up the good work

You picked a great guy to help you! Jim spent a couple of week ends bringing my '64 convert back from the dead. This car has spent the last 12 years getting pushed around in my garage. This winter I decided it was time to call Jim Brandberg and get it back on the road. The transplanted 140 is now running great and it is time for me to do some odds and ends to make it road worthy. With out Fran Schmidt and Jim Brandberg's help I would have given up on this car. I met both of these fine men through the MN Corvair club "Corvair Minnesota". Having knowledgeable,friendly and helpful people willing to share their knowledge and time with us lesser skilled Corvair owners is priceless for the future of keeping the Corvair alive. I highly recommend Jim Brandberg's service to anyone struggling with a Corvair project.

Dave Geier Brownton MN

He's expanding now too. Mostly because he has a year worth of work and is now doing vair repair full time.

After i left for thr night he didnt feel right about the engine hiccuping a bit, so befOre he delivered it he put a different distributor on it, and readjusted the float on one carb.