Brian Jackson

Shoot! I was so put off by all the loose bolts on this engine, the damaged crank, and the probable need for a rebuild... I never considered that some of those loose bolts might be causing the noise I was so concerned about. Removing #1 plug wire made the noise go away. #1 exhaust manifold bolts were loose. I inspected the exh manifold gasket tonight and tada! Evidence of an exhaust leak through the gasket at #1. (The dirty-looking end of the gasket in the pic) Hopefully that was the source of the sound (probably). I wish I had put 2 & 2 together before pulling the engine. I could have listened for the leak at the manifold with a stethoscope (yeah right, garden hose!) and confirmed the source of the noise 100%. Anyway, I'll double check all the crank bolt torques, mic and plastigage everything, check the new-used crank, have it ground if necessary, and reassemble with new bearings and gaskets. I suppose I can inspect the head, pistons, and potential leftover cylinder damage too. I'm still concerned whether loose-nut-larry missed/skippedanything during his rebuild haha.

I suspected as much. Anyway, whatever the problem was, the engine decided to make loud banging sounds this morning the moment I started it to back it out of the garage. Definitely sounds like a bad rod bearing now. No oil on the floor so I don't think I poked a hole in the block or pan. Mystery solved! Contacting rebuilders this week.

Scott, this car is new to me. The PO said he rebuilt the engine himself due to piston slap. The car has 99k miles. So the PO may not have been the best rebuilder. It's possible he didn't rebuild anything and did a swap on a blown motor. Who knows. As for the oil pressure, the gauge indicates that it's fine. No indication of what the pressure actually is of course. The engine makes racket for about 1 second on startup after sitting overnight. My guess for now is that oil pressure quickly quiets the slightly-loose rod bearing. I pulled plug wires and drove on 3 cylinders to see which produced the noise. Cylinder #1. The TDC test didn't reveal anything though. Maybe the bearing isn't loose enough. One more autocross should help! 🤣 I'm still interested in an NB enthusiast driving the car and hear what they think. But then it's getting real close to getting quotes to rebuild the engine. Know anybody good?

I haven't done the loose rod bearing test yet but I think I'm about to. My sound is VERY similar to this one: Mine appears mostly during acceleration though... But maybe that's because I only drive one way - underpowered and always at full throttle haha. Such an easy test on a DOHC I4. I'll do this next.

Yep, that's rod knock. That's not the sound I have not at such low rpm. Honestly, if the Corvair made this sound I'd think nothing of it. In fact, it made basically the same sound for the 6 years that I raced it haha! I did do quite a bit of research in the interim. NA lifter tick dominates search results for NB cars haha. I went ahead and tried a Liquid Moly treatment and switched to 5W-30 anyway. Predictably, very little difference if any. I'll run the car some more tomorrow and do one more oil change tomorrow night.

Are there any Miata experts who might be willing to lend me an expert ear? The engine in my '99 Miata has started making progressively more ticking noise. Now it starts earlier, at about 3k rpm and comes-n-goes with throttle position. PIstom slap? That's my guess but I've never (knowingly) dealt with piston slap so I cant identify it. Lifter? Probably not since throttle affects it. Rod knock? Doesn't sound like it. Cracked piston? Hope not. Wrist pin? Who knows? I'm going to do a leak down test and potentially check the oil pan soon. But I figured I'd have a Miata expert make his best guess if possible.

