I finally bought a 911

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44) 08/23/2017 at 15:14 • Filed to: #ReidusandCletus

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Behold my new project car and one that will be covered in detail for Reidus and Cletus. It’s a 1966 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa 4-speed . And it’s my 911.

See, I have three favorite cars right now, the C3 Corvette, the Dino 246, and the long-hood Porsche 911. At long last, I own a C3 but the other two have remained elusive due to their values. So I got creative.

My Corvair has a 2.7L air-cooled flat six mounted in the rear. Sound familiar? At just 2,550 pounds, it only weighs 200-pounds more than a 1966 911. And while the Porsche made 148-hp to my Corvair’s 140, my ‘Vair makes a decent 160-lb.-ft.

The other cool thing is that my car is a Corsa model, one of just 723 sold in Canada for 1966. The Corsa was the 911 S of Corvairs and it came with HD suspension, fat anti-roll bars, HD 4-speed manual, and the top-spec 140-HP engine. This is the most driver-oriented Corvair of them all.

My car has some needs, obviously. It has giant holes in both floor boards, the interior is in shambles, it has no rear window and it hasn’t run in three years. But then again, I only paid $1,200 for this amazing piece of machinery so I still feel pretty good. In fact, I already mocked up a rocker panel graphic for it in Photoshop.

Yup. Get ready for a 911-themed Corvair build.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:16

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Yesssssssssss. This is a good project. Apparently the thing to do is to buy a 3 speed shifter and stick it in a 4 speed car, supposed to shorten up the shifts a bit but the stock linkage in my ‘69 didn’t offend me at all.

Also, get a catalog from Clark’s Corvair Parts. You’re going to become good friends with them.

aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:20

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ralph nader is gonna slap you

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:22

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It’s affordable (no air cooled 911 tax) and cool.

Bytemite > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:22

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You’ll never get it running.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe 08/23/2017 at 15:23

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I’ll snap oversteer all over his front lawn

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:23

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You need to supplement it with a Hillman Imp and paint them both the same.

Clemsie McKenzie > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:24

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If you get creative with the paint job, you could even get your very own S(t)inger 911!

RallyWrench > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:24

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This is the best, can’t wait to see it done up. I’ve been interested in a 4-door Corvair recently that’s available locally, and thought of putting Panamera badges on it.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 08/23/2017 at 15:25

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Off the bat I’m buying their full exhaust kit, and front splitter.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Clemsie McKenzie 08/23/2017 at 15:25

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That is a 10/10 weapons-grade pun. i like it.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 08/23/2017 at 15:26

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Right? How can you go wrong for $1,200 Canadian monies?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:30

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Super jealous. Have always wanted to do a 911 style Corvair.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:31

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Worst decision would be a Daewoo with 425,000kms, dented to hell and has no floors but free floor mats are included in the deal.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RallyWrench 08/23/2017 at 15:39

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I like that plan. The 4-doors are cool too.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 08/23/2017 at 15:39

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I was actually thinking I’d get a Chevette so I can say I own a Corvair, Corvette, and Chevette.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/23/2017 at 15:39

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It’s happening!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Bytemite 08/23/2017 at 15:40

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We will just see about that

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:43

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I can’t find a problem with this logic. And the Corvair graphic is brilliant! Maybe a Corvair graphic in a Carrera like font could also work. Or at least a centered Corsa badge/sticker on the rear in a Carrera like font.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:46

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I admit my “Mini-Me” idea would work better with a Corvair that wasn’t a Corsa...

WilliamsSW > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:54

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One of the best handling GM cars of the 60s. This will be fun!

LongbowMkII > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 15:56

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youre a hero.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 08/23/2017 at 16:10

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I thought about that too but the Carrera graphic started in 1973 and I want it to stay true to what Porsche was doing with the SWB cars from 65-67.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 16:23

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If you can find one, a ‘69 Camaro front lip fits as well.

Also, Ansen Sprints are a terrific wheel choice if you find yourself in the market.

Prepare to have stupid amounts of fun while going way slower than it sounds like you’re going because the fan makes NOISE. Being a Corsa though, you’ve got a tach which I didn’t have on my Monza, so that’ll help with shift points. I always felt like I was beating the shit out of mine and I was probably shifting at like 3800 because the cooling fan was all I could really hear.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 16:25

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You’re completely right, didn’t think of that. Of course it needs to stay true to what Porsche was doing back then. It needs to be the most period correct Porsche inspired non-Porsche, haha.

Is there a Fuchs like wheel that would fit? (Fuchs were introduced in 1966 IIRC, so it would be period correct-ish)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 08/23/2017 at 16:57

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Maybe but the cost is seriously prohibitive. It would cost like $2,000. I’ll stick with steelies painted grey.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 18:16

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This is cool, as long as you don’t put a whale tail on it

Corkscrew'd > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 19:02

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Great find! It looks like the body and paint are in pretty decent condition too! 

I actually have a ‘63 Spyder, but it needs some TLC, and it’s missing the title as well as the rest of the interior. I’ve been wanting to work on it since I got my hands on it a few months ago, but I’ve been looking for a job and money has been pretty tight.

