Introduction and terminology Corvair Factory Air Conditioning was a relatively rare option, available 1961-1967. Beginning in 1962, Corvairs with C.A.C. (Car Air Conditioning) were equipped with an idle control assembly designed to increase the idle speed when the compressor was running, to prevent engine stalling. Between 1962 and 1967, six…
I became interested in heater and A/C blower motor resistor networks for late model Corvairs recently, mostly because I wanted to find one that worked well with the higher-output heater blower motor installed in one of my Corvairs. (I found that the stock resistor network produced output that was anemic,…
In this article I will explore everything I’ve learned about Corvair radio antennas. As with all research projects, this article is subject to revision as new information becomes available. Corvair radio antennas can be roughly divided into four major groupings, based on antenna mast and body styles. These groups are:…
When the Corvair revolutionized the American car market over 60 years ago, a host of specialized tools was needed, since much of the Corvair was quite different from other cars then available. This article overviews one particular type of tool – the jacks and cradles used to install and remove…
I did some research into early Corvair shock absorbers and made a table to summarize my findings. The part and stamping numbers come from my March 1, 1964 parts book. The Piston travel numbers for all except 1964 rear shock come from GM’s Vehicle Information Kits – we have a page on…
RPO K47, Heavy Duty Oil Bath Air Cleaner, first became available in the mid-1963 model year for cars and FCs. Note that it was never offered for any Corvair prior to 1963, including wagons and FCs, although many people have later added them. This article details the different versions and…
I am trying to secure definitive information about the date when the 1964 7024025 carburetor was introduced. This carburetor was for use ONLY on 1964 FCs, Cars with Factory AC, and cars equipped with first design Oil bath Air Cleaner – essentially any 1964 factory engine equipped with dual air…
1961-64 Corvairs with Air Conditioning have two switches, a blower switch on the left side that turns the system on/off and sets the blower speed, and an evaporator temp control switch on the right side that sets the temperature and turns the compressor on/off as needed. The temp control switch,…
This article shows how I reconditioned the Air Distributor/Control pod for my 1964 Air Conditioned Convertible (the Glenn Corvair). This is the part of the AC system that is mounted under the radio housings, containing the air vents and the control knobs. For simplicity, I’ll refer to it as the…
While there is no data to document any numbers or percentages, it’s a safe assumption that fewer convertibles were equipped with air conditioning from the factory than were coupes or 4-doors. People have often asked me why someone would have air conditioning in a convertible. My answer is simply that…
