The August 2022 newsletter - Text Version
Updated 01-Aug-2022 ==== Copyright (c) 2022 Corvairs of New Mexico
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August 2022 / VOLUME 48 / NUMBER 8 / ISSUE 563
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First Place, Tony Fiore Memorial Chapter Newsletter Award, 2005 & 2012
Third Place, Tony Fiore Memorial Chapter Newsletter Award, 2010
EDITOR Jim Pittman
MEETING Regular Meeting: Saturday August 6th at 10:00 AM
Highland Senior Center 131 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
THIS MONTH
Officers, Volunteers ............................. The Board
August Dues Due Dates ........................... The Editor
From the President .......................... Gregory Nelson
Telephone Museum Tour ........................ Steve Gongora
Bell Telephone Museum ........................ David Huntoon
Fourth of July on the Plaza - Pete Colburn ..... Jim Pittman
Birthdays & Anniversaries .................... Heula Pittman
Treasury Report .............................. Steve Gongora
Super Van (with disc brakes) ................. Steve Gongora
Brake Maintenance (July 2022 Westwind) ......... Bob Nichols
Ultra Van Hill Climb (August 2002) ........... Richard Finch
From Out of the Past! (August 2002) .......... Richard Finch
Calendar of Coming Events ............... Board of Directors
August Issues, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 Years Ago .. Club Historian
COVER ... At the AT&T Bell Telephone Museum, July 23, 2022
OFFICERS and VOLUNTEERS
President Greg Nelson 505-400-8670 fesedu @ comcast.net
Vice-President Brenda Stickler 505-856-6993 tounce66 @ msn.com
Secretary Lupe Arellanes 505-515-9897 ispeakmedicare505 @ gmail.com
Treasurer Steve Gongora 505-220-7401 stevegongora @ msn.com
Newsletter Jim Pittman 505-275-2195 jimp @ unm.edu
Birthdays Heula Pittman 505-275-2195 heula @ q.com
Past President Pat Hall 505-620-5574 patandvickiehall @ q.com
Past President Dave Allin 505-410-9668 dnjallin @ gmail.com
Past President David Huntoon 505-281-9616 corvair66 @ aol.com
REFULAR MEETING: Saturday, August 6th at 10:00 AM
Highland Senior Center 131 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
INTERNET: CORSA's home page www.corvair.org/
CNM's newsletters www.unm.edu/~jimp/
New Mexico Council of Car Clubs www.nmcarcouncil.com/
DUES DUE DATES AUGUST 2022
DUE LAST MONTH ================= INACTIVE DATE
2022.07 Anne Mae & Robert Gold 25-AUG-2022
2022.07 Mike R Hughes 25-AUG-2022
2022.07 Lloyd Piatt 25-AUG-2022
DUE THIS MONTH ================== INACTIVE DATE
2022.08 Katherine & Irv Brock 25-SEP-2022
2022.08 Brenda Stickler 25-SEP-2022
DUE NEXT MONTH ================= INACTIVE DATE
2022.09 Maggie & Bob Kitts 25-OCT-2022
DUE OCT 2021 ==================== INACTIVE DATE
2022.10 Debra & Jon Anderson 25-NOV-2022
2022.10 William & Sharon Heil 25-NOV-2022
INACTIVE ======================== INACTIVE DATE
2021.04 Lesha Kitts 25-MAY-2021
2021.10 Sylvia & Ray Trujillo 25-Nov-2021
2021.12 Darlene & William Darcy 25-JAN-2022
2021.12 Lee Reider 25-JAN-2022
2021.12 Leroy Alderete 25-JAN-2022
2022.02 Linda Soukup, Tony Berbig 25-MAR-2022
2022.03 Elizabeth & Mark Domzalski 25-APR-2022
Send your Dues to:
CNM Treasurer -- Steve Gongora
8419 Palo Duro NE
Albuquerque, NM 87111
Past due memberships become inactive after a one-month grace period.
The Club will mail in your National Dues if you send us the renewal
form from your Communique.
As of 31-JUL-2022 we have 41 active family memberships.
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
GREG NELSON
CLUB BROCHURE
Steve Gongora and I are finalizing the design of the club brochure. We
met Leonard Baca at Business Printing Service on Tuesday the 25th for the final
once over. Maybe we'll have one more review. The brochures may be ready for the
August meeting? Fingers crossed. Certainly by the September meeting.
NMCCC
Important notes from the July 27th meeting: Swap Meet is still
cancelled. Council will try to get the Swap Meet back by next year. The Council
picnic in on August 7th at 10:00 AM at Oak Flat Picnic Area. There is no fee. It
is a completely self-service picnic. The Council is also revamping the purpose
of the monthly meetings. A lot of the tedious business matters will be handled
during the Board meeting. The Council is asking for meeting topic ideas:
lectures, videos, parking lot car reviews, etc.
