<VV> Quality

[Mark Corbin]

And I'll have to say the same right back on yours, Shawn. Vairily, vairily!

Don't know about your experience with them from out of your area, but when
they were "used cars" here in the rustbelt, the "eyebrows" were a BIG
problem area. It was simply because salty slush and dirt would be thrown up
there by the tires and lie there like the shelf that is was. I've seen so
many rusted out for that reason that it was almost like an inbred disease.
And I'm not talking pinholes, but fist-size holes. 

Same problem with the taillight areas, decklid pinchwelds, and door jamb
areas, all at the fender mating points. The early model fenders would
almost practically fall off the car. That's what the wheel well liners
prevented.

Gotta remember, around here we don't just spread salt, we PAVE our roads
with it. You (native) people out west or down south are clueless.

As far as a LM comparison goes, sure, the wheel well lip was prone to
rustout. That was mostly a function of the way the pinchweld was formed,
and the addition of the chrome wheelwell trim piece. The 500's have an
advantage here, as the chrome trim simply added another layer of
rustcatching ledge and seam. Had the pinchweld mated "face to face" instead
of "face to back" there would have been no shelf effect. But of course,
that would have made production (especially high-volume production) out of
the question. Regardless, the fenders stay on a LM instead of flapping in
the breeze or falling off like on an EM.

Admittedly, the structural differences are notable. But you have to
remember that the EM was GM's FIRST attempt at unibody design, so almost
everything was double and triple paneled. Whereas the LM design removed
most everything that had been found to be redundant (in engineering terms),
in the name of lightening the body and simplifying assembly. But it's
unfair to throw the rustout problem at it, because NONE of the auto
companies were paying much attention to that problem in ANY car at the
time. Cars (especially cars in the Corvair class) were considered
throwaways.

Structurally when new, the LM hardtop is just as sound a car
(engineering-wise, up to a point) as the EM sedan models. It's only when
you cut the top off or let it rust out that the EM's redundancy is its
salvation. That is, other than its quarter panels and floorboards. And in
that respect, BOTH have their own specific problems with the quarter
panels, and neither has any better a floor panel than the other.

I think that were they to design the Corvair's body today, it would be a
very robust design. And I suspect it would resemble more the LM than the EM
structure. Not only do they extensively use coated metals, but their
engineering department basically does a better job of avoiding
"rustcatcher" designs. They aren't totally devoid of potential problems,
but today's cars DO hold up better. And considering that salt usage has
only increased over the years, THAT's saying something. 

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> From: Shaun McGarvey <shaun_mcgarvey at shaw.ca>
> Subject: Re: <VV> Quality
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark Corbin" <airvair at earthlink.net>
> > BTW, one of THE major weaknesses of the early model Corvair was the
lack 
> > of
> > wheel well liners. Every car that has lacked them (early Corvair, 
> > Maverick,
> > early Vega, etc.) has had a horrible reputation for having the fenders
rot
> > off, and understandably so. Which is one of the areas in which the late
> > model Corvair is far superior to the early design. Just like another
post
> > mentioned the "eyebrows" on the EM. Proof positive.
> >
> > -Mark
>
> I call "B.S." on that one, Mark. The inner fenders welded all along the 
> wheel lip a la LM is the cause of most of the worst rust appearing on
Late 
> Corvairs. It's a moisture trap. How many LMs have you seen with rust-outs 
> all around all 4 wheelwells? I've seen lots. It structurally compromises
the 
> car too. Most Early rust happens in non-critical structures and is more
of 
> an inconvenience than a serious concern like say, a rusted out cowl, or 
> rockers.
> I accept that anomalies do happen and some Earlies have structural rust
but 
> this is my opinion after 30 odd years of observation in a mostly wet 
> climate.
> Early bodies are better.
>
> yea, Vairily ... Shaun 
>