jimbrandberg
New member
My buddy built one of these back in the day and always wanted to build another one. He's been at it a few years but wasn't able to finish it before recently moving away from his home and garage of 60 years. I thought about it for 7 weeks hoping someone would give him real money for it but no one stepped up and I got it at the fire sale price.
I built and raced a Corvair in SCCA Club Racing EP. I have a Corvair repair business and I'm trying to downsize and fade away but people won't seem to let me. I've had British, German and Swedish cars but never an Italian. I have Corvair projects in the works but this 850 Spider sort of scratches me where it itches.
The engine was out when I got it. I installed it and did some preliminary investigation on things to do but now have to put i aside for a few months and catch up on other work. It has the Fiat suspension arms, springs and sway bar but Corvair Engine, transmission, differential, axles, wheel bearings and brakes. The rear, maybe "Libre style", aluminum wheels have been redrilled for 4 x 4.5" pattern.
The previous attempt at Corvair shifter adaptation is a fright. The attachment of the Corvair wheel bearings and brake backing plates to the suspension arms is not good either. I like fabricating things and hope to have a good time. Hopefully the wiring isn't as bad as it looks. It's a rust free example allegedly from California.
I do believe I'll need some stiffer rear springs, a preliminary calculation is 100 #s heavier powertrain. A lot of the difference is probably in the differential and transmission which are cast iron lumps. I probably need to figure springs, ride height and camber before making new mounting provision for the wheel bearing and backing plate. The Corvair wheel bearings are barrel shaped for the arc of the axle travel and the u-joint yokes are free to travel in and out of the differential somewhat. I don't know yet if these are desirable traits with the Fiat semi-trailing arms.
It may Have X 1/9 seats which might not work for me since I'm about 6 feet tall.
I hope you don't hate me for a project like this. I'm not the original perpetrator but I am aiding and abetting the crime.
I built and raced a Corvair in SCCA Club Racing EP. I have a Corvair repair business and I'm trying to downsize and fade away but people won't seem to let me. I've had British, German and Swedish cars but never an Italian. I have Corvair projects in the works but this 850 Spider sort of scratches me where it itches.
The engine was out when I got it. I installed it and did some preliminary investigation on things to do but now have to put i aside for a few months and catch up on other work. It has the Fiat suspension arms, springs and sway bar but Corvair Engine, transmission, differential, axles, wheel bearings and brakes. The rear, maybe "Libre style", aluminum wheels have been redrilled for 4 x 4.5" pattern.
The previous attempt at Corvair shifter adaptation is a fright. The attachment of the Corvair wheel bearings and brake backing plates to the suspension arms is not good either. I like fabricating things and hope to have a good time. Hopefully the wiring isn't as bad as it looks. It's a rust free example allegedly from California.
I do believe I'll need some stiffer rear springs, a preliminary calculation is 100 #s heavier powertrain. A lot of the difference is probably in the differential and transmission which are cast iron lumps. I probably need to figure springs, ride height and camber before making new mounting provision for the wheel bearing and backing plate. The Corvair wheel bearings are barrel shaped for the arc of the axle travel and the u-joint yokes are free to travel in and out of the differential somewhat. I don't know yet if these are desirable traits with the Fiat semi-trailing arms.
It may Have X 1/9 seats which might not work for me since I'm about 6 feet tall.
I hope you don't hate me for a project like this. I'm not the original perpetrator but I am aiding and abetting the crime.
