<VV> Out of Group Red

[Rick & Janet Norris]

Well,
I finally finished the flywheel replacement on my 69 Vert. It was one of those things I should have done way back when I had the engine out the first time but, I had already spent a lot of time and money fixing all the "little" things it needed like the dropped valve seat, leaks, etc. That was last year or so. I did do the ring test on the flywheel but decided it was okay but in the back of my mind I was saying you'll regret this decision.
After driving it for awhile it was apparent the flywheel was loose. If you revved it over 4000 RPM it would shake very noticeably, not to mention the noise at idle. It kind of made it a rev limiter. 
I had decided this spring would be the time to replace it. I was about three months behind schedule on my Corvair projects but some timely jobs arrived at the work place and overtime pay is always a good excuse for more car parts.
So, what started out as a flywheel replacement ( Ya'll know how this goes) turned in to a complete brake overhaul, a one wire alternator install, a new blower bearing and housing oil baffle modification, a high volume heater blower motor, rebuilt stock steering box, (removed the Flaming River quick box and sent it back) four new tires, new double lip shifter shaft seal (new one I put in last year started leaking for no reason), new Viton crankshaft seals and other small items. 
She now runs very smoothly and will rev past the red line with out feeling like a Mixmaster! 
On the other hand, I was blasting down I-64 on the high speed shakedown and all was fine until I hit the exit ramp and tried to de-clutch. The pedal went to the floor but nothing disengaged. Now, I've felt this before having experienced more than one clutch cable let go so I knew something was not connected like the cable or one of the many clevises. Although it had been many years since I had to nurse a Corvair home with no clutch I had not lost my "chops" as it were. Using neutral, starting it in gear and shifting without the use of the clutch was easy and I drove it back to the house (about two miles, four traffic lights all of which were red and three hills. It is West Virginia ya know!) with no trouble and I don't think anyone around me knew anything was wrong. Once in the shop I raised it up for a look see and there was the clutch pull rod hanging loose. The spring pin was gone or I had forgot to install it. While lying under the car trying to remember if I had another pin or just put a cotter pin in it I happened to look towards the wall and there under another jack stand was the errant pin. I reinstalled it and did a test of the clutch pedal. When I pushed it down I heard a distinct ping and watched the clip roll out from under the car and land under the same jack stand! At least that assured me I had installed the clip before but didn't notice it's departure the first time I hit the clutch pedal.
The cure seemed to be to install the clip in the opposite direction.
I drove it around most of yesterday and we went to two cruise in's last night so all is well for this Memorial Day week end.

To all the Veterans out there, thanks and welcome home.

Rick Norris
Vietnam Service, USAF 1966-1967
First President CORSA 1971
Email rickjanet at charter.net  
Web Site http://webpages.charter.net/corvairalley 
V8 Vairs Web Site http://www.v8vairs.com