CHEVROLET CORVAIR 1986 2.G Owner's Guide

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ing the front corner of the top and rotating the top for­
ward until top rests on windshield header.
The locking handles are then rotated outboard
which engages the lock hooks to the striker assembly
located on the windshield header.
Installing the Top Boot
Remove top boot from its protective case, which is normally stored in the luggage compartment.
Grasping forward
end of the boot, slide the welt on
the
boot into the retainer located on the top of the rear
seat back panel. The boot can then be placed over the
lowered top and the metal snap fasteners on the boot
can be snapped onto the studs on the belt molding and quarter trim. Any wrinkles that may exist may be re­
lieved
by sliding the forward portion of the boot to the
right or left in the retainer.
Care of Folding Top and Rear Window
The folding top should never be subiected to vola­
tile cleaners or household bleaches. Frequent washing
with
neutral soap suds, lukewarm water and soft bristle
brush
is normally all that is necessary to maintain the
"Factory Fresh" look. In the event heavy soilage or
stubborn stains are encountered, a mild foaming clean­ser, lukewarm water, and a soft bristle brush may be
used. If desired, the top may be supported from the
underside during the cleaning
operation. Regardless
which cleaning method is used, a generous amount of
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rinse water is to be used as any soap that runs down
on the
body finish and allowed to dry, may cause streaks.
After cleaning,
always be sure the top is thoroughly dry before it is lowered.
The pliable plastic window, due to its texture, is sus­
ceptible
to scratches and abrasions. As a result, the top
should not be lowered when the rear window is dirty.
When cleaning the
rear window, do not use a dry
cloth or volatile cleaning agents. A soft cloth moistened
with
water should be used to remove superficial dust.
When completely washing the rear window, cold or
luke warm water and a mild neutral soap suds may be
used along with a generous amount of rinse water. In
addition, the rear window can be cleaned with G.M. Plastic Cleaner available at your dealer.
A scraper should never be used for removing snow
or ice from the rear window. In an emergency, warm
water may be cautiously used.
NOTE: DO NOT paste any stickers or masking tape
on rear window as damage will result.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
• To open: Push up the lid release while lifting the lid.
Lift the lid all the way up, then release.
• To close: Lift up on lid, unlock the support arm catch
lock, then lower the lid. Drop the lid the last six

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine inches to assure that the lid lock mechanism is en­
gaged.
For proper engine cooling keep the vents located
below the
rear window free of ice, snow and leaves.
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT
The luggage compartment is located beneath the
lid at the front of the car.
• To open the luggage compartment, pivot the spring
loaded emblem to reveal lock, insert the key and,
holding the lid down to r~lieve the tension on the
lock, turn the key fully clockwise
and allow the coun­
terbalanced lid to open. To close, slam the lid firmly.
29
GAS CAP
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
The gas cap is concealed beneath the spring loaded
door on the left front fender.
The fuel tank, filler pipe and all tank connections
have been carefully designed to reduce fuel
leakage
after termination of certain collisions. This design reduces
fire hazards in these collisions.
CAUTION: Gasoline is extremely flammable
and highly explosive under certain conditions.
Always stop the engine
and do not smoke or
allow open flames or sparks near the vehicle
when refueling.
If gasoline fumes are noticed
while driving,
the cause should be determined
and corrected without delay.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CLEANING HINTS
EXTERIOR APPEARANCE
Your Corvair is fi"nished with General Motors "Magi<=­
Mirror" acrylic lacquer. This is a finish of maximum beauty
which, in depth of color, gloss retention and durability is
superior to conventional lacquer finishes.
Washing Your Corvair
Thebest way to preserve the finish is to keep it clean.
Normally only frequent washings are required to maintain
its original beauty. Wash the car in either warm or cold
(never hot)
water, notin the direct rays of the sun, and not
while the sheet metal surfaces are hot. Never wipe dirt
from dry
painted surfaces because this may scratch the
finish. The use
of strong soaps and chemical detergents
should
be avoided and in any event cleaning agents
should be promptly flushed from the surface (lnd not
allowed to dry or they may streak the finish.
Polishing and Waxing YourCorvair
Even though the acrylic paint on your car is more
durable than conventional finishes, under certaincondi­
tions you may wish to wax or polish your car to provide
30
maximum protection. Calcium chloride and other salts,
road oil and tar, tree sap, chemicals from factory chim­
neys and other foreign matter may damage any known
automobile finish if
allowed to remain in contact with the
paint
film. Prompt washing may not thoroughly remove
these deposits
and, particularly in geographical areas
where these exposure conditions are severe, properly
applied polishes and waxes of known quality will pro­
vide the best protection. Chevrolet Dealers offer G.M.
