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    1. #1
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada

      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      Time to post few pics of my current project - 1967 Corvair. I call it Project Sanity.

      Here is some background: You may ask why Corvair ? I always liked the lines and the size of the 'late model', 65-69, Corvair, but wasn't too thrilled by the powertrain. I've been looking for a project car for a while, I've seen few G body Malibus - I really like these, but what I've seen was more than disappointing, at least during the time when I was looking around. When I came across this Corvair in April of last year, 2015, I pulled a trigger on it and got it home. On the same day, I also picked up a 87 G body frame. I already had a plan on what's really going to happen to a Corvair if I get my hands on a good candidate. That's how my project was born.

      The essentials of Project Sanity - 1967 Corvair: Front engine - RWD drive by means of a G body frame swap, LS1, T56, 18" rims, corner carver.

      Few pics of what it looked like back in April of 2015:


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      G body frame:

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      I began slow, cleaned my garage to make sure I have a clean and organized work area. I am working in a single car garage so my work space is very minimal. I also picked up a LS1, T56, rear end, brakes etc. out of a 2000 Z28 being parted out.

      I began by working on the frame, I stripped it from all components, mocked up the engine and transmission to get a good idea where it will be. I decided to mount the engine and transmission with the center line lining up with the center line of the frame instead of the stock G body offset to the passenger side. I fabricated my own engine mounts and notched the front cross member. This allowed me to use the stock F-body oil pan and A/C compressor along with the alternator.

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      Right after I sent the frame out to get it sandblasted and while it was out, I began stripping the Corvair. I knew I had to engineer a way to get the body up in the air to allow me to work under the body fitting the frame and at the same time keeping structural integrity of the body. I welded up a frame inside the body that was strong and rigid enough to allow me to lift the body up by it. Once the body was up in the air, the wrenches and plasma cutter came out. The flat air cooled six and a two speed Powegrlide along with rear and front suspension, brakes, etc. came out. I ended up with just the shell, minus the floor.


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      I knew I had to modify few things to make it all work together. Countless measurements and mock up sessions took place. Most of the modifications were done to the frame in order to make it fit the body. Along the way I notched and rearranged the rear frame rails, added few reinforcements here and there and when I was finally done working on the frame, I primed everything in black epoxy. I am going with UMI suspension components, I got the front adjustable upper and lower arms along with S10 spindles. I statically aligned the front suspension at ride height for 0.5 degrees of negative camber and 6.5 degrees of caster. This will get my wheels where they need to be so when the body and frame are married everything will be where is should.



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      So this is where I am at. I am planning to marry the body to the frame later on this week, pictures from the wedding are coming !!
      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    2. #2
      Join Date
      Apr 2015
      Location
      SoCal
      Posts
      165
      Country Flag: United States
      Wonderfully outside the box... And judging by the work so far you "may" have done some fabrication work in the past. Looks awesome.

      CAM-T Autocross Fox Mustang
      LX mustang autocross on the "cheap"...
      1953 PickEmUp
      1953 Chev Pickemup


    3. #3
      Join Date
      Sep 2004
      Location
      DFW, Texas
      Posts
      217
      Country Flag: United States
      Love where this is heading!

    4. #4
      Join Date
      May 2011
      Location
      Chippewa Falls, WI
      Posts
      290
      Country Flag: United States
      Looking forward to updates, how close is the wheelbase to wheel openings?
      Justin N.

      1966 Chevelle
      1992 GMC Typhoon
      1989 Jeep Wrangler CJ 6.0 Twin Turbo
      1981 Jeep CJ7

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Oct 2016
      Location
      Auckland, New Zealand
      Posts
      68
      Country Flag: New Zealand
      Great project! Keep the reports coming please.
      cheers Russell

      My 1957 Pontiac Star Chief powered by a 5.3 LS with a 4L60E transmission, on 18" US Mags Big Slots.

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Ma.
      Posts
      5,567
      Country Flag: United States
      Nice build. Going to be interesting.
      Wayne
      Car FINALLY home !!!!!! lol
      Project FNQUIK https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=FNQUIK

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Oct 2013
      Location
      H-Town, TX
      Posts
      356
      Country Flag: United States
      This is going to be fun to watch- always like the 65+ vairs. My dad had a black 67 Monza convertible.

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada
      I made some good progress this week. I will briefly cover frame mods for some of you that would like to take a project such as this on. The G body frame needs to be widened to about 56". I did that by welding a 3/16" angle along the outside frame rails and extending the rear as shown in the picture below.

