<VV> Corvair meanderings (LONG)

[Norman C. Witte]

Repost from yesterday morning before I figured out the server was down
.

We have been having near perfect Corvair weather here in mid-Michigan for
the last week.  Thursday night my daughter Allison and I took a cruise in
the ’65 convertible.  This time of year the fields are vibrant green around
here and the trees are completely filled out.  We haven’t gotten to the dry,
scorching part of summer yet and driving the country roads around our house
is very pleasant.  It was a good time to spend with Allie.

Friday I took Jake and Seth for a ride in the vert.  Another beautiful
evening, we were easily cruising north on Business 27 when I glanced in the
mirror and saw a white ’65 Monza closing with us!  He rolled down the window
and shouted about a car show at the outlet mall about two miles from our
house, and we agreed to meet up Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.  The boys
thought it was pretty cool to find another Vair.  I thought I had seen the
car before from time to time but I had never met up with the owner.  

Saturday I headed out for the car show.  I stopped at Speedway to fill the
tank because it was just about empty.  Waiting for the pump to kick off I
heard a dripping sound and looked to see gas pouring from the bottom of the
car.  It slowed and looked as though it was going to stop.  I got some oil
dry from the cashier and cleaned up the mess, and headed over to the car
show.

There I met Tom, the driver of the Monza coupe.  It turned out that the car
belongs to his girlfriend.  I called Joy while were chatting and she stopped
by to pick me up so that I run home and get the ’65 Corsa coupe, bringing
Jake and my youngest daughter Caitlin with me.  We parked together and had
red, white and blue Corvairs.  

However, the leaking gas tank had not stopped completely.  I thought it
might stop, but when it didn’t I decided that I’d better get the car home.
  I pulled it into the barn, jacked the front of the car up, and got a
cement mixing tray under it.   Then I jumped back in the Firebird and ran
back to the car show.

Despite the mishap with the convertible, the kids and I had a great time.  I
usually don’t go to many car shows—I’d rather just drive the things—but now
and then they are fun.  

Sunday afternoon VV member Ed Norris, who was in Michigan from Kingman,
Arizona for a family reunion, stopped by.  We had a very pleasant visit and
he suggested siphoning out the rest of the gas in the tank.  After Ed left,
I fashioned a long enough tube with three pieces of tubing and a couple of
hose clamps.  I tried sucking on it to start the siphon, but that tastes
really bad.  Then I realized that I could use the same principle as
carburetors do to get gas to flow.  I turned on the compressor and jetted
air across the end of the tube.  After about 40 seconds of that gas came
gushing out, and the tank started draining.  I noticed that when my siphon
hose bumped around the bottom of the tank the dripping got worse.  

At first I was frustrated with the gas leak problem, but now I am kinda glad
it happened the way it did.  I have been concerned about crap from the fuel
tank and everyone I’m sure remembers the debate about vapor lock that we
had.  This will give me an opportunity to pull the tank, replace all the
attaching hoses, and get the system 100% up to snuff before we head off to
Buffalo.  And the car didn’t strand me on the way to work, or a long way
from home.  So it’s best that it happened the way it did.  

Now I am going to order a tank and some parts.

Norm Witte