1960 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Owners Manual

POWERGlIDE
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.
TOWING
• Place selector lever in Neutral.
• If transmission or axle are malfunctioning, tow with
rear wheels raised.
• Never tow faster than 30 MPH.
ROCKING CAR
When stuck in mud, sand or snow, you may rock
the car forward and back by depressing the accelerator
slightly and shifting the selector lever between" R" and
"D." Avoid excessive engine speed while performing
this operation.
~ -'.
6
SPEEDOMETER
Shows speed in miles per hour. The odometer below
the speedometer registers accumulated mileage.
FUEL GAUGE
This gauge indicates fuel quantity in the tank only
when the ignition switch is in the "ON" p')sition. When
the ignition is "OFF," the indicator pointer will not
necessarily return to the EMPTY mark, but may stop at
any point on the gauge.
"TEMP-PRESS" AND "GEN-FAN" INDICATORS
These indicators are extremely important since they
provide a constant check on the operating condition of
the air cooled engine and the generator of your Corvair.
Both
indicator lights should light with the ignition switch
"ON" and before starting the engine. Indicator lights
will go out shortly after engine is, started and during
normal operation of the car. Flickering of the "Gen-Fan"
light while engine is idling is a normal condition.
Engine cooling depends on operation of the fan
driven by the Gen-Fan belt. A broken or slipping fan
belt will cause the Gen-Fan indicator to remain lighted
during normal operation and continued engine opera­
tion can result in serious damage.

LIGHT SWITCH
LEFT TURN
INDICATOR BRIGHT BEAM INDICATOR RIGHT
TURN
INDICATOR
INSTRUMENTS
RADIO SPEAKER GLOVE BOX
LOCK
~~"-fHIf--RADIO
~~~~~~~&J CONTROLS
U:a~II---HEATER CONTROLS
INDICATOR REMAIN­ING LlGHT~D DURING NORMAL OPERATION
TEMP-PRESS Indicator
PROBABLE CAUSE
Low Oil Pressure
Excessive Engi ne Oil Tem p.
GEN-FAN Indicator Generator Not Charging
Fan Not Operating
IMPORTANT:
ITEMS TO BE CHECKED
Engine Oil Level
Oil Level and Fan Belt
Generator
Fan Belt
If either of the indicators light during normal operation, STOP CAR IMMEDIATELY and turn off ignition. Check for a broken or slipping fan belt or low engine oil level. NEVER DRIVE CAR UNTIL BROKEN FAN BELT IS
REPLACED. Never drive car when "Temp-Press" indicator i s lighted. Car can be driven at slow speeds if only "Gen­Fan" indicator is I ighted and fan belt is not broken, however, generator must be checked and serviced as soon as possi ble.
7

CONTROLS
LIGHT CONTROL KNOB
The three-position light switch is operated as shown.
Turn the
knob to vary the brightness of the instrument
lights. Turn fully counter-clockwise past the "detent" to
turn on the dome light.
TURN SIGNAL
The turn signal lever should be moved UP to signal
a right turn or DOWN to signal a left turn. The indicator
lights in the instrument panel will signal the direction as
will the parking and tail lights. When the turn is com­
pleted, the lever will automatically return to neutral
position.
8
FULLY COUNTER CLOCKWISE TURN TO VARY OFF@ORDOMELIGHTSBRIGHTNESSOF ~ ~ /INSTRUMENT ___ -." , PANEL
~~~
/,;----;; .... , ~ LIGHTS J -1'-I' ...... ' // ..-.... ~, /)~/,.~ .. ·,' ~ /1/ -' I II I" J/::::,'/·~"·I;'·""\ 1\1-~.P~ ~ \11 I" I'
/
-'-"'~\\ ,,/ ~ ... "., ~~-, ..... '1' ~~ .... "-'--INSTRUMENT ~-""-PARKING AND TAIL "-LIGHTS LIGHTS HEADLIGHTS
DIMMER SWITCH
The foot button located near your left foot switches
the
headlights between "high" and "low" beam. The
"high" beam indicator, located in the center of the
speedometer dial, will be lighted when the headlights
are on "high" beam. Always dim the lights when ap­
proaching oncoming cars.
. I CLUTCH PEDAL
,,~~:U