TELEPHONE MUSEUM
For this month's social gathering Brenda arranged a tour of the
Telephone Museum on 4th Street. It was actually very informative. Even our
intrepid member from Grants, Dick Cochran, attended -- he also attended our hike
earlier in the year. There are four levels of exhibit space and lots of old
style crank phones. They even have a Superman changing booth!
JUNIOR MECHANIC
At the last meeting Dave mentioned he was doing a repair on Robert
Gold's early model red Turbo Convertible and was looking for volunteers to help.
Well, I shot my hand up and said I would love the opportunity. So, a few Sundays
ago I "helped" Dave remove the engine. The word "help" is in quotes. It's like
when the plumber is asked how long the job will take and says: "One hour. Two
hours if you help." But Dave was patient and we managed to remove the engine. He
replaced the transaxle and the following week I assisted with the transverse
leaf spring install. He had already installed the engine) Excellent learning
opportunity for me and looking forward to more.
REPAIR WORK UPDATE
My 1964 Monza is back home and on jacks in my garage. The car spent just
over a week at Keith Craig's Wheel Alignment at 828 Arno NE. Steve Gongora
recommended him, which is ironic because he did some work on my 2007 Mazda
Speed3 (He's a Miata Racing specialist too.) I had him replace the front and
rear suspensions. Keith does not do engines but he does just about everything
else. For engine work I will go to Dave Langlois, our local engine specialist.
My 1963 Spyder is currently in the driveway under a Clark's car cover. I pulled
the door panels off and will get those replaced first. Dave Huntoon had a spare
convertible boot cover (it matches the cover color) so I'll add that soon. I may
have already mentioned it will need a paint job but that will wait until after I
retire.
GOOD NEWS, BETTER NEWS
Pat Hall just couldn't help himself so he decided to acquire Barb
Jacob's Corvair. He said it took two trips with a flatbed truck -- see the
photo. They did find the engine. Buried under a tarp in the back of the garage.
But the even better news was he had help from Geoff Johnson. Geoff has been
under the weather but has recovered enough to help Pat load the Corvair. So good
news indeed.
SEPTEMBER 8TH CAR SHOW
I met with Chris Rogers of the Highland Senior Center to discuss the car
show. We're still a go for the "Vetts and Vairs" Car Show on Thursday September
8th. Maggie Kitts has spoken to the Corvette Club and they are on board as well.
The show is from Noon to 1:30 PM. This will be during the lunch rush. Chris
wants to keep it low key this first time around, so I won't explicitly advertise
the event in the NMCCC website or newsletter. There are 34 parking spaces on the
south side of the parking lot. I don't think we'll fill them all but that's the
section we will use.
CNM DECALS
Dave printed up a batch of CNM decals. Be sure to pick up a handful at
the meeting.
A RECORD?
It may not be "The" record but there were six of us for July's trash
day. Half the team consisted of the Arellanes family, Lupe, Jim and son James.
Anne Wiker, Dave and I were the other three. And it was toasty, even at 8:00 am.
Unfortunately I won't make the August pickup. I have Texas family coming in for
a visit so I'll have my tour guide hat on that weekend: Santa Fe, Sandia Tram,
Tinkertown Museum, and so on. I'll hand off the equipment at the August meeting.
Cheers and looking forward to seeing you all on August 6th at Highland Senior
Center.
Greg Nelson - CNM President
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NEW MEMBERS -- Steve tells us that new members are
Katie and Clifton Trujillo and two sons Andy and Evan.
They have a 1960 Corvair to restore. Clifton is an
energy efficiency consultant, something we all need
at this point in time! Let's give a big welcome to
the Trujillo family on joining our club!
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TELEPHONE MUSEUM TOUR - JULY 23, 2022
STEVE GONGORA
Rita and I met Corvair members at the Telephone Museum on 4th Street for a
private tour of the facility on a Saturday morning. They staffed and opened the
museum specifically for the Corvair Club.
Dick Cochran drove from Grants, NM to attend. We have to thank Brenda Stickler
for arranging the tour. Our president, Greg Nelson along with David Huntoon and
Rita and I got a special treat. Tom, our guide took us on a historical trip
through the origins from the inventor Alexander Graham Bell to the current space
age communications when a satellite was launched into space for current global
communications.
Our guide Tom, along with Susie, an operator at Ma Bell, as it was called,
taught us some of the stages of development from the telephone's inception.
Telephone technology has come a long way and it was a treat to see all the
innovations and developments along the way. The museum was full of displays and
educational material. They even have a room for the kiddos to learn about the
telephones.
Don't miss out on the next tour!
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BELL TELEPHONE MUSEUM
DAVID HUNTOON
Early Saturday morning, downtown, Bell Telephone Museum. Original building circa
1906. Parking spot on the street steps away from entrance. Parallel parked for
first time in years, no problem. Tour was much better than I had imagined. Tour
guide, Tom, was a lineman for Bell and his recounting of his work and travel
struck a cord with me. Explaining cutting and splicing a 1200 wire cable with
the tiniest wires was something I could relate. Historical equipment, battery
backups, etc. All good stuff. Thanks to Brenda for setting up an interesting
morning!
