Toad question Corvair

[fraser8]

I have a Chevy HHR that will become our toad most of the time. I also have a 63 Corvair Convertible with a standard transmission. I was hoping to tow this four wheels down on some of the trips as it is a fun little vehicle to drive in the summer. (Please no Nader BS, I've heard them all) Anyway I was told by a person yesterday that as the transmission shaft goes directly into the motor and that the engine must be running to keep it lubricated. I see there is some Corvair owners on this site and would like to hear their comments. Just another Corvair hoax or not.

[TomC]

I'm not a Corvair expert, but I don't see that it's any difference than any other manual transmission.  I would think that the transaxle would get extra splash lubrication with the differential built into it with the big pinion gear slinging a lot of oil around.  But-let's see if any experts have a different tale.  Good Luck, TomC

[jjrbus]

Not that I would not trust the collective knowledge of the board but an alternative source would be  www.remcotowing.com they are the experts. Not that people on the board are not experts.

www.remcotowing.com    Cant make this a link, any expert suggestions?   Maybe DL can fix it.


Seems to work OK for me. Richard.

[compedgemarine]

not that familiar with the corvair transaxle but seems to me that if it is like others the only part attached to the engine would be the trans input shaft that is in the clutch. if the engine is not spinning then neither is the input shaft so it doesnt need lubing. the remaining parts attached to the half shafts that are being spun by the tires would sling oil around on their own and be fine. if I recall most of the flat towing issues have to do with auto trans as the input turns the pump and if it is not moving no oil moves. I have never known of any of the manual trans with issues.
steve

[edroelle]

Although my first car was a '64 Corvair, which I loved, I did not have the transmission apart.

But, the Corvair was engineered to be similar, but more powerful, than the Volkswagon Beetle.   As you probably know, those were towed many miles.

Ed Roelle
Flint, MI

[fraser8]

I currently have a Remco pump on a little Ford I tow and it works great. I called them and the person who answered didn't have the car in her book, They must not get much call for cars from the 60's. I was transfered to a message service for the tech team and within five minutes I was phoned, no problem towing the Corvair. He thought maybe someone was blowing smoke up my donkey. Thanks for the tip, Remco was a great help..

[Darrell]

I just hung up the phone from talking with a freind of mine who happens to be a Corvair expert  - He owns twenty-two of them and is a past district president of the CORSA club.  He said "put it in neutral and go"....  He also added that if it was equiped with the powerglide trans you could still tow it in neutral since it has both a front and a rear pump in the transmission.  He always tows his Corvairs four down no matter what transmission is in the car/truck/van....

[fraser8]

Great, thanks for the help. I was sure it would be no problem but after someone told me it would cause trouble I thought I'd better check.. What better place than here. Probably 10,000 years of knowledge................

[jjrbus]

A 64 Corvair convertible was my second car, fond memories. It did cause me to run up my charge card at the local motels
Remco has been great to deal with over the years. Real first class operation. I have about 100K miles on my axle disconnect with no problems!!

[Sojourner]

I just hung up the phone from talking with a freind of mine who happens to be a Corvair expert  - He owns twenty-two of them and is a past district president of the CORSA club.  He said "put it in neutral and go"....  He also added that if it was equiped with the powerglide trans you could still tow it in neutral since it has both a front and a rear pump in the transmission.  He always tows his Corvairs four down no matter what transmission is in the car/truck/van....

Just do of what Darrell posted. I have repaired them at Saginaw Chevy dealer in Michigan in the 60's. Build like other standard trans but in transaxle format. However, if towed on dolly....transmission oil may get into clutch plate due to tilled.

About automatic trans.....Bottom line is if it do not have rear pump in tail housing, you can't tow unless you installed remote oil pump & hookup.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[Paso One]

WHERE"S RJ   He the Corvair collector