Chevrolet 1963 Corvair User manual

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Whether you have chosen the 1963 Chevro./et Corvair, the Corvair Spyder,
or the equally dependable Corvair 95, you are assured of the usual high degree
of Chevrolet excellence in design and manufacture.
The information
and suggestions found in this owners guide can help you
enjoy to the fullest, all of the
advantages and features built into your Corvair.
Your Chevrolet dealer is well trained and equipped to inspect and service
your Corvair
and keep it ready to provide new car service and performance.
Have
him inspect and service your car at regular intervals.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing
Chevrolet-and to assure you of our continuing interest in your motoring pleasure
and satisfaction.
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIVI · SION •GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
DETROIT 2, MICHIGAN
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Page
Corvair
Operating Instructions .................................... . 2
Instruments ..... . ........................................ . 8
Controls .. . ... . . . ................. . . .. . . ................ .
10
Corvair Spyder .. . : .................. . . . ... . ............... .
22
Corvair 95 ............................. . .. .. ........ . ..... . 24
Cleaning Hints .. .. .. ......... . .... . .. .. .... . .... . ......... . 30
Maintenance and Lubrication ................ . ............... .
32
Specifications 44
Service ·Accessories ....................... . ................. .
46
Minor Trouble Shooting Guide ........ . . .. . .. ................ .
47
Minor Trouble Shooting Procedures .......... . ................ .
48
Index
51
Owner Protection Plan .. . ....... . ... . ..... . ..... Inside Back Cover
All information contained in this booklet is based on the latest product information available at the
time of printing . The right is reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
PART NO. 3821483 • SECOND EDlTION
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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Sound design and precision manufacturing methods
will permit you to operate your new Corvair in a normal
manner from its very first mile without adhering to a
formal "break-in" schedule. However, during the first
few hundred miles of driving you can, by observing a
few simple precautions, add to the future performance
and economy of your car.
It is recommended that your speed during the first
500 miles be confined to a maximum of 60 MPH, but
do not drive for extended periods at anyone constant
speed, either fast or slow. During this period, avoid full
Proper maintenance and wise operation will com-
bine to help you achieve maximum fuel economy with
your Corvair . Your Authorized Chevrolet Dealer can
properly tune and maintain your car but wise operation
is your responsibility. Give the car sufficient warm-up
throttle "jack-rabbit" starts and unnecessary, quick,
abrupt stops.
Gentle braking during the first few hundred miles of
operation will result in longer brake life and better
future performance. Avoid unnecessary, hard stops espe-
cially during the first 200 miles of operation since brake
misuse during this period will destroy much future brake
efficiency .
Always drive at a moderate speed until the engine
has completely warmed up.
time, do not make "jack rabbit" starts or unnecessary
skidding stops, and drive at reasonable speeds and as
steady as traffic permits to gain the benefits of all the
economy built into your Corvair.
CAUTION: Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced by the engine of any car . It is odor-
less, so you cannot detect its presence. Be safe. Never start or run engine in a closed garage.
2
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IGNITION SWITCH
LOCK OFF ON START
START-Used only when starting engine. When released,
switch returns
to ON.
ON-For normal operation after engine has been started.
OFF-Turns off engine and accessories.
LOCK -Same as OFF except that switch cannot be
moved into or out of this position without ignition
key. Always switch to LOCK and remove the key
when
leaving your car unattended.
NOTE: Key cannot be removed from switch when in OFF
position, thus guarding against accidentally leaving
switch
OFF but not locked. The key may be removed
when the switch is in ON position and the switch
may then be actuated to OFF and START positions.
STARTING
1. POWERGLIDE-Place control lever in N position.
3
The engine will not start with the transmission
in
gear.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION-Place gearshift control
lever in neutral,
and depress clutch pedal to the
floor.
2. Depress accelerator part way and release. In ex-
treme cold weather (O°F. and below) or when
engine
is hot, accelerator pedal should be held
part way down during starting.
3. Turn ignition switch to START and release as soon
as
engine starts.
4. "FLOODED" ENGINE-Depress accelerator to floor
and hold while cranking engine . Never "pump"
accelerator.
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WARM-UP
Never race the engine or drive at high speeds until
the engine has had a chance to warm up. Always drive
at moderate speeds for several miles, especially in cold
weather. Failure to allow sufficient warm-up time causes
much unnecessary wear to the engine. Also, excessive
speeds before axle and transmission lubricant becomes
warmed up. can cause harm to these parts.
The
three-speed and optional four-speed trans-
missions
are operated in basically the same manner. Shift
patterns differ, of course, as illustrated in the two
illustrati.ons on page 5.
Jst GEAR (LOW)-Depress clutch pedal, shift into 1st
gear, slowly release clutch pedal while pressing on
accelerator. As car gains speed, depress clutch pedal,
release accelerator and move gearshift into 2nd gear.
2nd GEAR-Release clutch pedal and depress accelerator
as above as car gains speed, then, in same manner
4
as before, move gearshift lever into 3rd gear.
3rd GEAR (HIGH)-Slowly release clutch pedal and de -
press
accelerator pedal. This is the cruising gear for
all normal driving with the 3-speed transmission.