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      When you cut the floor out and the inside rocker panels out of the Corvair, you got to separate the upper pinch weld. The folded 'U channel' you are left with, is the piece that will sit on the frame. I drilled holes in mine so I can plug weld it to the frame

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      As far as the frame goes, you will have to cut the front rails, few inches ahead of the front sway bar mount bolts. In the rear, just after the shock and spring mount bracket. You will also have to 'rearrange' the rear frame rails so you can mate them to the existing Corvair rear rails.

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      Once you fit everything together, the wheel base, track width all align, weld the body onto the frame:

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      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Oct 2013
      Location
      H-Town, TX
      Posts
      356
      Country Flag: United States
      Damn that is cool!!

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Nov 2006
      Location
      Ma.
      Posts
      5,567
      Country Flag: United States
      Nice!
      Wayne
      Car FINALLY home !!!!!! lol
      Project FNQUIK https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=FNQUIK

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Aug 2014
      Posts
      435
      Country Flag: United States
      Well, Sh*t! That escalated quickly! Looks great! lol

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada
      I had a productive weekend, on top of getting the body on the frame, I managed to get the engine in.

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      Good news is that it went in very easy, bad news is the location of it in respect to the body. I need to move it forward and go back to the original G body engine placement - slight passenger side offset. Oil pan and alternator won't fit anymore.

      Another positive is that the Corvair steering column and G body steering box align pretty well, few vertical degrees off. I will be upgrading the column anyway, but at least the location won't have to change by much. Wiper motor won't have to be changed or relocated. I will need to go with a manual master cylinder, no room for a brake booster.

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      It looks like this will be it for this season, the temperature is dropping here soon and considering the fact that I only get to work on my project weather and free time permitting, changing the location of the engine will happen in the warm spring.
      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Mar 2009
      Location
      San Antonio, TX
      Posts
      1,632
      Dang! that's impressive! Pat yourself on the back.
      I am really interested how much better the weight ratio ends up, compared to the regular G-Body F/R weight ratio.
      It has a much shorter front overhand, about 150 lbs less of engine, and more cabin placed further rearward.
      I think it will end up close to damn good.
      This is going to be really cool!
      Dave
      84 Monte SS - just a few bolt-ons

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada
      It looks like we will have few warm days coming up so I will be able to experiment with the engine fitment. In mean time I prepared:

      - new engine mount plates, both engine and frame
      - engine mount bushing sleeves, I will be going with polyurethane this time around
      - valley lift plate

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      and I also got a Holley 302-1 oil pan that will offer more clearance where needed as compared to the F body pan I've been planing to use

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      Updates coming soon
      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Apr 2001
      Location
      The City of Fountains
      Posts
      15,971
      Country Flag: United States
      So cool. I remember seeing a yellow Corvair in a magazine many years ago and it had a g-body frame under it.

      Andrew
      1970 GTO Version 3.0
      1967 Cougar build
      GM High-Tech Performance feature
      My YouTube Channel Please Subscribe!
      Instagram @projectgattago
      Dr. EFI
      I deliver what EFI promises.
      Remote Holley EFI tuning.
      Please get in touch if I can be of service.

      "You were the gun, your voice was the trigger, your bravery was the barrel, your eyes were the bullets." ~ Her

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada
      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Apr 2001
      Location
      The City of Fountains
      Posts
      15,971
      Country Flag: United States
      Quote Originally Posted by Ducs View Post
      That would be the one! Was this a source of inspiration? Or is the g-body frame fairly common in the Corvair world?

      Andrew
      1970 GTO Version 3.0
      1967 Cougar build
      GM High-Tech Performance feature
      My YouTube Channel Please Subscribe!
      Instagram @projectgattago
      Dr. EFI
      I deliver what EFI promises.
      Remote Holley EFI tuning.
      Please get in touch if I can be of service.

      "You were the gun, your voice was the trigger, your bravery was the barrel, your eyes were the bullets." ~ Her

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Feb 2015
      Location
      Montana
      Posts
      183
      Country Flag: United States
      Looking forward to updates, always enjoy watching what is possible on these cars.

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Dec 2015
      Location
      Mississauga, ON
      Posts
      48
      Country Flag: Canada
      Seeing it along with this onehttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...chevy-corvair/ planted the 'evill seed' in my mind lol

      I don't know of many G body Corvairs, I believe there must be few more, but they are not common. There are way more rear V8 Corvairs out there.
      Matt
      1967 Corvair - Project Sanity

      I just get things done instead of talking about getting them done. I don't go out and party. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs and I'm not married, that leaves a lot of time for my work - Henry Rollins

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Oct 2007
      Location
      Camas, WA
      Posts
      640
      Country Flag: United States
      Really cool project!

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