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FOURTH OF JULY ON THE PLAZA IN SANTA FE
JIM PITTMAN
Tarmo phoned me from the car show at the Plaza in Santa Fe on the Fourth of
July. Since I had not planned to go, I had completely forgotten about an annual
event that we used to value highly. Many was the occasion when we'd get up at
Oh-Dark-Thirty and drive up I-25 to be there for the start of the show and for
the pancake breakfast. This year Tarmo had brought his spectacular red 1966
Corsa turbo convertible to the show and was talking to people as they came by
admiring all the cars.
The red Corsa convertible, which I always think of as a brand-new restoration,
was actually completed some 11 years ago. I remember driving with Wendell in his
Pantera to Santa Fe to see the restoration project in 2001 and we drove up to
see the almost-completed car in March 2008. I saw the rebuilt turbo engine start
for the first time in September 2008. I think its first car show was at the Red
River Tri-State in 2011. It was at the Denver Corsa Convention in 2011 and the
Santa Fe Concorso in September 2014. It is kept in a protective environment and
still looks better than fresh off the showroom floor.
Tarmo told me years ago that the car show on the plaza is like an annual high
school or college reunion. He'd bring his red Corsa convertible or the equally
beautiful turquoise 1965 Corsa coupe and just hang out while hundreds of people
would stroll by looking at the cars. Since Tarmo grew up in Santa Fe, sooner or
later all his school friends would come along and they'd all remember things
they did together long ago.
Well, this time the "high school reunion" phonomenon took an unexpected twist.
One of the passers-by seemed particularly interested. He gave the car a through
inspection and asked knowledgeable questions of Tarmo. Finally he remarked that
he was one of the founders of CNM! This was a surprise to Tarmo who immediately
asked, What is your name? He said, PETE COLBURN. Tarmo replied, Yes, I have
certainly heard of you and it's an honor to meet you. Pete remarked that he had
owned many Corvairs but had never owned a turbo Corvair. He asked Tarmo's name
and said, Yes, I have certainly heard of you also. Pete said that he lives in
Santa Fe now.
As Tarmo told me this story I was amazed. This was the same Pete Colburn who was
the main actor in getting our club started in 1974. Pete was a car enthusiast
high school student smitten by the unique Corvair. He wrote to CORSA to get the
addresses of all CORSA members in New Mexico and then wrote letters to each of
us, asking if we wanted to get together to admire our Corvairs and consider
forming a club. Our first informal meeting was at Carl Johnson's house on
Griegos Road in the north valley. The April 10th meeting at which nine of us
started the club was at the home of Pete's parents.
Pete stayed with the club for a few months and then left for California as I
recall. We'd hear from him occasionally but he never re-joined the club. Imagine
Tarmo's luck at being at the Car Show on the Plaza and getting to meet a CNM
founder. There are few left.
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Happy Birthday Wishes to August CNM'ers:
Sharon Heil
Geoffrey Johnson
Steve Johnson
Mark L Morgan
Sarah Price
Happy Anniversary Wishes to August CNM'ers:
Anne & Geoffrey Johnson
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TREASURY REPORT FOR 06-28-2022 to 07-30-2022 ===============================================
DATE CHECK# AMOUNT PAYEE DESCRIPTION BALANCE = $ 5,376.09
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2022.06.22 2559 -$ 72.44 J.Pittman Newsletter printing JUL 2022 -$ 47.47 $ 5,328.62
2022.06.22 J.Pittman 29 Stamps @.70 each -$ 20.30 $ 5,308.32
2022.06.22 J.Pittman 29 Envelopes @ .161 each -$ 4.67 $ 5,303.65
2022.07.25 CASH +$ 60.00 Dues C.Trujillo 12 m CNM,CORSA +$ 60.00 $ 5,363.65
2022.07.25 +$ 0.00 C.Trujillo NOTE: Owes $10.00 +$ 0.00 $ 5,363.65
2022.07.25 2560 -$ 45.00 CORSA C.Trujillo 12 m CORSA -$ 45.00 $ 5,318.65
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2022.08.01 AUG NEWSLETTER ============================================ BALANCE = $ 5,318.65
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THE SUPER VAN
STEVE GONGORA
The "Super Van" as I call it has a long and colorful history. The van was
originally in Washington state and made its way to Albuquerque around 1975. The
van was owned by a John Johnson and needed an engine replacement. The engine, I
believe, was replaced by Gonzalo Esquibel, who owned a Fina Service Station at
304 Lomas NE. The vehicle was never claimed and Gonzalo applied for a mechanic's
lien. Word got around about a Corvair mechanic who collected cars. This was Jack
Sellers, who rented space from our business, House of Covers. My father, Hector,
bought the car from Jack.