With the 4-speed transmission 3rd gear will provide
more
response and higher performance for driving
in heavy traffic.
4th
GEAR (HIGH-4-speed transmission only)
Shift into 4th
gear in the same manner for normal
cruising with the 4-speed transmission.
NOTE: Whenever the vehicle begins to labor in
any gear, depress the clutch pedal and shift to
the next lower
gear.
TO STOP-Release the accelerator and depress the
brake pedal. As car slows down, depress the clutch
pedal and move the gearshift lever into neutral.
NEUTRAL-For use when starting or idling engine.
REVERSE-Operate as for 1st gear but always at a
slow speed.
TOWING-Attaching points for lifting and towing are
located in the front and rear bumper brack~ts.
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Three Speed Shift Pattern
PUSHING TO START
• Turn on key and depress clutch pedal.
• Place gearshift lever in neutral position until car
speed reaches approximately 15 mph.
The optional Powerglide transmission is a completely
automatic transmission which replaces the standard clutch
and transmission. After starting the engine with the se-
lector lever in N (neutral) position, merely select the
range desired and depress the accelerator. The Power-
glide transmission will do the rest.
5
Four Speed Shift Pattern
• Move shift lever to 3rd position and slowly release
clutch pedal.
• Never attempt to start the car by towing.
With lever in D position the transmission starts in "
automatic low gear and will shift to cruising gear at
some point between approximately 12 and 50 mph,
depending on the accelerator position. Thus, a slow start
with a steady, gradual increase of pressure on the accel-
erator pedal will enable the transmission to shift into the
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more economical cruising gear in the shortest possible
time.
Hard acceleration for fast starts will cause the trans-
mission
to remain in low gear for a considerably longer
period.
When driving at speeds below 45 mph, the transmis-
sion may be shifted back into low range for extra acceler-
ation for passing by depressing the accelerator pedal
fully. The transmission will automatically shift back into
cruising gear when the accelerator pedal is momentarily
released.
PUSHING TO START
• Turn on key and move selector lever to neutral. At
20 to 25 mph move lever to L.
• When engine starts, move selector lever to D.
NOTE: Never tow to start.
OPERATING YOUR POWERGLIDE TRANSMISSION
POSITION
OPERATION
USES
R-REVERSE For Backing Car (From Stopped Position)
N-NEUTRAL For Starting Engine (Brakes Applied) NORMAL
DRIVING
D-DRIVE
For all
Forward Driving. Step hard on
RANGE
accelerator for extra acceleration
below
45 mph .
L-LOW
For Hard Pulling at Low Speeds, Climb-
SAND, SNOW,
ing , or Descendi ng Steep Grades and for
MUD OR ON
additional engine braking below 40 mph.
STEEP GRADES
6
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TOWING
• Place selector lever in neutral.
•
If transmission or axle are malfunctioning, tow with
rear wheels raised.
• When towing any vehicle on its front wheels, the
steering wheel should be secured to maintain a
straight forward position.
• Never tow faster than 50 mph.
• Attaching points for lifting and towing are located in
the front and rear bumper brackets.
ROCKING CAR
When stuck in mud, sand or snow, you may rock
the
car by depressing the accelerator slightly and shift-
ing the selector lever between Rand D. Avoid excessive
engine speed while performing this operation.
PARKING CAR
It is important that when your Corvair is parked the
parking brake be fully engaged. Do not count on the
The Positraction rear
axle gives you constant driv-
ing force on both rear wheels; especially helpful in the
winter and during other slippery driving conditions.
In normal use, light throttle application will supply
7
transmission to hold the car. Always engage the parking
brake when parked.
POWERGLIDE DRIVING CAUTIONS
• Always engage parking brake when parked.
• Do not accelerate engine in L, 0, or R with
the brakes engaged. This can cause damage
by overheating transmission.
• Do not hold car on an upgrade by accelerat-
ing engine. Use brakes.
• Use low position for hard pulls at low
speed, climbing or descending steep grades
and for push starting.
• Always stop car before shifting to reverse.
maximum
traction. When starting with one rear wheel
on an excessively
slippery surface, slight application of
the parking brake may be necessary to gain maximum
traction.
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INSTRUMENTS
All driving instruments are grouped in the instrument
cluster which
is located immediately in front of the driver
to provide quick reading and maximum convenience and
accessibility. The TEMP-PRESS and GEN-FAN indicators
provide important information concerning the condition
of the engine and should be observed regularly during
operation of the car. The information on these pages
will help you understand the operation of these instru-
ments. The
illustrations here and on page 10 will ac-
quaint you with the instrument cluster and the instrument
panel as a whole.
FUEL GAUGE
This electrically operated
gauge accurately indicates
the amount of fuel in the fuel
tank only when the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
When the ignition is "off",
the indicator pointer will not
necessarily return to the
empty (E) mark, but may stop
8
at any point on the gauge. Therefore, always be sure
that the ignition switch is "on" before checking the
fuel gauge.
SPEEDOMETER
Conveniently located in the instrument cluster direct-
ly ahead of the driver, the speedometer shows at a
glance the speed of the car in miles per hour. The
odometer, centered directly below the speedometer dial
registers accumulated vehicle mileage.
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