<VV> What the Heck are Those Things?

[Marc Sheridan]

>From what I've learned from this list, the fronts dampers are "must haves". 
Otherwise you get significant cowl shake over bumps. The rears, I believe, 
are optional. Since I had my car painted I have left the rear canisters out 
and have observed no significant difference from what I remember from 
before.

Of course if you  are going for a stock restoration, you want all four 
canisters. If not, you can realize a significant weight savings by leaving 
the rears out and the rear of a Corvair is the best place to lose weight.

Marc Sheridan
'66 Monza 'vert

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rich Elwell" <richelwell at gmail.com>

> So how important are they?  I missing the rear ones from the convertible
> that I will someday  fix up.  Are they must haves, or nice to haves?  Are
> they rare, or pretty easy to come by.
>
> Rich
>
> On 7/3/06, Sethracer at aol.com <Sethracer at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 7/3/2006 5:12:29 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>> nealj at twcny.rr.com writes:
>>
>> After a  short 26-year break in Corvair ownership, I'm back in the game
>> with
>> a 66  Monza 110 Convertible.  While evicting the squirrels and their 
>> nuts
>> from the engine compartment and trunk, I discovered some large 
>> cannisters
>> in
>> each fender corner, front and back, bolted right in there  like they
>> belong.
>> Sturdy as they are, they do not seem to actually connect  to anything or
>> serve any obvious purpose.  I don't remember these on  my last Corvair - 
>> a
>> beloved 65 Monza - and could not find them in the shop  manual or parts
>> catalog.  Does anybody know what the heck those things  are?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> John Neal
>>
>>
>>
>> They are fluid-filled vibration dampeners. Only Late converts have them,
>> along with a few other GM converts. They have a pair of springs locating 
>> a
>> weight/piston  in the middle with holes through it. When the late model
>> Convertible hits a bump, or railroad track or almost any other shock,
>> the  dampeners
>> help to "dampen out" the motions of both the front and rear of the  car.
>> The
>> weight tries to stay static and the springs, being connected to the  body
>> by
>> virtue of being contained in the cannister, try to push the weight up 
>> and
>> down,
>> the fluid (Not sure what it is but probably ATF) extrudes through
>> the  holes in
>> the weight, which slows the motion and dampens the movement of the  front
>> and
>> rear ends. If you ever take them out, grab a hold of one of the 
>> attaching
>> brackets and gently bounce the cannister on the concrete. If
>> the  vibration
>> doesn't cause you to giggle, you're officially old! - Seth  Emerson