Acry-Mel Hand Applied Cleaner and Polish and G. M.
Triple Acti()n
Cleaner and Polish; both are excellent for
use on acrylic finishes . Road oil
and tar removers must
be warranted safe for use on acrylic finishes. Chevrolet
recommends G. M. Road Oil and Tar Remover.
Protection of Exterior Bright Metal Parts
All bright metal parts of the car should be regularly
cleaned and protected against the same substances
harmful to the painted surfaces. Normally, washing with
water is all that is required. Never use chrome polish,
steam or any caustic soap to clean ALUMINUM. Wash
only with luke-warm water, and if necessary, a mild soap.
Rinse well and dry thoroughly. Severe cases may be

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine cleaned with a cleaning compound specified for acrylic
finishes.
It is recommended that all bright metal parts of your
Corvair,
after being thoroughly cleaned, be given a
coating
of wax and rubbed to a high polish. This will
serve to keep corrosive agents away from these surfaces,
and should be repeated as often as required.
Cleaning White Sidewall Tires
Use soap, warm water or a tire cleaner and a stiff
brush to remove
road grime and' dirt from white sidewall
tires. A fine
grade of steel wool will remove severe curb
scrapes .
Do not use gasoline, kerosene or any oil product
which would discolor or deteriorate the rubber.
INTERIOR APPEARANCE
Dust and Dirt
Clean the interior of your car frequently, using a
broom
or vacuum cleaner.
Polish should not be used to clean interior bright
finish parts. Abrasive compounds used
in most polishes
may damage the finish. Cleaning with a damp cloth,
then rubbing with a polishing cloth
is all that is required.
31
CAUTION: Some white sidewall cleaners will cause
serious damage to aluminum trim. Use caution
when cleaning tires with this type
of cleaner .
Spots and Stains
Remove upholstery stains as soon as possible or
they may become "set" and difficult or impossible to
remove. First determine the type
and age of the stain
and the kind of upholstery material. Kar Kleen Uphol­
stery Cleaner, available from your Authorized Chevrolet
Dealer,
will remove most stains. Do not use alkaline
cleaners for they may
damage the color or finish of the
materials.
Other solutions such as hot or cold water,
ammonia water,
soap, ink eradicator, etc., will probably
discolor and disturb the material.
CAUTION: When cleaning interior fabrics or
carpeting, do not use volatile cleaning solvents
such
as: acetone, lacquer thinners, carbon tetra­
chloride, enamel reducers, nail polish removers,
or laundry soaps, bleaches and reducing agents.
NEVER USE GASOLINE OR NAPHTHA FOR ANY
CLEANING PURPOSE.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
Your Corvair is designed to operate efficiently on
"Regular" or "Premium" grade fuels, commonly sold in
the United States and Canada, depending on the engine
installed in your car. The table below indicates the fuel
grade requirements for various Corvair engines.
ENGINE
95 H.P. TURBO-AIR
110 H.P. TURBO-AIR
140 H.P. TURBO-AIR
FUEL GRADE
Regular
Premium
Premium
Use
of a fuel which is too low in anti-knock quality
will result in "spark knock." Since the anti-knock quality
of all regular grade or of all premium grade gasolines
is not the same and factors such as altitude, terrain and
air temperature affect operating efficiency, knocking may
result even though you are using the grade of fuel rec­
ommended for your engine. If persistent knocking is en­
countered, it may be necessary to change to a higher
grade of gasoline and, If knocking continues, consult
your authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
In any case, continuous or excessive knocking may
result in engine damage and constitutes misuse of the en­
gine for which the Chevrolet Motor Division is not re­
sponsible under terms of the Manufacturer's New Vehicle
Warranty.
32
Operation in a Foreign Country
If you plan to operate your Corvair outside the con­
tinental limits of the United States or Canada, there is
a possibility that the best fuels available are so low in
anti-knock quality that excessive knocking and serious
engine damage may result from their use. To minimize
this possibility,
write to Chevrolet Motor Division, Gen­
eral Motors Corporation, Owner Relations Department,
Detroit,
Michigan 48202, giving: (1) The compression
ratio of your engine (see page 44 or obtain from your
dealer); (2) The vehicle identification number (see page
44); (3) The country or countries in which you plan to
travel.
You
will be furnished details of adjustments or
modifications which should be made to your engine by
your Chevrolet Dealer prior to your departure.
Failure to make the necessary changes in your car and
subsequent operation under conditions of continuous or
excessive knocking is considered misuse of the engine for
which the Chevrolet Motor Division is not responsible un­
der terms of the Manufacturer's New Vehicle Warranty.
