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.

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 el ectrically 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 IE) mark, but may stop
8
at any point on the gauge . Therefore, always be sure
that the ignition switch is "on" when reading the fuel
gauge.
SPEEDOMETER
Conveniently located in the instrument cluster di-
rectly ahead of the driver, the speedometer shows at a
glance the speed of the car in miles per hour. The
odometer , encircled within the speedometer dial, reg-
isters accumulated vehicle mileage .

TEMP-PRESS AND GEN-FAN INDICATORS
These indicators provide a check on the operating
condition of the engine and the generator. Both indi-
cators should light with the ignition switch ON before
starting the engine and should go out after the engine
is started. The lights should remain out while engine is
operating, except the GEN-FAN indicator may flicker
when
engine is idling.
CAUTION: If either of these indicators light
while car is
being driven, immediately follow the
procedure outlined under "EMERGENCY OPER-
ATING INSTRUCTIONS," so car may be driven
to
the nearest service facility.
EMERGENCY OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
(To be followed if either
TEMP-PRESS or GEN-FAN indi-
cators light while car is being
driven.)
1.
Set heater FAN and HEAT
controls to full "ON" positions.
(If
equipped with air conditioning, turn air condi-
tioning COOL switch to OFF.)
9
NOTE: After setting the heater controls, leave
them in that position until cause of trouble is
corrected ..
2. Stop the car as soon as driving conditions permit.
Turn ignition key to OFF
to stop engine but turn
key
back to ON so heater blower will continue
to cool engine.
3. Check for broken fan belt or belt off pulleys or
engine low oil level. If only GEN-FAN indicator
is lighted, belt is not broken or off pulleys and en-
gine oil level is satisfactory, car can be driven at
slow speeds; however, generator must be checked
and serviced as soon as possible.
4. If trouble is found to be a broken fan belt or belt
off pulleys, wait approximately five minutes, start
engine and drive car at no more than 25 miles per
hour until TEMP-PRESS indicator comes on, then
repeat Step 2.
NOTE: The GEN-FAN indicator will stay on until
fan
belt is installed.
5. Repeat Step 4 as necessary until facility is reached
where fan belt can be installed.

I
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
LIGHT WIPER
RIGHT TURN
SIGNAL INDICATOR
LIGHT CONTROL KNOB
PARKING
LIGHTS
TURN TO VARY
LIGHTER
GLOVE COMPARTMENT
LOCK
GLOVE COMPARTMENT
ASH
TRAY
10
The three-position light switch is operated as shown.
Turn the
knob to vary the brightness of the instrument
lights. Turn the knob fully counterclockwise past the
"detent" to turn on the dome light. The headlamp and
parking lamp circuits are protected by a circuit breaker .
An overload condition will cause the headlights to
"flicker" on and off. If this flickering condition is experi-
enced, the head lamp circuit should be checked by your
Authorized Chevrolet Dealer.

DIMMER SWITCH
The foot button switches the headlights between
"high" and "low" beam. The red "high" beam indicator
will be lighted when the headlights are on "high" beam.
Always dim the lights when approaching oncoming cars.
11
TURN SIGNAL
The turn signal lever should be moved UP to signal
a right turn or DOWN to signal a left turn. The green
turn signal indicators in the instrument panel will signal
the direction as will the front and rear turn signal
lamps. When the turn is completed, the lever will auto-
matically return to neutral position.
Get into the habit of turning
on the signal well in ad-
vance of where you plan to
turn, other drivers will ap-
preciate your consideration.

