From Ariel, a Poor Man's Supercar

A stock 1965 Corvair Corsa did a record 173mph at Bonneville

I used a stock 1969 Chevy Camaro Z28 front spoiler (a semi-rigid plastic) attached to the front bodypan (not the front bumper) using simple sheet metal screws and washers to help keep the front end down over 120mph and also to decrease front drag which increased top speed, straight line stablity, gas mileage, reduce front understeer, increase cornering power, and add better front tire adhesion in rain, snow, and icey conditions.

Wrapping the turbocharger inlet exhaust tubing with layers of aluminum foil and asbestos dramatically increased turbocharger pressures and gave much quicker throttle response (a slight delay problem even on turbocharged racecars) and I also wrapped the turbocharger with heavy duty aluminum foil layers and fiberglass insulation under the stock chrome turbo cover and painted the exhaust pipes to the turbo with extremely high temperature aluminum paint - I ran no muffler at all - just a 2 1/2" straight pipe straight out the back.

Wheels/Tires combinations I had were:

Winter & Rain -

Front-stock Corvair 13"-185x13 Michelin
Rear-Firebird 7"x14"-195x14 Michelin

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Most Spring-Summer-Fall

Front-Z-28 Camaro-F70x14 Firestone WideOval
Rear-Corvette 8"x15"-F60x15 Good Year Polyglass

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Recurving the distributor for quicker advance with lighter springs and heavier weights

Adding alcohol and a bit of water to prevent detonation and using highest available octane gasoline

I'd estimate the true actual straight line thruway speeds to easily top 185mph

I used to single barrel stock carb with no air cleaner - just fine wire mesh at end or a flex tube that was run up into the vent area behind the rear window

A 2-barrel carb or 4-barrel 600-750cfm Holley or a large SU from and XKE-Jag will increase air input volume

The 4-carb 140hp heads ith larger intake valves will increase compression but they do not have the sodium cooled exhaust valves of Corsa Turbo heads

I actually added a slight restrictor plate I made to increase bottom end response and torque - I probably cut top end but who knew or cared

Stock Corsa speedos read to 140mph
Mine would go to "H" on "MPH" with the 15" oversized / overgearing rear Corvette wheels/tires

Over 90mph it would move away qickly from Porsche Turbos, XKE-12 Jags, bigblock Vettes, dragstrip Vettes (one blew outside of Greenwich at about 130mph - low race-gearing and over-revved!)

Using top quality oil and changing it often is required

Put spare tire and battery in the front storage compartment to improve weight distribution

Rocker arms from other Chevys (V8 & V6 will give more valve lift and improved hydralic lifters are available)

I've seen and driven a number of Corsa-Crown kit Chevy V8 conversions but I preferred mine

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I finally was offered a very high amount of cash and the engine was transplanted into a modified VW Karmann-Ghia with Porsche wheels and brakes and a much-modified suspension - weight has to be added up front on VWs or the front tires will leave the ground if you barely touch the throttle even with 4-carb Corvair 140hp to VW swaps

A well set-up Corvair Corsa has fantastic handling with the Corsa front stabilizer bar and F & R springs as is for all street use.

I used XHD adjustable rear shocks adapted from a Z28 Camaro - ride still was very comfortable but transition in fast curves was much better

Front shocks were adjustable Konis

No rear spoiler is needed or recommended by me -

Happy lightspeed motoring Corsa buffs!

A local boneyard or Chevy swapmeet provides mucho 'Vette, Camaro, Firebird wheels & tires

Do not go to 16" wheels period

I have a photo of a twin-Holley Corsa-Turbo modified using 4 'Vette 15" wheels passing a McLaren on the outside of a sharp curve at a modified sportscar race
Some of the earlier (swing-axle) lower HP Corvair Monza Turbos were breaking 105mph at 1/4 mile dragstrips in the early 1960s

The ultimate sleeper -

170mph feels like 60mph

(Oh - a slower cooling pulley is available - and direct cold air at the top Chrome turbo pipe to the heads and adding boosted air to top of the fuel pump plus and additional Bendix electric fuel pump is good - use the stock Turbo (high-output) ignition coil from Chevy - others will not work under boost - plugs will misfire)

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