Chevrolet 1965 Corvair User manual

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CORVAIR ~~~~ 1965 ~
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A WORD FROM CHEVROLET . ..
This Owner~ Guide contains important information regarding the operation
and maintenance of your Corvair.
In order to obtain maximum enjoyment and usage from your car, we sug-
gest that you familiarize yourself with the contents of this booklet and follow
the recommendations outlined.
Your Chevrolet dealer has the trained personnel and specialized equipment
to properly service your Corvair. Have
him inspect your car and perform any
maintenance or adjustments required.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for choosing a Chevrolet
product-and assure you of our continuing interest in your motoring pleasure and
satisfaction.

Page
Corvair
Operating Instructions ..................................... 2
Instruments. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8
Controls ................................................. 10
Corvair Corsa
..................... . ......... .. .............. 22
Corvair Greenbrier ......................................... 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 lat.st product information available at th.
time of printing. The right is reserved to make changes at any time without notice.
SECOND EDITION
JAN., 1965

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Sound design and precIsion manufacturing methods
will permit you to operate your new Corvair 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 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 "Full Throttle" 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,
and do not sit in a parked car with engine running unless windows are open.
2

IGNITION SWITCH
STARTING THE ENGINE
STARTING
SWITCH OFF
AND LOCKED
~
ACC 011
\
OPERATI
ACCESSORIES
ONLY
DRIVING
POSITION
/'
ON START
STARTING
ENGINE
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.
ACC-AII accessories routed through the ignition switch
may
be operated with the switch in this position.
Engine will not
start with switch in ACC position
-ignition system is by-passed, permitting battery
power to flow directly to accessories.
To prevent rapid discharge of battery, do not
operate accessories for prolonged periods with
switch
in ACC position.
3
1. POWERGLIDE-Place control lever in N position.
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 pedal part way and hold. In '
extreme cold weather (O°F. and below), depress
accelerator pedal twice, then hold pedal part
way down during starting.
NOTE: Engine
will not start with accelerator ped-
al depressed to floor, except when "flooded."
3. Turn ignition switch to START and release as soon
as engine starts.
4. "FLOODED" ENGINE-Depress accelerator pedal to
floor and hold while cranking engine. DO NOT
"PUMP"
ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN ENGINE
IS "FLOODED."

WARM-UP
Never race engine or drive at high speeds until
engine has had a chance to warm up. Driving with
moderate accelerator pedal application will prevent
stalling and hesitation, especially during cold weather.
Failure to allow sufficient warm up time can cause un-
necessary wear to engine, axle or transmission parts
because of inadequate lubrication.
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
illustrations on
page 5.
1st 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
<is above as car gains speed, then, in same manner
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.

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.
Four Speed Shift Pattern
• Move shift lever to 3rd position and slowly release
clutch pedal.
• Never attempt to start the car by towing.
DRIVING WITH THE POWERGLIDE TRANSMISSION
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
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

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 off all electrical loads such as radio, heater and,
if possible, lights until the engine starts.
• 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 Descending Steep Grades and for
MUD OR ON
additional engine braking below 40 mph.
STEEP GRADES
6

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.
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
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.
DRIVING WITH POSITRACTION REAR AXLE
The Positraction rear axle gives you constant driv-
ing force on both r~ar wheels; especially helpful in the
winter and during other slippery driving conditions.
In normal use, light throttle application will supply
7
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.