FOOT CONTROLS
Foot controls consist of the dimmer switch (the op-
eration of which is covered on page 11), the clutch pedal
(manual transmissions only), the brake pedal and the
accelerator pedal.
CLUTCH PEDAL
The operation of the clutch pedal has been fully
covered under "Driving with the Manual Transmissions"
on
page 4. Its operation is the same whether your car
is equipped with the 3-speed or the 4-speed transmission.
Excessive clutch
wear can be caused by letting up the
clutch abruptly rather than smoothly, and by "riding" the
clutch-that is, letting your foot rest on the clutch pedal
while driving.
12
CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT
Clutch adjustment should be checked and adjusted
periodically as necessary to compensate for clutch facing
wear. To check, depress pedal by hand until resistance
is felt. Free travel of pedal should be approximately
%-inch; if very little or no free play is evident, clutch
adjustment
is required.
BRAKES
The self adjusting brakes usually adjust themselves
as necessary. Should brake pedal travel become exces-
sive, drive
the car forward and backward several times
applying the brakes to stop after backing. Pedal travel
should return to normal
after several reverse stops
The
brake pedal should have a hard firm feel when
applied. If pedal feel becomes soft or spongy the
brakes are in need of service.
Pull the parking brake lever to engage the brake.
The lever will remain in the applied position until released.
To release, pull the handle toward the steering wheel,
depress the "trigger" and allow the handle to return
to the released position. Always engage the parking
brake when parked.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
OFF~ON
The single-speed (or optional two-speed) parallel
acting wipers are operated by means of the wiper con-
trol knob on the dash. Turning this knob clockwise turns
on the
wiper motor. The optional two-speed wipers have
three switch positions, "Off," "Low" and "High." A
fully counterclockwise turn of the knob turns off the
wiper .
Exposure
to the "elements" tends to "wear out" the
rubber in the wiper blades . Check the blades periodically
and replace them whenever they show signs of streaky
or otherwise poor wiping action.
Pressing once on the accessory windshield washer
button will cause the washer to squirt a measured amount
of water or other cleaning agent onto the glass and will
at the same time turn on the wiper. The wiper must
then
be manually turned off, when the washing process
13
is completed, by means of the wiper control knob.
Water or cleaning agent needed for operation of
the accessory windshield washers is carried in a plastic
water jar attached to the dash panel within the luggage
compartment. Keep the washer jar filled to a level
2 inches below the top of the jar with a suitable solvent.
Windshield Washer Anti-Freeze and Solvent, G. M. Part
No . 1050001, is recommended for use in the Corvair
windshield washer jar. In the winter, fill the washer
jar only 3,4 full to allow for expansion if the solution
freezes. In freezing weather, pre-warm the windshield
using the heater defrosters before using the washers.

DIRECT AIR HEATER The Direct Air Heater
uses engine cooling air to
heat the interior of the car.
Operation of the controls is
given below.
FAN-Controls blower speed.
Blower must not be op-
erated unless HEAT lever
is depressed.
HEAT
-Controls the amount of hot air to the system.
NOTE: When shutting off the above control lever, pull fully
up until the lever snaps into the latch position.
DEF-Diverts heated air to the defroster outlets.
OPERATION FOR MAXIMUM COMFORT
• MINIMUM HEAT REQUIREMENTS-During spring and
fall in areas where climatic conditions are less severe,
depress the HEAT
lever only as required for your
comfort.
• MAXIMUM HEAT REQUIREMENTS-Depress HEAT lever
to extreme down position. If heat becomes exces-
sive, pull up HEAT
knob to desired position.
Additional rear seat
compartment heat may be
obtained by opening the
heater outlet located in the
seat riser.
Heater Operating Tips
The Direct Air Heater receives air from the air inlet
louvers below the rear window. Clean snow from this
opening and surrounding areas before operating the
heater.
Operate the heater for several minutes before turn-
ing on the defroster. This will clear the system of moisture
and help prevent windshield fogging.
Keep all windows and vents closed to reduce drafts,
and noise.
Quicker defrosting may be obtained when the rear
seat heater outlets are closed.
NOTE: In Direct Air Heaters vapor may collect when vehicle stands for long periods, keep the HEAT lever in OFF position for the first
few minutes of engine operation. This will reduce the tendency for moisture to condense on windshield. Oil spilled on engine
shrouding may cause odor in passenger compartment. To avoid discomfort, the cause of any odor should be traced and defect
prom ptly corrected.
14

