VAIRC R

President’s Corner – Don Wagner

Thank you goes to Dominique Allen for doing the newsletter. Gary Moore will be doing the VairCor starting with the December issue. Please send all of the information that you need in the newsletter to Gary and remember to give him a little extra time to be able to get it in. He will have more info about how to do this.

If you have not paid for the Christmas party at Kevin Koch’s and would like to go, call him and maybe he will able to work it out. The date for the party is December 12, Friday night starting at 6 PM and set down for dinner at 7:00 o’clock. If you will attend as a couple, please bring two gifts wrapped and marked as ap- propriate for a man or woman so that all can participate in the gift exchange. If you would like to make a contribution to the City Union Mission, please bring unwrapped items or a check and Kevin will take those items down to them. For more information on the party look in the Novem- ber issue.

As I am writing this Barb and I are starting to get ready for our annual Thanksgiving Day lunch for Barb’s sisters, grandkids, aunts, uncles, and all of our family. (You know that Barb is doing most of the getting ready.) (Don’t kid yourself, Barb says if we ever get to the point that one of us can’t do half of the work, this event will get cancelled!). Christmas will be here before you know it so I would like to wish all of our The December meet- club members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ing will be our annual Christmas party at The only change on the officers for next year was Sandy Dawson taking the Treasurer position. We will not be Kevin and Ada Koch’s. having our annual monthly meeting at Chappell’s because Gather at 6PM of the Christmas party. Dinner at 7PM. The HACOA dues for 2009 will be $15 dollars again, and 8236 Nall Avenue we would like to have these paid by the end of January. Prairie Village KS I know Sandy would like to get all of this done and only have to work with any new members coming into the Friday Dec. 12 club. When you are paying please make your check out to HOCOA—or cash works. Send the dues to Sandy Daw- son at 16001 Oakland Ave., Belton, MO 64012 or pay at the January 13th club meeting at Chappell’s. See you all at the Christmas party. Page 1 THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SERIES By Mike Dawson

This month we look at storage problems. A lot of Corvair owners store cars, either indoors or outdoors. Having done this myself for many years, allow me to share my observations and solutions to typical problems that arise.

• Never store cars on gravel or dirt areas. The midwest humidity rises daily and is not blown out by the airflow from driving. Brake lines, suspension parts, tunnel pans and floors just go away. Car covers cause terminal mildew for the same reasons, they should be used indoors only for dust, insect and bird droppings, etc.

• Gasoline: Keep the tank full; there will be less surface area of the gas to evaporate or tank surface area to condense moisture. You may want to use a non-vented cap for storage (You must change to a vented cap when driving). Use a can of Heet (isopropyl alcohol only) to help eliminate moisture. The new gas additives do strange things as they age: you may have to replace accelerator pumps every time the car sits for over six months. Fuel stabilizers are available for long term storage.

• Ignition points: I find that even new points can oxidize and become insulated if the conditions are right. You should plan on replacing the points if the car is stored over six months. The ones that go bad will quit after only a few miles of seemingly perfect operation; in the middle of a parade for instance.

• Tires: Use higher pressure for storing, and depending on the quality of the tire, be prepared to balance them every other year if the car sits for long periods.

• Battery: I suggest you remove the battery and buy a cheap trickle charger. That keeps battery boxes clean and the battery much happier.

• Fuel Leaks: Always check carb fuel inlet nuts after long storage, and check the fittings at the fuel pump. Check fuel pump cover screws before and after the engine has warmed up. Filler neck hoses can shrink, check them after a fill up. Last and very important, check the bottom of your tank unless you have installed a new one recently. Pilot lights will attract gas vapor from even small leaks in tank bottoms.

• Powerglide transmission converters all leak down and overfill the pan. If your shifter cable or its seal leak, you will find a large puddle.

• Pack wheel bearings, fan, and idler bearings if you do not know their history. Storage causes the oil to evaporate from bearing surfaces, and ancient grease will not re-oil properly when you start driving again.

• Oil: Always store a car with clean oil, and shut down the engine only after a complete warm up. This helps eliminate acids formed from crankcase dilution or cylinder wall wash down from choke operation. You could put a squirt or two of oil in each spark plug hole and rotate the engine a couple of times if you are putting it away for a long time. A fresh grease job is also helpful to get dirt and water out of ball joints and tie rod ends.

If you have other good ideas, please share. It’s your baby, so give it the love it deserves!

page 2 Reproduction Parts Update By Mike Dawson

Be aware of the following reproduced parts problems that have been noted recently.

1. Pilot bushing noise; new bushings can make the usual squealing noise when using the clutch – maybe this is from not being oil impregnated to the same extent that the original bush- ings were. Try soaking them in clean oil as soon as you get one or maybe using some grease in the cavity and on the bushing.