After arriving in a foreign country, contact the near­
est authorized General Motors Dealer for brand names
of the best fuels available and advice as to where they
may be purchased.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ENGINE OIL REQUIREMENTS
Engine Oil Recommendations
Use only "first line" oils which, according to the
label on the can, are (1) intended for service MS, and
(2) pass car makers' tests
(including
General Motors
Standard GM 6041-M. The
oil
change interval, as rec­
ommended in this section on
oils,
is based on the regular
use of oil of this quality of
engine oil. The majority of
the suitable oils currently
available are multi-viscosity
(e.g., 10W-30) products.
NOTE: Non-detergent and
other low quality oils are
specifically not recommended. The use of proper engine
oils and oil change intervals are your best assurance of
continued reliability and performance from your Corvair
engine.
The use of "break-in" oils, "tune-up" compounds,
"frictIon-reducing" compounds, etc., in your Corvair
engine are not recommended. However, there are
additive supplements available that can be helpful
under certain conditIons. For example, if higher deter­
gency is required to reduce varnish and sludge deposits,
a thoroughly tested
and approved concentrate-"High
Detergency Concentrate" * -is available at your Corvair 'or "Engine Oil Supplement"'
33
dealer who can advise you regarding its use.
NOTE: When checking or adding oil, be care­
ful to avoid spilling or dropping oil onto the
engine shrouding .
Recommended Oil Viscosity: The following chart will
serve
as a guide in selecting the proper oil viscosity.
The
proper viscosity helps assure good cold starting
by reducing friction and thus increasing cranking speed.
ANTICIPATED RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY OIL
TEMP. SINGLE VISCOSITY MULTI-VISCOSITY Above Freezing (+32° F.) SAE-20W SAE-10W-30 Below Freezing and Above 0° F. SAE-10W SAE-10W-30 Below 0° F. SAE-5W SAE-5W-20
NOTE: When changing oi/ consider the anticipoted temperatures for the next 4 months.
SAE 5W and 5W·20 oils are not recommended for sustained high speed driving.
SAE 30 and SAE· 20W-40 oils may be used at temperatures above 90°F. SAE 5W-30 oils may be used at temperatures be/ow 32°F . SAE IOW-40 oils may be used at temperatures between 0 and 90~F.
Checking Oil Level: The engine oil should be main­
tained at proper level. The best time to check it is
before operating the engine or as the last step in a
fuel stop.
This will allow the oil accumulation in the
engine to drain back to the crankcase. To ch~eck the

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine level, remove the oil gauge rod (dip stick), wipe it
clean and reinsert it firmly for an accurate reading.
The oil level should be maintained in the safety margin,
neither going above the FULL line nor below the ADD
mark. Reseat the gauge firmly after taking the reading.
DO NOT OVERFilL.
COOLING SYSTEM CARE
The engine fan belt should be checked for tightness
at regular intervals. When a new belt is needed use only
the approved premium belt available from your Chev­
rolet dealer. If any other belt is installed, replace with
recommended belt when possible.
Watch the TEMP-PRESS and GEN-FAN indicators on the
instrument
panel for signs of overheating.
Air inlet louvers, located in the panel below the rear
window, supply air for engine combustion and cooling
and for the Direct Air Heater. Make sure the louvers are
never sealed or blocked.
TIRES
The factory installed tires on your car are selected
to provide the best all around tire performance for all
normal operation. When inflated as recommended in
the
tire inflation pressure table they have the load
carrying capacity to operate satisfactorily at all loads
up to and including the specified full rated load, at all
normal highway speeds.
RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURES Pounds per Square I nch (Cool)
MODELS TIRE PLY
1 TO 6 PASSENGERS Standard
Coupe + 200 LBS. LUGGAGE 4-Ply Rating-2 Ply (1100 LBS. LOAD)
1 TO 5 PASSENGERS Monza
Coupe -+ 200 LBS. LUGGAGE 4-Ply Rating-2 Ply (950 LBS. LOAD)
1 TO 5 PASSENGERS Monza Convertible -+ 200 LBS. LUGGAGE 4-Ply Rating-2 Ply (950 LBS. LOAD)
1. Tire inflation pressures
may increase as much as six (6) pounds per square
inch (PSI) when hot. 2. For continuous high speed operation (over 75 MPH) increase tire inflation pressures four (4) pounds per square inch over the recommended pressures up to a maximum of 32 pounds per square inch cool for 4-ply rating tires.
When the 4 psi pressure adjustment for sustained high speed with maximum vehicle load would require inflation pressures above the maximum allowable, speed must be limited to 75 miles per hour.