AIR CONDITIONING
The optional air conditioner provides controlled con-
ditioned air at each of the three dash panel mounted
outlets.
Air conditioner and heater are two separate units
with a common control housing-The air condition con-
trols function as follows.
COOL -Depress the COOL
lever as required to pro-
vide the desired condi-
tioned air temperature
through the dash outlets.
COOL lever must be de-
pressed past detent be-
fore cooling fan will
operate.
FAN-Vary the fan switch as
necessary
to satisfy com-
fort requirements. The FAN switch must be turned
ON to at least "LOW" speed during all cooling
operations.
AIR-For maximum cooling capacity during periods of
extreme heat and humidity, and when first turning
on the system, the air lever should be in the full
"UP" position. Depress lever to satisfy needs under
less severe cooling requirements.
15
AIR CONDITIONER OPERATING TIPS
Always operate the Air Conditioning System with all
windows and vents closed to eliminate drafts, wind and
road noise. The cover plate furnished should remain
installed over the engine air recirculating slot during
the season when cooling is required. This plate should
be removed, and stowed as shown, when outside tem-
peratures are continuously below 60
0
F.
For the best system operation at altitudes over 4000
ft., reduce the cooling output slightly.
Run the system for five minutes every week to lubri-
cate seals and moving parts.

CHEVROLET
"ALL TRANSISTOR"
RADIOS
To operate the radios, the igni-
tion switch must
be in "ON" or
"ACC" position.
Antenna
For best FM operation the an-
tenna must be extended to a length
of 31 inches. For best AM opera -
tion
the antenna should be fully
extended .
••• AM Radios
The left hand control knob is the "on-off" switch and volume control. At
its base is the tone control wing knob. The right hand knob is the manual
station selector. With
the optional rear seat speaker, a wing knob at the base
of the station selector knob allows use of front, rear or both speakers.
Five push buttons allow station selection in the Push Button Radio. To
preset, pull the push button "out" as far as it will go, tune in the desired
station manually and then push the button fully "in." Repeat for each push
button.
• • • AMI FM Radio
This set receives clear static-free FM broadcasts as well as standard AM
programs. Move the slide bar to select AM or FM reception. Controls are the
same as in Manual and Push Button radios. FM broadcasts may be received
as far as 60 miles from the sending station, depending on the power of the
station and existing terrain. Push buttons may be set for AM, FM or both.
• • • Stereo Multiplex Adapter
The optional Stereo Multiplex Adapter permits FM Stereo reception with
the AM/FM
radio. Radio controls are used to turn the set on and off and for
station selection. Controls on
the adapter are Volume, Tone and Balance (to
- balance the front and rear speakers!. For a pleasing stereo effect the front
speaker reproduces one channel and the rear speaker reproduces the other
channel. The indicator light on the adapter will be lighted when the radio is
tuned to an FM stereo station. Most broadcasts on such stations will be in
stereo.
16

TELESCOPING STEERING COLUMN
Repositioning of the
steering wheel can be accom-
plished at the driver's dis-
cretion.
Turn the control knob
counterclockwise to
unlock-
position wheel as desired-
turn control knob clockwise
to lock.
The optionally avail-
able telescoping steering
column permits position-
ing
of the steering wheel
for improved visibility
and comfort. An axial
adiustment of approxi-
mately three inches is
provided for in the tele-
scoping steering shaft.
17
CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND ASH TRAY
The ash tray and cover is an integral unit. Press on
lower position of cover to pivot receptacle toward you.
To remove tray for cleaning purposes, press the catch
at inside rear of tray and lift from panel.
Press on the optional cigarette lighter to heat. When
ready for use, it will "pop" out.
AIR VENTS
Additional summer ventila-
tion is provided through vent
inlets in each side of the front
passenger compartment. The
vents may
be opened or
closed by means of the con-
trol knobs located in the
trim pad.