The van had paisley & lace wallpaper on the headliner and dash. It was a pretty
crazy interior. Jerry Goffe, a CNM member bought the vehicle and rebuilt the
engine and used the van for five years. He enjoyed many a fishing excursion with
the van.
I took over the House of Covers in 1982 from my dad and needed a business
vehicle and the van could not be more of a perfect match. What other vehicle can
fit a nine foot couch inside? Jerry agreed to sell me the van. When I acquired
the van, I immediately had it painted and it carries the same paint today. I
added our logo and have been driving it ever since. The engine that Jerry
rebuilt lasted 26 years before signs of oil smoke. Dave Langlois put together
another engine and I have been enjoying the van ever since I got it from Jerry.
Over the years I have maintained it with improvements and of course keeping up
with oil changes and such. LED Instrumentation, upholstery, etc. I had S10
center hub caps and beauty rings from a 1974 Plymouth Duster. It was a great
look. I was impressed when 1965 Corvair convertible owned by Bill Barber's son
came by the shop with these great looking S10 aluminum rims. I thought how great
that would be on my Rampside pickup. I researched what it would take and
converted the truck to 15" rims with the proper metric studs to accommodate the
rims. I bought a spare set of rims knowing I would do the same to the "Super
Van" one day. My Rampside and Corsa went to a museum in Covington, Kentucky and
now was the time to put attention to the van. Keith Craig from Keith's Wheel
Alignment has maintained my cars for years and he converted my vehicle to the
S10 aluminum rims and it has been rock solid.
When I retired in November 2022, I wanted to do a long-term investment in my van
on the suspension so I wouldn't have to worry about any safety issues. Keith
went through front to back to update any problems. This included the brakes. I
had Dave Langlois go through the clutch and seal the transaxle.
When I started driving it on a day-to-day basis, the front brakes were not
stopping straight. Keith replaced the "new drums" and pads and transferred from
left to right in order to get a safer brake experience. Unfortunately, the
quality of parts isn't what they used to be. Most manufacturers are putting
their efforts on disc brakes not drum brakes. He was willing to order a new set
of pads when I made the decision to upgrade the front to disc brakes. It
involved ordering the mounting bracket from Clark's Corvair Parts and the rest
of the assembly was ordered through Keith's Wheel Alignment. I believe from a
70's Chevelle. Now it is a driving marvel. It stops straight and I have
confidence that it won't take me into the next lane when I have to do a hard
stop.
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CNM Member Bill Reider was always a stickler for proper brake
maintenance. If you are going to keep driving those Corvairs,
your brakes demand proper attention. Here's a recent article
that may help. Reprinted from the July WESTWIND of LOS ANGELES.
CORVAIR BRAKE MAINTENANCE
BY BOB NICHOLS
The Corvair was built with four-wheel drum brakes. This article will cover the
basics of maintenance, disc brake upgrades, and brake fluid types and change
intervals.
For a more detailed brake service explanation, you can watch Larry Claypool's
Corvair brake system U-tube video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQUTN6qaNj8
The Corvair drum brakes on 1960-1964 models were adequate by the standards of
the time for "normal" driving within posted speed limits. The 1965-1969 drum
brakes are larger and were well regarded by automobile magazine testers at the
time.
Disc brakes add-ons -- When Corvair owners have issues with drum brakes they may
consider installing disc brakes. At this time, Corvair disc brake conversions
"adapt" parts from other cars that can result in less than desirable stopping
performance, especially in emergency situations. Until an aftermarket brake
system manufacturer comes up with a professionally designed disc brake kit for
the Corvair, caution is advised when "adapting" disc brakes to the Corvair.
Brake system maintenance -- Some have the incorrect impression that brakes don't
require any maintenance until the brake linings wear out, or the brakes
malfunction. Brake fluid deteriorates and should be changed. Brake shoes should
be adjusted to maximize contact area with the drum for the best lining lifespan
(1963-1969 Corvair brakes are self-adjusting IF the mechanism is maintained).
Brake fluid -- All brake fluids MUST BE REPLACED periodically to keep the brake
system reliable! For old hobby cars that aren't driven much the consensus is to
change the brake fluid every two years. Moisture enters the brake system via
seals and brake hoses. Moisture in brake fluid reduces its ability to resist
heat. After two years the maximum temperature before the brake fluid boils can
be reduced 25% to 33%! If the brake fluid is not changed it can saturate with
water and cause brake component corrosion. Brake fluid function is also
compromised by "debris" from worn seals and hoses.
Brake fluid types:
* DOT 2 (Petroleum based) -- rarely used now.
* DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5.1 (Glycol based)
* DOT 5 (Silicone based) -- NOTE: there are also non-DOT 5 silicone brake
fluids.
Glycol brake fluid -- Corvair drum brake systems are designed to use
glycol-based DOT 3 brake fluid and that is what should be used to ensure
reliability. There is a persistent - and false - notion that the more recent DOT
4 and DOT 5.1 brake fluids are "better." In fact, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are NOT
recommended for use in DOT 3 brake systems using flexible components made from
"SBR" per Bendix and Continental automotive products. DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 brake
fluids require "EPDM" material for seals and hoses.