2. Vacuum modulators may cause occasional cold up shift slipping when installed on some transmissions. Replacement with NOS or NORS parts cures the problem.

3. Shifter shaft seal leakage on manual transmissions. Only slight leakage but persistent with subsequent seal replacements on different cars. This is after making sure the pin hole doesn’t have a sharp edge that cuts the seal lip.

4. Choke pull off diaphragm leaks: they work fine in service but will show slight leakage when you test them.

5. Gas caps for cars and FC models are listed in catalogs as the proper application but they have a pressure valve installed. The caps are fine but you must remove the pressure valve or your engine will starve or flood depending on the circumstance. Corvairs must have a vented cap.

Product Review: Solar Comfort Heater vs. The Hot One By Mike Dawson

The two car garage in the bottom half of the house we moved in to this year had a finished ceiling but no heater outlet. I determined where the duct work asw located, cut a hole and installed a vent. However, at 10-20 degrees outside temperature the garage was still only about 45 degrees without raising the house thermostat setting. I had heard the numerous advertisements on the radio and received a mailing about the Solar Comfort Heater, which was supposed to work great in cold rooms. Two calls to the Easy Living Store about using it in our garage were reassuring and we headed over to Mission in the Greenbrier to pick up the $389.00 garage warmer. The sales person was again reasonable sure that the Solar Comfort would do the trick. I tried it for two days and determined with a thermometer that it would not raise the temperature in a garage. It actually declined in output the second day and when I took it apart I found it had the equivalent of flood lights under a flat black metal plate with a blower. One of the bulbs had burned out, and it had the expected “Made in China” sticker. Very disappointed, I returned the unit and received a complete refund. The store person said they had experienced problems with the light bulbs which are quite pricey. Bottom line: despite the hype, not a product for any thing other than very minor temperature change.

Next day a trip to Home Depot produced the Cadet Hot One Garage Heater for $279.00. It takes a 20 Amp 240 outlet, puts out 13,000 BTUs, has a thermostat and raised my 45 degree garage to 60 degrees in a little over an hour. I actually turned it down after I had been working for a while. Our KCPL cost (including all taxes) is about $0.12/kWh, which means this unit costs $1.92 to run continuous for four hours. They also have a 17,000 BTU model. Website: www.cadetco.com and search “Hot One” for information. Made in the USA. Page 3 The Money Pit or Christmas in July By Bob Vukas

It is July 15 and I just waved goodbye to the title, keys and the Corvair, which is on its way to Riverside, MI. The new owner, Tony White, purchased the car for his wife and to have a ’64 Monza convertible to go with his ’64 Monza Spyder convertible. It has chosen recently to run and look better than ever which it should after the time and effort put into it during the past 9 years of dedicated ownership. The car owned me and I was just the part time caretaker.

The irony of the disassembly and reassembly of the Impala beginning in earnest on the same day has not escaped me. Cars, like human beings, are meant to move and need care. My patriotic duty is being called upon to help not only the local Topeka economy but parts vendors everywhere. My new friends are Eckler’s Classic Chevy, Impala Bob’s, Classic Industries, Lectric Limited, Smith Brothers Transmission, American Vinyl, Whitey’s Inc, Tires Easy, EBay and the National Impala Club to name just a few.

“No, this wasn’t an easy one, but the foundation was good, I’ll say that. And if that’s okay, then everything else can be fixed”. The former is a quote from the Tom Hanks/Shelly Long movie The Money Pit. I believe this will be the case when all is said and done with the Impala.

Making Your List, Checking it Twice

1. A portable GPS system that can move from car to car. 2. A LED flashlight. 3. Up to date jumper cables or a portable car starter. 4. A cigarette lighter or power outlet rechargeable flashlight. 5. A digital tire gauge. 6. A gasoline card or coupon. 7. AAA membership. 8. A car blanket 9. A custom made sun shade. 10. A windshield blanket to keep the frost off. 11. A car related movie or “how to” DVD: (Tucker: The Man and His Dream, The Great Race, Grand Prix, Gone in 60 Seconds, Corvette Summer, American Graffiti, Fast and Furious, Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies, Vanishing Point, Smokey and the , Goldfinger, , , Chitty Chitty Ban Bang, The Love Bug, Christine, Mad Max,The Road Warrior, Road Trip, Easy Rider, Two Lane Blacktop, Bullitt, The French Connection, Dirty Larry, Crazy Mary, Death Race 2000, , The Italian Job, Back to the Future, Starsky and Hutch, The Knight Rider, The Green Hornet, Batman, The Last Prom, Signal 30, The Blues Brothers, Driving Miss Daisy, Grand Theft Auto, Days of Thunder, Diamonds are Forever, Die Another Day, Speed Racer, Cars, Cobra, Hollywood Knights, Le Mans, More American Graffiti, Funny Car Summer, White Lightning, Thunder Road, Eat My Dust, The Lively Set, To Live and Die in LA, Ronin, Hot Rod, Hot Rod Girl, The Driver, Used Cars, Hot Rods to Hell, Heart Like a Wheel, Greased Lightning, , The Racers, To Please a Lady, It Happened One Night, Johnny Dark, King of the Mountain, The Last American Hero, The California Kid, Rebel Without a Cause, Winning, Grease, The Duel, Talladega Nights and finally Holiday Inn. 12. A retro hybrid system to attach to any collector car to achieve 22 city and 45 highway mpg.

