V8 vair spy vs spy

[nyciti]

I have this over on pro-touring but figure I post here too..

Ok I'm on here everyday looking at what you guys are doing while working on my own stuff. Never thought I would post one of my projects. I've had some form of a g-body for the last 10yrs but always had a thing for vairs. Well one day I came across Mike Myers vair reached out to him and well the rest is below....I got rid of my montes and said the hell with it I'm going to do what I have been talking about for years.

Well once I said I was going to do it my buddy Simon found this on craigslist for $500 and found me a solid monte roller for $300. Picked them up around last June and have been working on this for about 1 day a week on and off since last December.

So thanks to Simon who's a good friend.

And for those who say its no longer a vair, thats nice.......but its MY vair!! :cheers:


Here is the vair after a few hours after towing which was suppose to be quick = whole day!!
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/111111111.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/2.jpg

Here's the nice interior.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/3.jpg


And the monte roller that I had sitting in the garage...
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/4.jpg

So after a few weeks, got everything pulled from the cars and put the vair in the air to receive its "new frame"
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/5.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/6.jpg

RIP!!! - Don't even know if the thing ever fired up, guy I bought it from didn't know the state of the motor either and I figured why waste the time....so off to the scraps it went...
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_01132.jpg

PLASMA anyone....man did it make quick work of it, can't think about doing it any other way
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/6-5.jpg



Monte frame ready phase 1!

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/7.jpg



Spent the day moving it over from one side to the other
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/8.jpg


In you go!!!!
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/9.jpg

[nyciti]

UNITY!!! Got the two welded up and now the fun starts
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/10.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/11.jpg


Well after LOTS of welding measuring, measuring, oh and measuring everything was welded in.

Now in the beginning the idea was to use the g-body floor. Well I started that way, got the firewall in and this was 1.0
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/13.jpg


Floor was in for the most part but I didn't like the way it looked and left me with a bit of fitment issues I didn't care to have.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/14.jpg

Plus looking at the builds on here made it worst felt like it was crap. So I went to 2.0 (which I won't show)...hated that more.

Picked up some more tools and went with 3.0
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_0602.jpg

This is how the car is today, still have to finish the floor and the rest of the firewall which is now completely smooth.


And now on to the heart of the beast, First fitting of the motor. Tack welded old firewall in place and loose metal just to see where things will end up at.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/155.jpg

I think I have some clearance issues...http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/16.jpg

Now I did NOT want to mess with the original outside look of the car minus wheels, but somethings you have to do!

Ordered a steal universal scoop from AMD, started with this, http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/17.jpg

And this is how it looks today, still have many more hours of work on it but you get the point.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/18.jpg

[coolwelder62]

This is very interesting.:thumbsup:

[waynieZ]

I love your build. When I was a kid I wanted a V8 Corvair so bad but it never came true. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.

[Shadow X]

Hmmm. I'm liking this. I've not seen a build like this.

[Tuske427]

Very cool build! I can appreciate the ambitious projects.

I am curious- how close dimensionally is the wheel base/ track width of the g-body chassis to the original vair? Do you have to relocate wheel openings, or alter the chassis?

[nyciti]

Very cool build! I can appreciate the ambitious projects.

I am curious- how close dimensionally is the wheel base/ track width of the g-body chassis to the original vair? Do you have to relocate wheel openings, or alter the chassis?

No, the wheelbase is 108 for both of them. The g-body chassis does need to be cut about 6" in the front and about 6" in the back. Other then that its line it up make sure everything is even within the wheel openings and leveled and then weld.

I'm making it seems easier then it seems, but its also not rocket science. The biggest issue I have been having is getting everything to clear and fit nicely. Things we take for granted like enough room for the distributor plugs or room for an oil switch...room to reach the tranny to engine bolts.. (that was my latest issue this weekend)

[nyciti]

Posted this on pro-touring also.....

Well took almost a month off, life got in the way a little and I needed to step back. I hated the square tunnel, it sat to high in my opinion and I just didnt like the way it felt. So new metal and a new tunnel. But now I think I need a little help on ideas, I can't seem to come up with a firewall I'm happy with and I need to meet the tunnel to the firewall (can't think of a good way of getting the shape without doing several small pieces.)

I dont have fancy metal shaping tools so any ideas are welcome. Also the the top of the firewall will need to come in at least 4" right behind the distributor to clear the plugs and give me some room to adjust it.


http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_0640.jpg

[g356gear]

How about this.....

http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413164+w750+st0/sucp_1009_08+1967_chevy_camaro_project+firewall_pi ece.jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413167+w750+st0/sucp_1009_09+1967_chevy_camaro_project+wheelbarrow .jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413299+w750+st0/sucp_1009_15+1967_chevy_camaro_project+wheelbarrow _tacked.jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413302+w750+st0/sucp_1009_17+1967_chevy_camaro_project+fill_strips _welded.jpg

[Jimi-FM3]

How about this.....

http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413164+w750+st0/sucp_1009_08+1967_chevy_camaro_project+firewall_pi ece.jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413167+w750+st0/sucp_1009_09+1967_chevy_camaro_project+wheelbarrow .jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413299+w750+st0/sucp_1009_15+1967_chevy_camaro_project+wheelbarrow _tacked.jpg
http://image.superchevy.com/f/28413302+w750+st0/sucp_1009_17+1967_chevy_camaro_project+fill_strips _welded.jpg

That's F-ing brilliant! I wouldn't have thought of that in a hundred years. Cool build, I appreciate stuff that's a little different. I do have to say though, that I am still mentally scarred from driving a clapped out 65 Corvair for awhile while I was in high school. I can still hear all my friends laughing...:rofl:

[GregWeld]

Two thoughts for the tunnel issue ---

Make it removable from the inside - it would be a 'job' to get carpet out of the way etc.... or at the very least - make access ports that are removable so you can get to those pesky bell housing/ tranny bolts. Even in 1955 - Chevrolet had this in their floor tunnel.