* DOT 3 -- Suitable for all drum, disc/drum, and all disc brake components rated
as DOT3. It is not approved for use with most Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS).
* DOT 4 -- Designed with a different viscosity for use in ABS. Has a boiling
point about 10% greater than DOT 3. It is not compatible with DOT 3 seals and
hoses made from "SBR."
* DOT 5.1 -- Works with ABS, and the boiling point is greater than DOT 4. It is
typically used in high performance vehicles. It is not compatible with DOT 3
"SBR" seals and hoses.
Silicone brake fluid -- DOT 5 silicone brake fluid is compatible with "EPDM"
seals and hoses. Non-DOT 5 silicone brake fluids may be mineral oil based and
are NOT compatible with DOT 3, 4, and 5.1 seals and hoses. DOT 5 brake fluid is
NOT recommended in the Corvair drum brake system as follows:
* DOT 5 is not compatible with DOT 3 "SBR" compound seals and hoses.
* It is incorrectly assumed DOT 5 never has to be changed because it doesn't
"attract" water. Moisture can enter a brake system using DOT 5 fluid and it must
be changed to eliminate water accumulation and debris to prevent corrosion.
* DOT 5 will NOT mix with other glycol brake fluids; the entire system must be
flushed/purged of glycol-base DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5.1 fluids before adding DOT 5.
* DOT 5 is more compressible and the brake pedal feel is impacted.
Brake fluid and moisture -- Moisture will permeate brake cylinder seals and
flexible brake hoses, albeit slowly. If the master brake cylinder has an air
barrier bladder in the cap, then it reduces moisture getting into the fluid
compared to the older style open vented cap. Glycol-based brake fluids will
absorb and suspend slight traces of moisture until the brake fluid saturates.
The fluid should be changed before it saturates with water and causes corrosion
(typically every 2-3 years depending on climate). New brake fluid comes in
sealed containers. NEVER use brake fluid from a container that was previously
opened because the fluid absorbs moisture from the air that enters the container
as it is emptied!
Drum brake shoe adjustment -- 1960-1962 Corvair brake shoes have to be manually
"adjusted" to compensate for the linings wearing thinner. The shop manual
explains how to do this. Adjusting the brake shoes ensures they wear evenly for
the best brake action and to optimize lining mileage.
The 1963-1969 model years Corvair drum brakes are "self-adjusting." The brake
shoes only adjust when the brakes are applied while the car is backing up.
Self-adjusting brakes can be manually adjusted if the mechanism fails to work
due to worn or broken parts. See shop manual.
Drum brake shoe replacement -- New brake shoe lining material does not contain
asbestos fiber like the original linings. There have been complaints the new
brake shoe linings cause excessive brake pedal pressure and poor stopping. The
following is a list of issues that often cause high pedal pressure:
* Replacement brake shoe lining material might be harder than the original
linings. Beware of brake shoes with claims of lasting longer as they tend to use
a hard lining that wears slowly. It results in higher pedal pressure to stop the
vehicle. A "softer" lining with a better friction coefficient reduces pedal
pressure required to stop the vehicle.
* New, or relined, brake shoes might have a curvature that doesn't fit the drum
curvature so only a portion of the lining contacts the drum. Brake drums flex
slightly when the shoes contact them. The brake shoe curve should ensure all the
brake shoe material contacts the drum when the brakes are applied. It can take
many miles to "wear in" a lining to a proper curve during which time the brakes
are not as effective. Brake shoe linings can be "arced" to fit the brake drum
curvature. At this time, it is only done by a few specialized brake shops with
the proper cutting machines.
* Corvair drum brakes are "self-actuating" to reduce pedal pressure. Good brake
action requires the shoe facing to the front of the car (primary shoe) to have a
shorter lining versus the shoe facing to the rear (secondary shoe) that has a
longer lining. Refer to the proper model year shop manual for brake lining
measurements. The linings can be cut to proper length on the shoe.
Brake hoses -- Flexible brake hoses should be inspected whenever the chassis is
lubricated for cuts, knicks, cracks, abrasion damage and replaced if needed.
Brake hoses also deteriorate internally and may block brake fluid causing the
brake shoes not to release. The general consensus suggests brake hoses should be
replaced every ten years.
Brake master and wheel cylinders -- The cylinders contain sealed pistons that
work with the brake fluid to stop the vehicle. The master cylinder can be
externally examined for leaks. The wheel cylinders require removing the brake
drums to check for brake fluid leaks. The cylinders can be rebuilt by mild
honing and replacing the seals. Note that excessive honing will make the
cylinder bore diameter too large and sealing will be unreliable. New replacement
cylinders should be inspected since they may have been "on the shelf' for a
considerable time. An alternative is to have the original cylinders sleeved to
new specifications by a specialist. For cast iron wheel cylinders, stainless
steel sleeves have a similar expansion rate.