Peace On Earth, Good Will to All and God Bless Us Everyone.

Page 4 Kochs to host HACOA Holiday Party Friday on December 12

Kevin and Ada Koch are again hosting this year’s annual Holiday Party in their lovely home. As in past years, attire is formal for this event. The party will start at 6PM with appetizers and beverages, fol- lowed at 7PM by dinner catered by 2 Men and a Grill. Reservations need to be made in advance at a cost of $58 per couple. Beer and wine will be available for the additional cost of $5 per person. As Don said in the President’s Corner, time is short you will need to contact Kevin as soon as possible. After the dinner, a gift exchange will be held. Each participant should bring a gift. Women bring a gift appropriate for women. Men bring a gift appropriate for men. The gifts should be marked accord- ingly. Trading and stealing of gifts is encouraged (rules will be explained and ruthlessly enforced). If you would like to make a contribution to the City Union Mission, please bring an unwrapped gift and/or a check. Kevin will take the items down to the Mission.

Koch’s Home

82nd Place

Park in Cul-de-Sac

Nall Avenue

Kevin asked that you please park in the Cul-de-Sac or on 82nd Place. Please do not block the north drive that will be used by the caterers.

Page 5 Classifieds!!!

A note from Chuck Morris. We now own the 1962 Corvair Monza that was mentioned at this month’s meeting. The little car isn't in very bad condition - right front fender has been damaged - there is another headlight assembly in trunk also another bumper. Initially I was going to use some of the parts off of it, but it is in pretty good shape and could be restored. Not sure what we will do with the car - if anyone has an interest give us a call --- 816-779-5504. It is now at our home in Peculiar. For Sale: Rebuilt Corvair alternators converted to 63 amp internally regulated. $75.00 Rebuilt Corvair starters with solenoid. $85 Installation available - Mike Dawson 816 322-4057

Need a 4 barrel carb manifold? I have a couple I would like to sell. I also have a manifold to put a Send Classified Ads to: Stromberg carb on a turbo. The carb is included. [email protected] Also, the 1965 Corsa Coupe with the 140/4- speed. Please email any interest or questions to Tool Crib [email protected]. Fl. Tool Deposit Rental Fee A/C set up and lots of miscellaneous Bob Shellhorn 816-229-9783 Harmonic Balancer Puller $3.00 $1.00 Ramps, Auto $4.00 $1.00 Have a Corvair related business? Put your busi- Torque Wrenches: ness card in the VairCor. 1. 1/2” drive 20-150 ft.lb $15.00 $2.00 2. 3/8” drive 100-1000 lb. $15.00 $2.00 Floor Jacks and Stands $25.00 $3.50 Ring Grove Cleaner $3.00 $1.00 Dwell-Tach Meter $5.00 $1.00 Greaser: Blower Motor and Idler Pulley $5.00 $1.00 Hubs Rear Towing for LM Powerglide $5.00 $1.00 Contact: Ken Ragan Ragan Enterprises 212 Warner Rd Bonner Springs KS 66012 913-422-5778 E-mail: [email protected]

Quality Body Work: I have a neighbor here in Belton who is retired now and who did body work for years. He does really good work at his home at very reasonable prices. He recently repaired the eye brows on Sandy’s 63 coupe by care- fully making up templates and then welding in all new metal. He did a great job and the areas were ready for paint (he does not do complete paint jobs). He indicated he would do work for folks in our club who might need it. If anyone is interested, give me a call and I will put you in touch with him. Mike Dawson 816 322-4057 Page 6 A Few Words from the Interim Editor

First let me say thank you to Dominique for publishing the newsletter over the last few years. The club will sorely miss you during your time away with the Kansas National Guard. I wish you all the luck in the pursuit of a career in Emergency Management and Disaster relief. I hope your new career is interest- ing, but uneventful. Dominique has expressed the wish to resume editing the newsletter when he returns from duty. I hope to carry on some semblance of his excellent newslet- ter until he returns. I have only been in the club for a little over two years, so please excuse my lack of knowl- edge about the past events and club traditions. A few things that I will be including in the newsletter are:

