1965 Corsa Kelmark Conversion

 

Ryan found this previously converted Kelmark in a dusty barn where it had been stored for twenty five plus years. 1965 Corsa In Barn It began with thoughts of a simple restoration. After getting the project home and cleaned up it was time to ascertain what he really had. 1965 Corsa Cleaned Up The body suffers from the typical northern rust in all the familiar Corvair places. The "Restoration" began in November of 2003 and is a continuing process. Body work, paint and interior will be a winter project. Front View More build photos of Ryan's car can be seen on his photo page at  http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vairking/my photos  .

The interior has its share of the usual rust and the floors had been previously repaired Floors . Ryan did a  good job of making it look better Painted Floors with a little elbow grease and paint.

Replacing the stock instruments with a set of white face Autometer gauges Autometer Gauges does wonders for the Corsa dash. Also, Dash Board Ryan made the dash "radio and ash tray delete". A Grant GT custom steering wheel carries the red and black theme. The shifter is the Kelmark design Kelmark Shifterwhich is a bit vague but gets the job of changing gears done.

As we can see here, Junk Engine the old engine was pretty much junk, so out it came. The new engine is the usual GM rebuilt and balanced small block Rebuilt Engine displacing 355 cubic inches from a .030"overbore with Speed Pro pistons and moly rings. A Comp Cam hydraulic camshaft does the valves in the 350 ported and polished heads. The intake is an Edelbrock Victor Jr. Edelbrock Victor Jr. Intake with a Demon 750 carb.

Ignition is by a modified HEI distributor. A nice shiny set of Sanderson Block Headers Sanderson block hugger headers flows through a set of Flowmasters 3" Flowmasters mounted transversely and exits through 31/2" stainless exhaust tips in the rear grille. Rear Grille

The drive train DriveTrain is the Kelmark set up with the transaxle turned 180 degrees and connected to the engine with a special  aluminum bellhousing adapter Bellhousing Adapter and a longer input shaft. The transmission is a Corvair Saginaw four speed and the differential runs a set of four spider 3:27 gears. The reverse rotation ring gear Ring Gear lubrication problem is taken care of with an electric pump mounted in the old engine compartment beside the fuel cell. Electric Pump

Suspension Suspension is standard Corvair with a set of disc brakes Disc Brakes on the front wheels and a set of Kevlar shoes out back. The stock master cylinder has been replaced with a dual master and power booster Master Cylinder. The stock Corvair master cylinder now controls the hydraulic clutch.

Cooling the beast is handled by a large cross flow radiator Radiator mounted up front reclined to the rear and shrouded with a 16" electric fan in the puller position. Coolant is pumped by a Milodon high out put pump through pipes made from exhaust tubing and run entirely under the car in the tunnel.

Wheels are Crager SS spokes Crager Wheels with 15 X 7 fronts and 15 X 8 rears. Tires are BFG radial TA's with 225-60 on the front and 235-60 on the rear.

For specific comments or questions contact Ryan at VairKing@hotmail.com .