Brake drums -- The brake drum surface the brake shoe touches should be even. Hot
spots (bluish color) and grooves should be removed. A fresh cut brake drum
surface will help "break-in" new brake shoe linings. Only remove the MINIMUM
amount of metal from the drum when it is "cut." The Chevrolet shop manual
specifies the maximum brake drum friction surface diameter. If the drum is "cut"
beyond specification it can flex too much during brake application and could
fail. ALWAYS clean the machined surface of a brake drum, with an approved brake
cleaner, before its installation.
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It Was Twenty Years Ago Today
Two articles by Richard Finch
from August 2002.
ULTRA VAN HILL CLIMB
RICHARD F. FINCH
Dear Editor,
For about a week I have been considering your challenge for an Ultra Van
Mountain Climb contest. As you remember, I was made President of Del's DOM club
for trying to climb Ruth's Mountain in the Pecos Wilderness with a seriously bad
distributor. So, I could be a formidable contestant in another mountain climb.
I tell people that there were four items that I have solved since the infamous
"rainy day getting a tow by a CORSA former president" incident. I have made a
drain tube so that I can now drain 400 pounds of water ballast from the fresh
water tank before attempting to climb to 8,700 feet in the sky. I have also
designed a 5 gallon header tank for my fuel system to avoid carrying 30 gallons
of 91 octane up the same hill. And then I have invested nearly $800.00 in one of
Ray Sedman's spark adjusting anti-knock electronic distributor perfecting
ignition systems. (That one thing alone should give me another 8 horsepower from
my now 95 hp Corvair engine in our Ultra Van.) And the fourth and most important
improvement is purchasing a set of #49 carburetor jets to secretly install in
place of the very rich #52 jets that we were running that embarrassing day back
last August when Mark and Elizabeth Domzalski had to pull us the last mile up
the hill in order to get us out of their way going up to Ruth's cabin. The road
was too slippery and slidey for me to get a proper run at it.
And I have seriously considered buying a high-stall speed torque converter to
raise the transmission engagement speed from a measly 900 rpm to a powerful
2,200 rpm. I could likely burn rubber all the way up Ruth's mountain road with
that one little improvement.
But, tell the Sullivans that I do not know what to do about the pots and pans
and dishes in the overhead cabinets while screeching around the tight
switch-backs on the mountain road. Would it be unfair if I removed the cabinets,
stove, refrigerator, couch, TV and VCR before the hill climb (mountain klimb)
contest??
But I do have a serious challenge for all the readers of this fine newsletter.
Let all those who drive up to Ruth's cabin next year, in vehicles with water in
their engines (non-Corvairs), be considered sissies to those of us who trust our
Corvairs to take us anywhere we want to go! But I guess that we should allow
Mark and Elizabeth to drive their 4 wheel drive vehicle up the mountain just in
case anyone needs a tow.
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FROM OUT OF THE PAST!
RICHARD F. FINCH
On our way to the CORSA National Convention in Flagstaff last month, we were
tooling along in our Ultra Van, towing a half-size teardrop trailer, and Mark
Domzalski pulled along side of us in a faded yellow 1966 Corsa Coupe. We were
doing 65 mph, and after waving, Mark drove on by at the legal speed limit of 75
mph.
As Mark pulled ahead of us, I noticed something very familiar about the Corsa he
was driving. The tail pipe on the right side was smaller than a turbo, but it
came out of a cut-out in the rear body sheet metal. Then I noticed that the left
tail pipe came out of a matching cut-out in the left rear body sheet metal. And
then I noticed a 1968 Camaro bow tie emblem on the engine cover lid where the
turbo emblem usually goes. And I thought I could see three gauges on the
dashboard just above the radio.
And then it dawned on me. Mark was driving a Corvair that I had not seen since
1968! Almost 34 years ago! Mark was driving Jim Pittman's famous 1966 Corsa that
Jim and I had modified in 1968 and 1969!! Jim and I had removed the often pesky
180 hp turbo engine and replaced it with a factory crate 140 hp engine which we
blue-printed, balanced, and ported and polished. Most of the mods we made were
per Bill Fisher's book "How to Hot Rod your Corvair Engine." And the mods worked
well too. Jim proceeded to win the very next autocross he entered after we
modified his Corsa coupe.
Knowing that I could not catch the 1966 Corsa going up the mountain to
Flagstaff, I decided to ask (at the convention) Mark about his reason for taking
Jim's car to the Convention. Later at the Little America Hotel, I saw the car
parked in the parking lot and walked over to it to confirm that it was indeed
the same car that we had modified in the late 1960's, and what a memory
refresher. Sure enough, I remembered all the modifications that Jim had done to
the car at my house at 2506 Stanford Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico in 1968.
Later at the convention, Mark explained that he had recently bought the Corsa
from Jim and was planning to restore the body and paint in the near future.