1. A nostalgia page: Mike Dawson will be supplying me with documents and tidbits from early club records. I hope that other members have photos or memorabilia that they would like to share. I have been told that there is a Photo CD from the 40th anniversary celebration. If someone has a copy to share, please let me know. 2. A section for Corvair related business cards: if you would like to have your business includ- ed, please bring a card to the meeting or email a copy to [email protected]. 3. A picture of one club member’s car or cars on the front cover (this would be front panel of the mailed copies). 4. An article about what happened at the last meeting: this will describe the presentation as well as the rest of the agenda, for members who miss meetings 5. Articles from all members are welcome: tell a story to tell about your Corvair or a new tool or device you tried out, share your favorite recipe, or give a review on a new restaurant. Suggestions and most opinions are welcome.

Have a wonderful and exciting Holiday Season! Merry Christmas to all, And to all a happiness in the coming year! Gary Moore

Corvair Sighting Cruisers Bar and Grill in Sedalia Mo uses a early model Corvair Coupe as their billboard.

Page 7 Nostalgia Page Forty Four Years Of HACOA Mike Dawson has graciously Do you have a picture, document Presidents agreed to supply some fun and/or or memory you would like to share informative documents from our with the club? Please e-mail them 1964 Gene Caldwell club’s history. This 1982 newsletter to [email protected] or bring 1965 Gene Caldwell is particularly interesting because them to a meeting. 1966 Wilbur Nott it has a 10 years ago secton. 1967 Wilbur Nott 1968 Mike Dawson (1) Jim Anderson 1969 Jim Anderson 1970 Bill Cook 1971 Mike Jones 1972 Mike Jones 1973 Dick LeClaire 1974 Mike Nott 1975 Jim Anderson 1976 Bob Whitsitt (2) Bill Martin 1977 Dick Berger 1978 Mike Dawson 1979 Tom Prather 1980 Mike Dawson 1981 Mike Dawson

(1) Left office, military service (2) Left office, business reasons

1982 Bernard McCarty 1983 Bob Brought 1984 Bob Brought 1985 Fred Bybee 1986 Fred Bybee 1987 Chris Short 1988 Sharon Bybee 1989 Sharon Bybee 1990 Karl Cozad 1991 Karl Cozad 1992 Mike Dawson 1993 Mike Dawson 1994 Kevin Koch 1995 Kevin Koch 1996 Bob Shellhorn 1997 Bob Shellhorn 1998 Keith Miller 1999 Keith Miller 2000 Chris Cushman 2001 Chris Cushman 2002 Steve Langford 2003 Steve Langford 2004 Karl Cozad 2005 Karl Cozad 2006 Travis Bolton 2007 Travis Bolton 2008 Don Wagner 2009 Don Wagner

Page 8 REMINDER: MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE JANUARY 1

Heart of America Corvair Owners Association, Chapter #640 16001 Oakland Ave Belton, MO 64012 Welcome to HACOA!! Membership Application for year ______. Please provide as much information as possible. Items with * are required so that you can receive the newsletter, VairCor, on a monthly basis. Thank-you from your HACOA family.

*Last Name:______*First Name:______Spouse’s Name:______*Street:______*City:______*State:______*Zip:______*Phone #:______Cell Phone#:______E-mail:______Corsa Member #:______Exp. Date:______Occupation (His):______Work #:______(Hers):______Work #:______Birthdates (His):______(Hers):______Anniversary:______Children Name:______M/FFemale Birth date:______Name:______M/FFemale Birth date:______Name:______M/FFemale Birth date:______Name:______M/FFemale Birth date:______

Meetings Weekend Tours Please check all that you may be interested participating in. Concours/Shows Parades Autocross Socials Swap Meets Serve as an Officer Day Trips Commettee Chair

List your special interests and Corvair skills:______

List Corvairs owned with description (everyday driver, restoration, show car, parts, etc.) 1. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______2. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______3. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______4. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______5. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______6. Year:______Make:______Model:______Description:______

Other Car Club Affiliations:______

HACOA dues are $15.00 per calendar year (Due January 1st). Paid by (please circle one) CheckCheck or Cash on ____/____/____. Due to Corvair Society of America (CORSA) and HACOA’s insurance program and HACOA’s By-laws, it is NECESSARY that all HACOA members also be CORSA members. Membership for CORSA is on a yearly basis from the month you first join. After initial membership, CORSA will send an annual notice. (See reverse side for CORSA application and fees). HACOA appreciates you completing an application each year.

Membership forms are also available online at HACOA.org

Page 9 Scott Allison’s 1965 Corvair Corsa Convertible

HEART of Amerca Corvair Owner’s Association 16001 Oakland Ave Belton MO 64012

Mailing Label

A group of friends devoted to the fun, preservation and restoration of all Corviars

Founded 1964