Took a look in an old "Motors" auto repair manual this morning.
Whoever said that the Pontiac Tempest was offered with a 215 aluminum motor
was correct. It was offered in the Tempest in 1961and 62. Considering
other cars at the time, this would have been a unique and advanced offering.
A "small" American car, with an all aluminum v-8 in front, and a
transaxle/independent suspension in the rear.
As with a lot of production cars, the execution didn't exactly
live up to the original design intent. On this combination, a few more $$
spent on the rear to make it a TRUE independent setup versus a swing axle
would have made vast improvements in handling. ( In fact, this was done
between the first and second generation Corvairs, the second generation
cars have superb handling. )
As much maligned as "The General" has been, they were truly
attempting to bring advanced engineering to the automobile in the early
60's. The F-85's had the 215 alloy motor and offered turbocharging, the
Tempest offered the alloy motor and the rear transaxle, and the Corvair
offered a alloy, air cooled motor in the rear, and a turbocharged option.
To whoever posed the question about the Corvair swing axle handling
problems sending Nader on the warpath, this is essentially correct. The
cars made an easy target. However, to set the record straight, it wasn't
Nader that killed the Corvair, it was the Ford Mustang. As soon as the
General realized how well the Mustang was selling, the decision was made (
in 1965 ) to pull the plug on the Corvair. GM rushed to manufacture their
version of the Mustang, hence the Camaro showed up in 1967.
But hey, back to the subject that got us "off track". A 215 in a
Sunbeam. Yeah, _I'd_ like to see that !! In a lot of ways, it would make a
nicer car than a Tiger. Hey, if you could find the Olds version complete
with turbocharger, that would make even more of a conversation piece. I
assume with the Rover connection, that you could probably even find a
5-speed trans to hang behind the engine.
I noticed in the latest TE/AE newsletter that someone is offering a
kit to install the Mustang II /Capri
2800 ( 60 degree) v-6 motor in an Alpine. Didn't this motor suffer from
some oiling and/ or Head gasket sealing maladies ? ( I do know, however,
that they are of a very short stroke design, and will rev up pretty high. )
I'm just wondering if a later model 60 degree v-6 might not be a
better choice ??
Rick Fedorchak
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