Little did Jim and I know in 1968 that one day a former CORSA President would be
the owner of that very significant Corvair.
-- Richard Finch
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| August 2022 | September 2022 | October 2022 |
| Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa | Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa | Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa |
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 | 1 2 3 | 1 |
| 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 | 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 | 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
| 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 | 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 | 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 |
| 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 | 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 | 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 |
| 28 29 30 31 | 25 26 27 28 29 30 | 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 |
| | | 30 31 |
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SAT 06 AUG 10:00 AM Meeting: Highland Senior Center
131 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 Phone: 505-767-5210
SUN 7 AUG 10:00 AM All-Clubs Picnic at Oak Flat / NMCCC / no fee this year.
SAT ?? AUG 8:30 AM Old Route 66 Cleanup - Mile 5 to 6
WED 17 AUG 7:00 PM Board Meeting: >>>>>>>> TO BE DETERMINED
WED 24 AUG 7:00 PM NEW MEXICO CAR COUNCIL MEETING - FOURTH WEDNESDAYS
Manzano Mesa Senior center - 501 Elizabeth St SE
*** FRI 26 AUG 9:00 PM Deadline for items for the September newsletter
*** MON 29 AUG >> TARGET FOR PRINTING, MAILING SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER <<
============================================================================
SAT 03 SEP 10:00 AM Meeting: Highland Senior Center
131 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 Phone: (505) 767-5210
SUN xx SEP Early! State Fair Car Show --- more information later
WED 21 SEP 7:00 PM Board Meeting: >>>>>>>> TO BE DETERMINED
SAT-SUN 24-25 SEP ** The NMCCC Swap Meet has been cancelled for this year **
WED 28 SEP 7:00 PM NEW MEXICO CAR COUNCIL MEETING 1717 6th St NW
Location is the Military Vehicle Association's Collection
*** FRI 23 SEP 9:00 PM Deadline for items for the October newsletter
*** MON 26 SEP >> TARGET FOR PRINTING, MAILING OCTOBER NEWSLETTER <<
============================================================================
SAT 01 OCT 10:00 AM Meeting: Highland Senior Center
131 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 Phone: (505) 767-5210
WED 19 OCT 7:00 PM Board Meeting: >>>>>>>> TO BE DETERMINED
WED 26 OCT 7:00 PM NEW MEXICO CAR COUNCIL MEETING - FOURTH WEDNESDAYS
Manzano Mesa Senior center - 501 Elizabeth St SE
*** FRI 28 OCT 9:00 PM Deadline for items for the November newsletter
*** >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> MAY BE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS <<<<<<<<<<<<<
*** MON 31 OCT >> TARGET FOR PRINTING, MAILING NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER <<
============================================================================
SAT 05 NOV 10:00 AM Meeting: Highland Senior Center
WED 16 NOV 7:00 PM Board Meeting: >>>>>>>> TO BE DETERMINED
WED 23 NOV 7:00 PM NEW MEXICO CAR COUNCIL MEETING - FOURTH WEDNESDAYS
THU 17 NOV 9:00 PM Deadline for items for the December newsletter
>>>>>>>>>>> EARLY DUE TO HOLIDAYS <<<<<<<<<<<<
============================================================================
See the New Mexico Council of Car Clubs Web Site for more "NMCCC" activities
======================== http://www.nmcarcouncil.com/ ======================
SUGGESTION: A visit to the new WEATHER LAB at the Balloon Museum
SUGGESTION: A visit to the Soaring Museum in Moriarty
SUGGESTION: Activities with other clubs such as VMCCA.
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SEVEN YEARS AGO [ AUGUST 2022 Vol 48 Nr 8 ISSUE 563 ]
JIM PITTMAN
2015 V.41 Nr 8 #479
COVER: A sharp red Karman-Ghia convertible made the cover while David
Huntoon waited to see cars from The Great Race. They must have followed a
different route. There were hints that we could host the 2017 CORSA convention
if only we had the personnel to do it. Wendell's son Vance Walker presented the
club with a framed photo of the Corvair raffled at the 1996 convention. Pat &
Vickie reported on the 2015 convention in Nashville. John Wiker reported on
"Pancakes on the Plaza" in Santa Fe on July 4th. Convention photos filled the
rest of the pages.
2008 V.34 Nr 8 #395
COVER: a 1965 Corsa convertible at Valle Grande in April 1979. Jim told
about buying the car in 1972 for $500. Visitors to our July meeting were Dwight
Simmons and Mary & Richard Twilley. Mary was our treasurer in 1980. Potential
new members were Brian Rowe and Ross McDuffey - spelling by Vertrees. David
Huntoon told about helping out a man who was driving a Ford Model-A across
country when his car failed in Cedar Crest. Dave towed the Model-A with the
library van, very slowly. Pat & Vickie reported on our first scrap metal recycle
which brought in $349. Mike Stickler told us about his mom's Nash Metropolitan.