Here’s a picture when some friends and I picked it up. It hasn’t changed much since then, save for a broken trunk lock (I don’t have the keys either)!

I kinda want to turn it into a Bonneville Special-inspired car, with the hot rod black primer and some Bonneville-style wheels from American Racing or Cragar. I actually did a photoshop mockup of what the car might look like:

Anyway, I’m looking forward to your progress with the Corvair! I’ll definitely be taking some notes!

Corkscrew'd > Bytemite 08/23/2017 at 19:19

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Whoa whoa WHOA! Now you’re telling him HE won’t get it running!?

I thought what we had was special!

jk ;)

MM54 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/23/2017 at 20:26

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YESSSSSSSSSSSS

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 06:32

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Hell yeah! There are only two American cars I would genuinely save up to buy. The first is a 2nd Gen Corvair. The second is a mk1 Firebird with the SOHC I6 and the transaxle from a 2nd gen Corvair swapped in to make a SOHC I6 IRS transaxle pony car ;)

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 10:10

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Welcome to Corvair ownership!

You’re gonna be going here a lot...

  http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/main

shop-teacher > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 11:11

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I audibly gasped when I saw the picture. I loooooooove 2nd gen Corvairs! Too cool!!!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 11:45

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I’m confused. That doesn’t look unredeemably shitty.

Tony Catania > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 08/24/2017 at 12:16

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Instead Of All The Work Of The Firebird Swapped Rear Axle.Just Find A 1961-63 Pontiac Tempest Which Was Like A Corvair But Front Engined Water Kooled I4 Has The Transaxle.

Bytemite > Corkscrew'd 08/24/2017 at 12:23

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Both of you will never get it running :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 12:51

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When is the next R+C coming out by the way? I’m jonesin’ and need my fix! :P

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 08/24/2017 at 15:47

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My calendar says September 26. We always release them on the last Tuesday of every other month.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 17:03

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Added to Google Calendar :P

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Tony Catania 08/24/2017 at 19:40

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I did originally think that, but the Tempest had a few issues that this theoretical Firebird wouldn’t. First, the early transaxle rear used swing-axles which aren’t particularly known for their handling prowess (although you can get them to work well enough for track-work). Secondly, the Trophy 4 was a pretty unbalanced thing being a honking great I4 without balance shafts.

Dead cool car though. If they’d kept it up to date with the Corvair’s new IRS and the SOHC I6 instead of the Trophy 4 (backed up with some higher spec V8s) they could really have had something impressive on their hands. Impressive technically, as the added cost of the thing compared to pony cars would probably have meant it wouldn’t do so well on the market.

for Michigan > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 21:07

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That might just be my favorite Chevy ever built.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 21:42

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I say rally baja Corvair like Porsche did.

daender > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 23:10

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This is the most driver-oriented Corvair of them all.

Yenko would like to disagree but the Stinger is really meant for more SCCA Production road racing. One tends to show up at an annual event in South Carolina for a racing weekend...it typically tends to leave a small trail of oil when it comes in for weigh-in and post-race inspection.

Frank Grimes > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/24/2017 at 23:45

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Berang > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2017 at 04:20

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No turbo tho?

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Berang 08/25/2017 at 08:41

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Nah, the turbo cars are cool but never work.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > daender 08/25/2017 at 08:42

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The Stingers are awesome! They’re so rare and expensive I didn’t even think about those. pretty sweet cars.

1967ers - lover of dead auto marques > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2017 at 12:07

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You bought it!!! I was mulling that one over - he also had a 140 ragtop.

The ‘66 is the Corsa to have.

Also - join Corsa Ontario - the $25 is worth it just for the people in it. They know everything there is to know about these cars.

1967ers - lover of dead auto marques > 1967ers - lover of dead auto marques 08/25/2017 at 12:10

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Stock seats are lousy anyway. There is thread after thread out there about seats that either bolt in or come real close.

1967ers - lover of dead auto marques > 1967ers - lover of dead auto marques 08/25/2017 at 12:10

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There was also a guy selling a rear window. I’ll look for the ad.

1967ers - lover of dead auto marques > 1967ers - lover of dead auto marques 08/25/2017 at 12:11

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Windsor - now: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-auto-body-parts/windsor-area-on/free-rear-window-glass-1965-corvair/1291519747?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

1967ers - lover of dead auto marques > 1967ers - lover of dead auto marques 08/25/2017 at 12:13

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And if you can’t get the free one: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-auto-parts-and-accessories/owen-sound/1965-corvair-rear-windshield/1267975354?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2017 at 13:02

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this is pre 1975, and got your name all over it

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer 08/25/2017 at 15:22

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Chrysler alternator on that thing?

Dash-doorhandle-6 cyl none the richer > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2017 at 15:35

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Yeah looks like.

daender > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 08/25/2017 at 17:48

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Here’s a list of the various parts for Stinger performance stages I thru IV. Just in case you want to build yours in the spirit of a Stinger!

https://www.corvaircorsa.com/yenko11.html

You could probably achieve most of its look with a wooden steering wheel, panasport replicas, Koni shocks with lowering springs, Lowes-special chin spoiler made out of rubber garden edging, and some debadging!