Thanks for the Loctite tip. I didn't think of that--which is not unusual for my soon-to-be 75-year-old mind. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Following up on this thread: I've been accused of "overthinking" some issues I've had regarding this and that about my car. I bought a new harmonic balancer (on the advice of forum members) from Clark's at last month's Springfest in Helen. Also bought a longer bolt and used it to begin installing the HB. Everything's working out, or so it seems. My question: How many repetitions of torq
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I have this uncanny misunderstanding of the “strength of metals.” I’m amazed when I read that only three or four bolts are used to suspend a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbofan engine from the wing pylon of an Airbus A380—the Trent 900 weighs nearly 13,800 pounds, by the way. Also, and this is interesting, the shear strength of these bolts is obviously very strong; however, the bolts are des
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I get it, now. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Good point, Tim; however, the cast pulley was stock on my low-powered 95-hp engine so I'm presuming that I can still use it considering I've done nothing to my engine to boost the horsepower or compression ratio--I think. I have read, though, that the sage advice from other members of the forum is to go ahead and get a new harmonic balancer
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Thanks for the tip, Matt. Looking through the assorted J-B Weld products, this one seems to me to be the right choice. It's good up to 550 degrees after curing. Do you agree? Thank you. Frog Timothy, I'm not sure what you're driving at.
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I put a wire brush to my crank pulley (1964 95-hp engine), today. There is pitting in the belt grove. Saw the price of a harmonic balancer--whoa! Will pitting have an adverse affect on the fan belt? Shorten life, shred it to pieces (read, shorten life), etc. The fan pulley has some pitting, too. I might be able to buy a new fan pulley. Thank you. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Thanks for the explanations. I'm going to follow your tip, Craig, and get a longer bolt to start this process. Regards, Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

This might be another everbody-understands-it-but-me question: On page 6A-52 of the 1961 shop manual, paragraph 37 describes the procedure for installing the crankshaft pulley. It says: "Draw crankshaft pulley into place on crankshaft, by turning retaining bolt until crankshaft pulley bottoms in place." O.K. It get that; it's obvious to me. Here's the phrase I don't get: "Back crankshaft
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Thank you, Seth, I'd thought it might've had something to do with factory stuff. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Until I saw Ken Hand's (vairmech) images of his tutorial on sealing the oil-pan gaskets, I never noticed this threaded hole. What is it for?
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

O.K. Good. I'll make sure each pushrod is "springy" into the lifter, and very little lube. But, I'll lube up the rocker balls with assembly lube as per Bob Helt. Thank you for your inputs. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I'm getting ready to install the pushrods. In Dave's Motohead's video, starting at about 18:46 into it, he goes on to note that there's a little "bump" to pass through to properly seat the pushrod into the lifter. In both Bob Helt's The Classic Corvair and the shop manual for the 1961 Corvair, there's no mention of this little step. Tried as I may, I can't do this. When I push on the pushrod,
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Just ordered several to have on hand--just in case. Thank you. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

After cleaning 11 rocker arms, nuts, and balls, the very last one looked like this. I'm guessing that's not a good thing. I'm thinking of ordering from Clark's the MATED ROCKER ARM SET(12)-W/GROOVED BALLS BALLS & ROCKERS GROUND TO AN EXACT MATCH. Is it worth the extra money for the "ground to an exact match" set for $146.00, over the ROCKER ARM, GROOVED BALL & NUT SET for $117.00? Thank
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I've been all over the forum and have seen different viewpoints on how to prepare various gaskets for installation. Some say soak in oil overnight; others say "Gaskecinch" them; and others say just install them right out of the box. Is there sage advice on what gaskets should receive what treatment before installation? Thank you. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Ditto on the "incredible picture." Thank your son for his service. I've subscribed to your YouTube channel. Thank you. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Boy, Dave, talk about a quick response . . . Thank you. Frog BTW, in this video you mentioned that your son Matt was going to join the Navy; that was seven years ago. Did he decide to stay in? I hope so. I'm here to tell you that my staying in the Navy for thirty years was the smartest thing I ever did. I started out as a seaman recruit, worked my way up to petty officer first class, the
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

In my small town of Clayton, Georgia, we have a Walmart, Home Depot, NAPA, O'Reilly's, and Advance. None had any break-in oil, so I ordered five quarts online, today. Question: In the meantime, while awaiting delivery, can I go ahead and follow the recommended procedure of squirting oil into the side of the valve lifters using plain ole everyday 30W motor oil instead of break-in oil? And do I
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I've been all around the forum and I can't find that video Dave Motohead made of his priming the engine. I believe it is the one at his garage up in the snowy foothills. Please help. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I looked back at some ten-year-old threads regarding the priming of valve lifters. All the different suggestions remind me of a line in a song by the Five Man Electrical Band. The song “Signs,” rereleased in 1971, has the line: “Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” In the thread, one says squirt oil in the little hole; others says soak them overnight in oil, or pump th
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Thank you for the input. I'll think I'll just leave them in place.
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

I'm getting ready to mount my cylinder heads to the case of my '64 500 Coupe. Both of the automatic-choke coils have a thin layer of rust on them, but they are nice and springy. With that being said, can I presume they will still function as designed, or should I buy new ones and agonize over the prospect of having to remove the old brackets? Thank you. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Wagon, you are the Master. In your words: " . . . there never was a problem . . . not used to friction of a new motor and/or using too short of a lever." I re-reinstalled the pistons, torqued them, then used the proper tool--my beam-type torque wrench--on the crank bolt. Breakaway and rotation torques fell within those shown on the forum. I'm happy. Thank ALL of you for your input.
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Rowin4, good to know it doesn't matter which way I rotate the engine to check torque breakaway and torque rotation; I don't know why I was concerned about that. I've meticulously checked to make sure rod-cap tops match up. Ya know, Noel, now that I've got everything untogether, I'm going recheck bearing clearances with Plastiqage. Might as well, since I'm obviously in no hurry to get this engi
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

rowin4, I am going to follow the advice of the much wiser than I. I've disconnected everything from the crankshaft and will check the breakaway and rotation torque on each piston as I go. I'll be doing this right after I torque down the crank bolt tight enough so that it doesn't back out on me when I turn it CCW using my breaker-bar-type tool with a beam-type torque indicator on it. I
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Took three pistons to my mechanic in Tiger, Georgia; he said they all look good. Frog
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

J.O., Regarding your comment about installing the rings; I installed them from the top and the 3-piece oil ring set slid into the cylinders with no problem. I know, "there's no such thing as a dumb question," so here goes: Does it matter which direction I rotate the engine when I'm testing the torque? The reason I ask this is because if I have to rotate it in its operating direction of counter
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

J.O., I agree, something's too tight. After clamping my case together (to specs) with camshaft and crankshaft installed, I could rotate the crank using one finger. Even after installing number one cylinder and piston set to degree the cam, I could rotate the crank very easily. I had not torqued the cap nuts and did not have rings installed on the piston for the degreeing procedure. Came
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Jeez. Yes, I meant bearings.
Forum: Corvair Center Forum

Thank you for your comments. I considered your suggestion, MattNall. I know you have years of experience on these issues, but here's what I'm thinking will happen if I bolted on the starter and pushed the button: something breaks, somewhere . . . so . . . I'm going to take J.O.'s and Don's suggestion, and break it down and start over by cleaning the crank journals and bearings, then use the as
Forum: Corvair Center Forum