Look around for something like the wheelbarrow as a base. It can be cut and shaped and welded.... or you can make a paper template and take that to a fab shop and have them make it for you.

[nyciti]

Thanks Gregg,

Yeah I think I will do the wheelbarrow, seems to be the go to thing. No fab shop, everything on this car must be done by me :) just the rule of the build.

Yeah think I will make it removable, just makes life much easier.

[nyciti]

Took the advice and did the wheelbarrow. Still have to finish my kick panels on both sides but other then that I now have a car with a structure.

Thoughts...
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/DSCN0012.jpg

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/DSCN0010.jpg

[Mrfixit]

Very cool build. I love junk yard hotrods. I'm getting a little ahead of your build but where are you putting the radiator? To keep it relatively stealth, I hoping that your putting it in the rear.

[nyciti]

It will be in the front, putting it in the rear would defeat the purpose of putting the motor in the front :) Besides the routing that would be a nightmare.

[Mrfixit]

It will be in the front, putting it in the rear would defeat the purpose of putting the motor in the front :)

Maybe so but I would hate to see you have to cut holes in the front sheet metal. I'm curious as to how you'll modify it. I love the look of the '65 and later noses.

Besides the routing that would be a nightmare.

With a full frame maybe. Think: Fiero but in reverse. The rear of the 'Vair is already designed to move air. It would also move a little weight to the rear and help balance the bias of the car.

[nyciti]

It has a frame under it now. Gas tank and battery will be in the rear of the car. Not going to cut the nose of car up, I have some ideas. I post some pics when I get to that point.

Thanks.

[nyciti]

It's been a long time since I have updated this, was going to let the thread die but I figure if someone else wants to take on the work maybe this will help. Anyway a lot has been done with the car, mostly body work, Car was beyond a basket case... waiting till it gets warmer and hopefully have it all done by June.

So last I left of here I had chosen to go the wheel barrel route for the firewall, which worked out really well, just wish I cut it down maybe another 2" to give me a bit more room under the dash. I also had the Porsche seats in the car which are nice but don't offer any support plus I still needed seat belts... came across some e46 vert seats. Got them for a very good deal, So 2 birds one stone! I also cut the bars out of the car. Since this car will be driven 85% on the street and 15% at events I chose the safer route and took them out. Also the head room to bar clearance was less than ideal. One draw back to the e46 seats are they are very HEAVY!! (85lb range each)
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/2011-12-14_17-26-05_160.jpg

I spent a lot of time trying to find a gas tank that would fit. And sure I could have gotten a Ricks custom made or a generic one from summit but that just doesn't work for me. I have certain rules for building this car since I plan on driving LONG distance a lot! Anything that can leave me stuck someplace MUST be serviceable with over the counter parts. So if I can totally avoid it, no custom one off parts here. May not look as cool, but I can go to any parts store and be rolling again in as much time as it takes me to replace whatever broke!

So with that said I found that a 60's Mustang tank works perfect! Tanksinc.com sells one already set for efi, takes standard fittings, and a regular pump. It was about 4" to small so I took some 2" angle iron , cut them to length welded them in and it fits like a glove! Best of all never have to drop the tank!! Just have to make a trunk floor cover for it, so I can actual place things on it.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20120516_190915.jpg


I went back and forth with a few different hood ideas, however, I always wanted to keep the stock hood! However, due to some poor planing and going with the HSR it wouldn't clear the stock hood, so I tried 2 different versions of 2 hoods I made, but neither I really liked and I always wanted to keep the stock hood from the start anyway. This was version 1
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20120901_131943.jpg

And version 2
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20120728_220010.jpg

So said F-it took a few months to find a good deal on a miniram so I KNOW I clear a stock hood no issues, and this is where I'm at today. I will say this; making everything fit under the stock hood was a B*TCH, took a lot of time finding the parts that would work best. And I had to fab my own bracket for the Vortec SuperCharger so 1) it would clear the vair hood, (YES to slopes that much) 2) So it would work with the March serp setup.. The Vortec bracket put the Alternator thru the hood :smiley_smack:
Its flithy I know....and that booster is just for mock up, I'll be going with a Hydraboost unit soon.
Lucky I am running intercoolers so I clocked the SC towards the wheel, if not would not clear the hood! I Still have to fab up the mounts for the twin intercoolers and run all the piping, then make some inner fender wells. It never ends. Notice the AC compressor :relax: Anyone have experience with trunk mount vintage air units? I plan on using it for heat and AC in the car
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20130202_170109.jpg

The angle of the stock vair just didn't work for me, to short and I NEED tilt. So picked up a 32" with tilt....
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20130114_201529.jpg


FINALLY under the hood is pretty much done, made my own metal spoiler but then realize once I lower the car clearance will be an issue, plus if I damage it don't want to spend hours repairing it so just used the common Camaro spoiler, which is a common mod to vairs. Tucked away for the winter!
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb276/nyciti/IMG_20121112_112544.jpg

[GregWeld]

Well you've done a lot of work on this -- good for you!

One thing about the hydra boost.... it's a lot of plumbing and it hangs way off the firewall.

No real need for "power" brakes... a good Wilwood manual master cylinder will work just fine. Just my humble opinion. ABS also makes an electric booster that works similar to the hydra boost but with MUCH less plumbing and you can mount the electric wherever you can fit it. They have several systems including under floor. I saw this briefly at their booth at Grand National Roadster show last week.


http://www.abspowerbrake.com/ehpm.html

[waynieZ]

Nice progress its looking good.

[67XR7]

Def going to watch this build!