<VV> [FC] Corvair Research

[Frank DuVal]

This is off the subject of suspension and other fables of bad 
engineering, but I think one of the few engineering mistakes in the 
Corvair was the use of wrong material for the o-rings on the push rod 
tubes. This led to early oil leaking, the reputation for the Corvair to 
mark its spot and a smelly heater system. Definately an early black eye 
to the motoring public.

Frank DuVal

Lou Martino wrote:

>Thank you for responding.  My son is working on a "Engineering Disasters"
>project for his high school engineering class.  He was assigned the Corvair
>as his "disaster".  We are having difficulty finding any technical
>information about the "problem".  He needs to cover what was wrong, why it
>happened, what the solution was, etc.  I know that this wasn't an
>engineering disaster but I don't want him to get too caught up in the
>politics and miss the real lessons of the project.  He is getting "Unsafe
>..." and at least one other book but I think he needs some good info on the
>suspension and other components.  I personally haven't read Unsafe and am
>not sure what detail is there.  I will see if your book is available
>locally.  Any info you can provide would be very much appreciated.
>
>Thank you again for your help,
>
>Lou Martino
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: BobHelt at aol.com [mailto:BobHelt at aol.com]
>  Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:36 AM
>  To: crawfr at rpi.edu; Corvanatics at corvair.org; virtualvairs at corvair.org
>  Cc: lou.martino at verizon.net
>  Subject: Re: <VV> [FC] Corvair Research
>
>
>  In a message dated 4/29/2008 8:10:38 PM US Mountain Standard Time,
>crawfr at rpi.edu writes:
>    They are looking for the engineering history surrounding "Unsafe at Any
>    Speed." So if you can provide any information regarding the engineering
>    history before and after that event (e.g., NHSTA PB-211-015) please
>    forward that information to:
>
>    Lou Martino (cc'd)
>    lou.martino at verizon.net
>
>
>  May i suggest that this request be more specific since this document
>mentioned is some 130 pages long. Maybe, best, is that there is a summary
>included in my book, THE CLASSIC CORVAIR.
>
>  Are you looking for history surrounding "Unsafe...." or history
>surrounding the design of the Corvair?
>  Regards,
>  Bob Helt
>
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