Want a prestigious vintage race car? Something to impress European and American motorsports enthusiasts alike? How about a rusty Corvair instead? My long-delayed sanity forces sale as I dream of racing an effeminate Miata. But now you can arrive loud (if you arrive at all) as the exhaust rumbles fractionally louder than the doors and windows. Let the world know you've got a whopping 115 HP under the... Deck lid... Become an expert at maintaining a machine time forgot. Build skills useless to everyone but you, often while stranded. Get thumbs up from fellow gluttons and reformed wingnuts alike. But don't wise up! Don't race a Miata... Or FR-S, or 370Z, or Camaro, Mustang, Honda... anything else would be better really. I love this car but I've had my fun. It was remarkably reliable for about 4 years of autocross racing and joy riding. Obviously I never got around to the body and paint work. Oh well. I have plenty of extra parts such as a better dash and other items I didn't want to install until after body work was done. Pics on FB Marketplace https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/223869993386056/ And a Vid Some specs: Early 1969 (one of the 3000 cars built on the assembly line, the last 3000 Corvairs were built by hand ) Don't feel bad that the car is rare. It was ready for the crusher when I found it. Hopefully it isn't anymore. Factory optioned: 140 HP engine 4 spd transmission Posi diff Quick steering arms Quick steering box HD springs (The body tag bears all this out) Equipment / Modifications: Cut springs front and rear. 17x9" wheels (F-R mismatched obviously) Yokohama A052 tires with 85% life. Mildly beat out rear fenders. Very molested front fenders inside & out. Holley 390 Baffled oil pan Beat up headers Relocated battery Aluminum circle track seat that basically only fits me. (I will do the test drive) Some kind of 4 or 6 puck clutch (I runied a couple and lost track of what I put in it last time) Spare fan belt! Other Nice Features: Solid floors Some rust near the fenders and under the windshield. B pillars are cracked as usual. Battery tray rusted. A couple screws fell out of the ragtop a while back and I never put them back so it doesn't work. But it was a dumb contraption anyway so who cares. I have a new project and this one needs to find a new home. Definitely prefer someone who knows Corvairs. Actually, you're all race fans. Some of you can probably deal with a weird, old car too. xrotaryguy@gmail.com

The Corvair got zero upgrades. However, the little spindly front bearings wore out again after only 2 years of use and actually spun in the hub. So I switched to US-made Timken bearings with Sta-Lube high temp grease (and a replacement hub of course). Evidently these are the preferred parts and materials for autocross abuse on old cars.

Afternoon gates open at 12:00 right?

🤣

BTW, Sean beat me in his truck 😭

V8 where a 6 shouldn't be, way under weight, too short wheelbase, can't imagine why that thing might not be allowed. 🤣 But regarding Corvairs in CAM, I'm quite certain that the Corvair is intentionally written out of the rules. Yeah, it's old and made in the US but it's also a rear engine, air cooled, sometimes turbo'd car with all wheel independent suspension. Definately not American Muscle.

But again, the video may be deceiving. Plus your car has way more power and weight than mine and different suspension so the line may be a bit different.

It's tough to tell from the vid but I think you entered a couple corners tight so you couldn't get on the throttle as early for an upcoming faster section. I tried to stay pretty far right before crossing the the west side of the lot. (1st pic from your vid) To me, that west-bound section was reasonably fast. Setting up on the outside helped me apply throttle early for a fast section. Then there were the two cones on your left before the finish. (2nd pic) You appeared to be on the throttle late around/after that left hander. Again, I tried to stay far to the right before that 2-cone left hander so I could almost backside the 2nd cone and get on the throttle early toward the finish.

I ain't gettin' beat by no truck! Come n' get it Sean!!! 😎

Now I don't feel so bad about beating Sean! 🤣 But yeah, I love the competition and the variety of machinery. I raced once in CAM here in Phoenix a year ago or so. The field was smaller and all the cars were fast. I got whooped! I was a little bummed there wasn't a better place to compete with the Corvair when I finally moved back from CA. But 11 cars in CAM-T makes it interesting! Pretty stoked right now!

If only I were more observant haha. I'd catch registration when it opens.

I just wanna reach out to the rest of the CAM-T competitors in the name of good sportsmanship. My Corvair is not legal in your class AT ALL! But it's a 60s American car and CAM-T is about the most appropriate class for my car, especially considering the close competition so far! Lovin' it! I barely beat out Sean Bubeck and Juan Leal. So let me say it first, if you guys wanna give me the boot, I'll understand. Don't even sweat it! 🙂 Normally I'd bring this up at the track but covid restrictions prevent that. Thoughts?

Even those of us who don't belong in the class? 😉

Dane, thanks a million for the photos! I saw you with the camera after I pitched the Corvair sideways into the finish. I may just frame that one! 🤣