<VV> Pre-testing 140 before running

Sat May 31 13:08:21 EDT 2014

Charlie,

It is great that you want to do-it-yourself and learn in the  process so, 
here is a way.  There are several local chapters of CORSA in  SoCal.  Do you 
belong to one?  If so, have you asked if a local  chapter member can help 
install the engine with you?  You would be  surprised how generous CORSA 
people can be with fellow Corvair owners.  If  you don't belong, you should find 
the closest one and join it.  In the big  picture, $20 or so per year for 
chapter membership is a small expense  considering the help and camaraderie 
you will get in return.  Some chapters  may require you to belong to the 
national CORSA organization but either way,  this is highly recommended as well.

Of course, you are in a time crunch and the next chapter  meeting may be 
too far out but you might try contacting them with an email or  phone call 
anyway.  Contact information is on the CORSA website.   Perhaps you can offer 
money for assistance with the engine.  Look at this  as an alternative to the 
big expense of towing the car back and forth.   Hopefully, just getting the 
engine in the car and running is enough to get it  registered and insured 
to get the neighbors off your back.  Even if the car  is ugly as sin and 
offends your neighbors, they can't do anything as long as it  is legal on the 
street and running.

If you can't get a local member to help you, an option might  be Dave 
Statland.  He has a "Mobile Corvair Service" business based in the  San Fernando 
Valley.  I don't know what he would charge, if he has an  opening or if you 
are too far away for him to be interested but it might be  an option.  Keep 
in mind that time is money.  If you are far away, he  has travel time that 
he can spend with other work and if he must do other things  because you are 
not fully prepared for a simple installation, he may charge more  than what 
he might have quoted on the phone.  His number is 818-609-VAIR  (8247) and 
his website is _www.60-9VAIR.com_ (http://www.60-9VAIR.com) 

Once you are not facing a deadline, you will have plenty of  time to play 
with the other stuff and it could be fun to drive and work on the  car as it 
evolves into something you can be proud of for both its looks and the  fact 
that you did the work yourself.

Good luck,

Doc

PS: Is the engine the only thing keeping you from the  road?  Brakes, 
lights, steering, decent tires, etc. are things you need to  take care of.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a message dated 5/31/2014 7:22:38 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

Message:  1
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 20:31:27 -0700
From: "Charlie"  <chaz at properproper.com>
To: "'shortle'"  <shortle556 at earthlink.net>
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject:  Re: <VV> Pre-testing 140 before running
Message-ID:  <064901cf7c80$d0f578c0$72e06a40$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="UTF-8"

Good point ~

This 140 is a "fresh" engine  that was just rebuilt and has zero time  
since rebuilding, hence  pre-testing it before installing it.

Just got back from Cal Corvair  where I bought shift tube, pedal assembly 
and flywheel bolts and  ring.

Cal Corvair is about 60 miles from here, so beside a 60-mile tow  to get it 
there, what would it cost to get it installed and running, out of  
curiosity?  So far, I have about $800 in this (not counting $200 for the  car), for 
the 140, 4-speed trans and today's parts), so seriously, what would  it cost 
to have someone else have all the fun (and with me no less  learned)?

Isn't the fun in doing it, and not just paying someone to do  it?  
Of course, I'd be annoying you guys a  LOT less with my  incessant 
questions!

I remember a book I read a while back (CQ or  Corsa's monthly CC) by a 
Corvair guy who told us how to restore a Corvair,  which was basically a list of 
"Find an engine guy" then "Find an interior  shop" and then "Find a body 
shop" which I thought was hilarious, except he was  serious.

Sure, the fun is driving the finished car, but I've had a  great time 
digging into this car, and learning from all the tutorials you guys  provided!  
Eventually (and hopefully), I hope to have the pride of having  done it 
myself, although if there were a Corvair guy nearby, I'd be glad to  have some 
help, to share the fun (plus pay for his ~ or her ~ help)

I  have a bit of an extension, so I have to decide between Plan A, B, 
C(build a  garage around the car), D (buy a place with a garage) pretty  quickly.

Thanks for all the  insights~
Charlie