34
STANDARD INFLATION PRESSURE FOR TIRE USAGE ALL LOADS INCLUDING FULL RATED
FRONT REAR
7.00-13-15 28
7.00-13· 15 26
7.00-13· 15 28
3. Cool tire inflation pressure: after vehicle has been inoperative for three (3)
hours or more or driven less than one (1) mile. Hot tire inflation pressure:
after vehicle has been driven ten (10) miles or more at 60-70 mph. 4. Vehicles with luggage racks do not have a load limit greater than specified. 5. When towi ng trai lers, the allowable passenger and cargo load must be reduced by an amount equal to the trailer tongue load on the trailer hitch.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Inflation Pressure-To ensure the proper tire inflation
pressure for your particular requirements,
follow the
recommendations
in the tire inflation pressure table.
Keep tires properly inflated,
and check inflation pres­
sures periodically.
This will assure you of the best tire
life and riding comfort over the full range of driving
conditions.
Corvair Tire Usage-Standard tires for Corvairs are
7.00 x 13 4-ply rating, 2-ply. Optional tires are not
available.
TIRE WEAR
A decrease in driving, cornering and braking trac­
tion occurs under inclement
weather conditions as tires
become worn out. Moreover, worn tires have lessened
resistance to
road hazards. The original equipment tires
on your Corvair incorporate
builtcin tread wear indicators
to assist you
in determining when your tires have been
worn to the point of needing replacement. These indi­
cators
are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves
and will appear as % -inch wide bands when the tire
tread depth becomes 1 /16th of an inch. When the indi­
cators
appear in two or more adjacent grooves, tire
replacement
due to tread wear is recommended.
35
Rotation of tire on Corvair vehicles is not recom­
mended. When instcilling new replacement tires and
only two are needed, it is recommended that the new
tires
be placed on the front wheels.
TREAD
STILL GOOD
-
TREAD
WORN OUT .... .-

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine CAUTION: For safety sake, never get beneath the
car when it is supported only by the jack. Always
use
safety stancls to support the vehicle if it is
necessary to get uncler the car.
If your vehicle is equipped with a Positraction
differential,
do not run the engine for any reason
with
one rear wheel off the ground as the car may
drive through the rear wheel remaining on the
ground.
36
JACKING THE CAR
When jacking the car, set the hand brake, block
diagonal wheel,
and, if changing wheels, remove the
hub
cap and loosen wheel nuts. Locate the jack under
the side
of the car as shown.
Spare tire and jack stowage are illustrated below.
Wrench
is stowed in luggage compartment. On models
with the
spare tire in the engine compartment, mount
the wheel on locating studs with valve opening down­
ward
and toward center of ·car.
CAUTION: Never attempt to raise the Corvair by
. placing any kincl of jack under the bumper .

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND LUBRICATION
The time or mileage intervals on the following pages
are intended as a general guide for establishing regular
maintenance and lubrication periods for your Corvair.
Sustained heavy duty or high speed operations or oper-
A WORD ABOUT VEHICLE EMISSIONS
All new 1968 Corvairs are certified by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare as
conforming to the requirements of the regulations for
the Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles
and New Motor Vehicle Engines.
General Motors has developed control systems which
are highly effective in reducing undesirable crankcase
and exhaust emissions. It is very important that the owner make certain that the engine is serviced regularly
in order to maintain its efficiency and to keep emissions
below maximum allowable limits.
The emission control system on
your 1968 Corvair is
relatively easy to maintain, requiring only specific serv­
ices as recommended by Chevrolet. To function properly,
this system must be inspected periodically and engine
tune-up performed at specified intervals by qualified
repairmen. For ready reference, pertinent information regarding ignition timing and idle speed and fuel mix­
ture specifications is shown on a sticker affixed under
the hood of your vehicle. Following the prescribed main-
37
ation under adverse conditions may necessitate more
frequent servicing. For specific recommendations for con­
ditions under which you use your vehicle, consult your
authorized Chevrolet Dealer.
tenance services
will help assure cleaner air and will
provide better running, longer lasting engines for greater
all-around satisfaction, economy and performance.
POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (P.C.V')
The Positive Crankcase Ventilation system, which is
standard equipment on your vehicle, prevents emission
of gases from the crankcase. The P .C.V. system connects
the crankcase and intake manifold of the engine and
crankcase gases are returned through this system to the
combustion
chamber where they are burned. Periodic
inspection
and required servicing of your P.C.V. system
assures a cleaner, better-performing, longer-lasting
engine. A plugged P.C.V. system results in a loss of
crankcase ventilation which can cause condensation of
blow-by gases in the crankcase, resulting in the forma­
tion of acids, sludge build-up and oil dilution. This also
results in
an increase in exhaust emissions due to car­
buretor enrichment. Every 12,000 miles or 12 months,
whichever occurs first, the PCV valve should be replaced.