Several members visited Leslie & Kevin Sullivan for a cookout on the Fourth of
July. On a beautiful July 12th eight "trash pickers" cleaned our mile of Old
Route 66. We planned a TUNA at the Hall place in Los Lunas, an All-Clubs picnic
at Villanueva State Park south of Las Vegas, a pot-luck get-together at the
Palmer residence in Juan Tomas, a State Fair car show and an October econo-run
organized by Chuck Vertrees. We were advised to calculate gallons per mile
instead of miles per gallon as a better measure of fuel economy, and Steve
Goodman told us in detail how to perform a perfect oil change.
2001 V.27 Nr 8 #311
COVER: scenes from the Galles and Nob Hill shows. We met at Casa
Chevrolet. Mark Domzalski was looking forward to his retirement as CORSA
president. We had a Mystery Tour, a Galles Show, a Santa Fe Plaza Show and a Nob
Hill Show. What to do when a tap breaks off in an aluminum head. While driving
from Cincinnati to California Hurley Wilvert thought that Albuquerque would be a
nice place to live. As we were picking trash on Old Route 66 a bicycle rider
thanked us, made our day. Debbie Deck previewed our campout in the Pecos. Robert
Gold asked us to get our cars ready for the State Fair. Del Patten told us not
to forget the oil filler cap. Richard Finch told about restoring a 1964 Monza
convertible. Seth Emerson told about foolproof valve lifter adjustment, cold!
Bob Helt answered a question about the 1964 Spyder: why the larger displacement
1964 turbo engines are rated at 150 HP, the same as the 1962-63 turbos.
1994 V.20 Nr 8 #227
COVER: A Greenbrier at the pueblo ruins at Quarai: an attempt to scan a
photograph and print it as a computer graphic. Steve Schulthis and Bill Palmer
were guests. Bill Reider reported on the Car Council. The Museum car show went
well. We planned a picnic and a swap meet. Rita Gongora told us about plans for
a trip to Rancho de las Golondrinas. We had an econo-run in the Manzanos. Dennis
Pleau held a tech session on throttle linkage adjustment. It was hard to get up
at Oh-Dark-Thirty to drive to Santa Fe, but five CNM cars were there. Ideas for
railing money: raffles, an auction, charging for the annual campout. Mike
Stickler reported that 17 CNMers showed up for our econocun, and the best
overall was Dennis Pleau's 1963 coupe at 34.17 MPG. Steve Gongora reported on
the Galles car show. Dennis showed us how to disassemble, clean and repair
windshield wiper switches. What to do if your engine seemed crooked: look for a
broken bolt holding the transmission to the cross member. How to free up your
emergency brake cable: squirt with WD-40. What to look for under your car while
you are fixing that bad bolt: dngling wires, frayed cables, loose or badly
adjusted thermostat doors, cracked rubber boots, cracked or leaking hoses or
fittings.
1987 V.13 Nr 8 #143
We planned to hold our August meeting at a restaurant in Santa Fe. Car
Council business: the swap meet was being planned. Could the city finance a car
museum? Clayborne told about seeing an Albertosaurus and antique fire trucks at
the Natural History Museum. Future Corvair drivers Megan Jennifer Lawless and
Emily Rose Gongora were announced. Mark Morgan's Billiken demonstrated
four-wheel steering. Bill Reider discussed carburetor jet size: do you want
power or economy? The 1972 Department of Transportation report refuting Ralph's
rants on Corvair handling was on the last page of this issue.
1980 V.6 Nr 8 #59
COVER: a cute runabout with a rumble seat. We asked for articles, jokes,
photos, drawings or other newsletter items. We planned to go to Moriarty for the
Fourth of July parade. Francis mentioned a new body shop: Bob Phillips' CAR &
TRUCK FACTORY. We needed the right proportion for tire pressures for front and
rear tires. President Bill talked about tire choices for our Corvairs. You
should soak a new pilot bushing in motor oil before installing it. Finally,
there was a short story about a rich executive's plans to re-manufacture 1964
Spyders in the twenty-first century!
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Enchanted Corvairs Newsletter is published monthly by Corvairs of New Mexico,
chartered Chapter #871 of CORSA, the Corvair Society of America. Copyright by
the Authors and by Corvairs of New Mexico. Articles may be reprinted in any
CORSA publication as a service to CORSA members, provided credit to the Author
and this Newsletter is clearly stated. All opinions are those of the Author or
Editor and are not necessarily endorsed by Corvairs of New Mexico or CORSA.
Material for publication should reach the Editor by the 15th of the month. Send
material via e-mail ( jimp @ unm.edu ) or submit a readable manuscript. I prefer
ASCII TEXT, but MS Word or RTF are fine. Photographs are welcome. The newsletter
is composed using Apple computers. Software includes Mac OS-X, AppleWorks,
Photoshop CS, GraphicConverter, BBEdit and InDesign CS. If you care, ask for
more details. When I'm 64, I'll get by with a little help from my friends.
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