<VV> CORVAIR 5-SPEED...DAVE'S TAKE

jvhroberts at aol.com jvhroberts at aol.com
Sun Jan 11 12:44:47 EST 2009


Also, GM wasn't really developing 5 speed manuals at the time for any 
of their other cars, were they? If they were, the Corvair flavor 
wouldn't be much of a step. After all, the 66-69 Sag has a LOT in 
common with the front engine version.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rod Murray <rmurray at anaheimducks.com>
To: 'virtualvairs at corvair.org' <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 10:57 am
Subject: <VV> CORVAIR 5-SPEED...DAVE'S TAKE










When in doubt, go to the historical authority...I forwarded this thread 
to
historian dave newell for his thoughts...

Well, I'm with Seth. If someone can show us pictures of a 5-speed (5 
forward
speeds & 1 reverse, that is) with Chevrolet experimental part numbers 
on it (all
were prefixed with an 0- )then I'll be surprised and fascinated. The 
"O" numbers
will be cast into the case and etched onto almost every other part 
except those
that might have been off the shelf, like bearings). And/or some 
internal
documents verifying the project.

I've never heard or seen any reference to a Corvair 5-speed 
transmission, or had
anyone from Chevrolet Engineering mention such a beast. I spent a lot 
of time
with Frank Winchell and his tranny guys and no one ever mentioned it. 
They
definitely would have known about it. And there's no record in the GM 
Design
archives of such an installation in the Sebring or Super Spyders.

What the Vair was REALLY crying for was a three speed automatic, and 
although
Winchell confirmed that one was done on paper, it was never built. No 
money!

There really wasn't much need for a five speed stick back then, and 
with the
Vair's relatively low torque in '63, pulling an OD gear wouldn't gain 
too much
speed. Cruising economy would be the biggest benefit but again in the 
60s that
wasn't too important.

Of course, one thing I've learned is to never say never. But the cost 
of
developing a Vair 5 speed would be hard to hide.

Oh, please post this on VV.

Dave Newell

------------------------
Thx, Rod
(BlackBerry built - pls excuse typos)


----- Original Message -----
From: Rod Murray
To: 'virtualvairs at corvair.org' <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Sun Jan 11 07:53:48 2009
Subject: CORVAIR 5-SPEED...DAVE'S TAKE

When in doubt, go to the historical authority...I forwarded this thread 
to
historian dave newell for his thoughts...


------------------------
Thx, Rod
(BlackBerry built - pls excuse typos)
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