<VV> rust-free western bodies

Mon Jan 30 02:09:33 EST 2006

Chuck, I sort-of understand your point but not really.

The rust-free '66 500 coupe I bought in 1995 had a VERY tired early 102 HP
engine. That piece of junk is long gone. It got me home from Palmdale, CA
though, which is about 1150 miles according to a mapping program I just
used. Denver to Seattle is about the same distance, roughly 1300 miles. So
it's not out of question for you to make a trip to the West coast to get a
rust-free running car. A flight might be spendy one-way but the bus is an
option. I've done that and it's not the most comfortable thing but it is
economical.

While I don't recommend that anyone buy a questionably-safe car and drive it
for 1000+ miles, it can be done, if you find out the details of the
mechanical condition. I did it. Others have done it. And based on the amount
of money I would have spent fixing the body of a non-rust-free car, I came
out money ahead even by dumping the entire powertrain that was in the car.
(The tranny was a PG, which I didn't want, and the diff was worn out.)

If I did bodywork myself, it might be another story.

Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Chuck Kubin
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 8:15 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> rust-free western bodies

Hey Kent, Matt and all,

When I came to VV for opinions on whether to section and rebuild the results
of three hit and runs, rebody the otherwise mostly-restored car, or strip it
to put good parts on a new shell, some of you told be to blow it off and
find a "rust-free western car." I also mentioned I'm in Denver. I know many
of you aren't familiar with geography west of the California state line, but
there are A LOT of miles betweeen here and there.
I can't just fly out or drive for 3-4 days every time a promising car
surfaces. All the ads in the world for solid, running cars in southern
California, Nevada and Arizona for less than $2K mean nothing to me. You all
realize I still have to get there and get the car home. You also realize
that a solid, runnning car that will safely and reliably make the trip back
is probably too good for me to salvage for just the body.
If I had that kind of time and money, I'd restore something more valuable
than Corvairs. How far and how much SHOULD I invest when all I need is a
workable body?
I don't need more projects. I need to solve the problems that keep my
current ones off the road.
At the end of the day, it is cheaper and easier to find something with an at
least acceptable body LOCALLY than to find and truck in a perfect "rust-free
western body" from another state. I'll take Steve Wren's ad for the
rust-free coupe with the 140 as an example. That would be perfect if it was
several hundred miles closer, and I could be sure that after not running for
"??" years it wouldn't tie up days and dollars making it roadworthy and
reliable.

Chuck Kubin

--- Kent Sullivan <kentsu at corvairkid.com> wrote:

> Matt hit it on the nose here. Additionally, probably 90% of the true 
> "rust free Western bodies" I've seen were cars that were not abandoned 
> in fields but instead were some approximation of running condition. 
> While many Western areas don't get much rain, 30 years of "not much 
> rain" into a convertible with a shredded top or a coupe with its 
> windows down is not going to be pretty.
> 
> My '66 500 coupe came from Palmdale, CA, just north of LA. I paid 
> around $1500 for it and drove it 1400 miles or so home to the Seattle 
> area in 1995.
> There was no rust on it anywhere, including inside the A pillars. That 
> is the type of rust-free Western body that is actually out there, in 
> fairly large numbers. Especially 500s and Monzas since people are more 
> likely to hold onto Spyders and Corsas.
> 
> Here's a recent example from someone in my local
> club:
> 
> "I have a '66 Monza coupe, 140, 4 speed. Never rusted, very good 
> condition overall. It's been sitting, garaged for years. So, it needs 
> brakes and gas tank flushed. Carbs recently rebuilt, engine turns over 
> good, but hasn't been started in ?? years.
> Some body work needed at the top of right rear quarter due to mild 
> accident.
> Red with black interior. $1000. No less. Pictures available via 
> e-mail.
> Steve Wren 425-830-5102 or
> motomachine at comcast.net."
> 
> These kind of ads happen CONSTANTLY out this way.
> 
> I've lived here 16 years. I am still amazed at the overall condition 
> of vehicles on the West coast as compared to where I grew up 
> (Indiana).
> 
> --Kent
> -----Original Message-----
> From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org 
> [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of 
> UltraMonzaWest at aol.com
> Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2006 9:34 AM
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: Re: <VV> rust-free western bodies
> 
> Chuck!  The  guys a JUNK PILE HIMSELF!    that's not
> where you look....He's
> the WORST ENEMY every CAR has!....
> 
> Colorado / Utah ???  They come to Calif. / Ariz. to get good cars!  
> REALLY!
> 
> Most of the cars there...didn't start out there!...just broke down 
> there!
> 
> Had you been on The Corvair Center Forum a few months ago.....you 
> might have beaten Seth. E [ sethracer] to the 65  DRIVER  with EXTRA 
> ENGINE...driver...$950!!!  The CCF  alllows you to upload pictures 
> DIRECTLY from your PC [ no webspace needed]  and so we get to SEE  the 
> item FIRST ...before writing the seller.....let alone driving to the 
> gas station...
> 
> Then there's Corvair Central!.......several there in the last 
> year....and for a DIRECT connection to Ariz.....  Virtual Corvair 
> Club.....
> 
> And yes..Seth was replacing his RUSTBUCKET  racer that he ran at 
> Portland this year....shows, us leftcoasters will DRIVE  to get a good 
> one!
> 
> Good luck in your hunt.......right now Ebay has
> approx 13 LM's   with over 
> half under $1,000......without reserves...most closer to you...some 
> look decent...
> 
> Matt Nall / Patiomatt / WCUH / Mr. DeckRug
> 69 Monza Cpe., 66 Monza vert, 65 Crown v8 Cpe.
> Somewhere between Reno, NV and Coos Bay, Or.
>  _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights 
> are the property of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org This list sponsored by the Corvair Society 
> of America, http://www.corvair.org/ Post messages to:
> VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> Change your options:
>
http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
>  _______________________________________________
> 
> 
>  _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights 
> are the property of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org This list sponsored by the Corvair Society 
> of America, http://www.corvair.org/ Post messages to: 
> VirtualVairs at corvair.org Change your options:
>
http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> 
>  _______________________________________________
> 

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com  _______________________________________________
This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all copyrights are
the property of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
mailto:vv-help at corvair.org This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of
America, http://www.corvair.org/ Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
 _______________________________________________