Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[Scott Liggett]

Borrowed their cheap one last time. The engine was pointing downward at a 45* with not even all of it's weight on it. Kept the engine hoist connected to it the whole time.

[Scott Liggett]

I have been considering selling this car. I want to play with other cars, but with my income, I can't afford multiple projects on my income. I can't stand the thought of driving some POS import just for good mileage. I need something fun. I have been staring this little '63 Corvair sitting across from the office for months. I have never seen one with a continental kit. I kinda like the flat roof and wraparound rear window on it. I would need a few needs to drive it all the time. One is a heater, but I can find simple electric heaters anywhere now. Second, safe turning and stopping. I will have to look into a brake upgrade.

[Shelty]

interior is clean.

shouldnt take much to get fired up. if they didnt have coolant, did they have the heat channels similar to the old Vws?

[68scott385]

Ah, such is the evolution of a hot rodder.

[Deaf Bob]

Son has a small electric heater to help keep his windshield defrosted as he goes to work at 4-30-5 am..does ok.. But does NOT heat the cabin..... And does provide a good drain on his battery.. Parks on a hill...... Might wanna get a 110 plug in heater?

[Huskinhano]

That looks like the 60 'vair my brother had back in the mid 60's. Same emblem in front. The heater was a gas heater in the trunk, had a spark plug. The heater blew up.

One problem I see, tires. 13" rims. You could look for some 4 lug 15" wheels and put low profile tires on. I don't think 14" tires are going to be easy to find either.

[Beagle]

The Kuhmo Solus isn't all that bad a tire for what it costs, available in a 185/70/13 which may be about the right size. The biggest problem I can see is the missing clutch pedal, or maybe that it reminds me of this scene:



I don't think it has to be an import to get good gas mileage?

[Scott Liggett]

OK. My coworker somehow saw my post on FB and blocked my path to work offering to buy the Caprice. "I like them big cars." He is a big guy. Said he has a '71 Chevy pickup he might trade. Alright, now work has been useless as mind is spinning on this idea.

[Deaf Bob]

71 pickup...Corvair? .... Ooooh hard to decide.... Still makes 3 project cars for you....

[RustyRodder]

Good gas mileage to a 71 C10... Theres a 180!

[Shelty]

I'm still voting Corvair.

you'll never have to worry about leaking coolant all over the place.

[JOES66FURY]

a little piece of me just died inside reading all this...

[yellomalibu]

I can totally understand needing to consider fuel mileage, as it's been a concern to me for a long time.

...and idea - one can keep a cool "old" car and have decent gas mileage if able to find a cool old 4 or 6 cylinder Nova, Camaro, or Chevelle that hasn't been "swapped" yet. I don't know what sort of mileage the old trucks with straight sixes get, but that's also a thought. I, personally, would really like one - especially if it wasn't my only source for "hot rodding". Not EVERY car I own has to be "fast".

Here in FL, my daily driver needs to have air conditioning, just as I imagine that a daily driver in Nebraska needs to have a good heater! Is an electric heater a "safe" addition to a 50+ year old car's electrical system?

[Scott Liggett]

I am getting bored. I would rather move to another brand. Would love to mess with a big block mopar or Ford.

I can increase the mpg on this car. I can install my other four speed with OD into this car. Only need a flywheel and a few bits. DieselGeek and I are planning an EFI install. My plans are completely cracker compared to the simple install SilverBuick put in his '67 ThunderBird. We have a ton of parts that have come back under warranty that have nothing wrong with them. Our R&D department are building some really cool shit that I may be able to get one. Easily done once these parts are on production engines.

We make our own coil on plug BBC valve covers for our industrial engines. R&D has made a cam sensor using distributor housing and a Jeep sensor. I also found them milling a harmonic balancer for a crank sensor that doesn't affect the balance of the engine.

So with a FAST EZ-EFI and a MegaSquirt controller, coil on plug ignition, and an overdrive trans, I am hoping to get better mpg. I think it would be a fun upgrade.

[squirrel]

...and idea - one can keep a cool "old" car and have decent gas mileage if able to find a cool old 4 or 6 cylinder Nova, Camaro, or Chevelle that hasn't been "swapped" yet.

My son's 70 camaro with the stock 6 gets about 20. My other son's 59 chevy truck with stock six gets about 15.