BRAKES
The brake pedal is of the pendant type, providing
ample footroom and extra leverage for easy safe stops.
PARKING BRAKE
Pull the parking brake lever to engage the brake. The
lever will remain in the applied position until released
by means of the "trigger" on the handle. To release,
pull the
handle toward the steering wheel, depress the
unlocking trigger and allow the handle to return to the
releas.ed position. Always engage the parking brake
when parked.
PARKING BRAKE APPLYING HANDLE
9
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
The parallel acting wipers are operated by means
of the wiper control knob on the dash .
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 motor. You
will have to turn off the wiper manually at the switch .
Keep the
washer jar filled to a level 2 inches below
the top of the jar with a suitable solvent. G. M. Part No.
988299, Windshield Washer Anti-Freeze and Solvent,
is recommended for use in the Corvair windshield washer
jar. NEVER USE ANY SOLVENT OR ANTI-FREEZE SOLU­
TION WHICH CONTAINS METHANOL Fill the washer
jar only % full to allow for expansion if the solution
freezes. In freezing weather, pre-warm the windshield
using the heater defrosters before using the washers.

HEATER
Three control levers provide full control of the
optional Corvair gasoline heater.
FAN-this is the AIR-ON control and the blower control.
This lever must be pushed down before the unit will
operate.
DEF-diverts heated air to the defroster ducts for
defogging or deicing windows.
HEAT-Allows for selecting degree of heat desired.
Heater will begin to supply heat in a minimum of
30 seconds. For efficient heating and heat distribu­
tion, keep all windows closed.
NOTE: When heater or ignition switch is shut off,
the combustion blower will continue to operate
for 30 to 40 seconds to remove unburned fuel
and vapor from the system. This is normal for this
type of heater.
10
RADIO
The optional Corvair radio control knobs are shown
below. For best reception the antenna should be extended
to at least the height of the car roof. For long distance
reception, extend the antenna to its full length.
ON-OFF SWITCH AND VOLUME CONTROl TONE CONTROl
HEATER~---1!m~!d CONTROLS TUNING
KNOB

KEYS AND LOCKS
A single key operates all locks on your Corvair;
front doors, ignition, glove box and luggage compart­
ment. Doors
may be locked from the inside by pushing
forward on the opening handle.
Record the serial number of your keys and then
remove the
knockout plug to prevent duplication by
unauthorized persons.
11
GLOVE BOX
The glove box may be locked and unlocked with
the ignition key.
CIGARETTE LIGHTER AND ASH TRAY
Press in on the optional cigarette lighter to heat.
When ready for use, it will .. pop" out. The ash tray
cover slides toward the front of the car to open. The
ash
receptacle lifts out for cleaning.
AIR VENTS
Additional summer ventilation is provided through
vent inlets in each side of the front passenger compart­
ment. The vents may be opened or closed by means of
the control knobs beneath each end of the instrument
panel.
AIR INTAKE
INTO CAR

FRONT SEAT ADJUSTMENT
The front seat may be adjusted forward and back­
ward. Lift up on the locking lever at the left end of the
seat,
adjust the seat as desired and release the lever.
Your
Authorized Chevrolet Dealer can make additional
adiustments to tailor the front seat positioning to your
particular comfort requirements.
FOLDING REAR SEAT
The optional folding rear seat, in models so
equipped, may be used to convert the rear of the
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Corvair into more than 10 cu. ft. of cargo space. To
operate:
• Puff on each end of the seatback to unlock.
• Swing seatback forward and down.
• Press down on front edge of seatback with one hand
while "snapping" the folding panel into place with
the other hand.
Replace the seatback in the same manner, after first
releasing the folding panel at the rear of the seat back.

LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT
The front luggage compartment has a capacity of
more than 10 cu. ft. with the spare tire in place.
• To open the luggage compartment, insert the ignition
key and, holding the lid down to relieve the tension on
the
lock, turn fully clockwise and allow the counter­
bdlanced lid to open.
• To close, slam the lid firmly.
A second luggage space is located behind the rear
seat, for parcels or luggage which would otherwise take
up seat or floor space.
13
GAS CAP
The gas cap is concealed beneath the spring loaded
door on the left front fender.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
• To open: Push up the 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 carefully. Slam firmly to assure
that the lid lock mechanism is engaged.
For proper engine cooling keep the engine compart­
ment lid vents free of ice, snow or leaves.