I was just reading one of the "How to ..a VW engine" and there was few pages on using corvair engines in bugs and sandrails. Has anyone stuffed one into a speedster? Easy to have 140hp and then some.
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I was just reading one of the "How to ..a VW engine" and there was few pages on using corvair engines in bugs and sandrails. Has anyone stuffed one into a speedster? Easy to have 140hp and then some.
I suppose parts (and the engines themselves) are very hard to come by these days although there are still some outfits that deal with them. In the '60's it was a good idea; with the scarcity of performance parts for VW's at the time, Corvair engines as well as parts could be found used and new just by going to your GM dealer. And not only that, they were more powerful than your regular contemporary VW engine straight out of the box. I'd say it's harder now than then to deal with those...
You're supposed to put oil in them? lol. We used to joke about that. If it stops leaking oil, shut-r-down, because it's empty!
angela
angela
As a prior owner of a '65 Corvair, i feel obligated to to reply to some of the comments here. I bought mine used, at 1500 miles. I drove it 250,000 miles and sold it, still running, for $500. That is hard to beat on a cost per mile basis. Yes, I rebuilt the engine twice. Yes, it used to leak, but I gradualy learned how to eliminate each and every leak. It was pretty dry, and NOT out of oil, when I sold it. Carbs were a major issue, and a prime reason I sold the car. Conversion to dual Webers was an opttion I considered, but the conversion cost more than a whole new new engine. There were no good stock or modified carbs left in the U. S. that I could determine. I think major aftermarket work ceased about the time that aftermarket VW suppliers started to hit their stride. For the torque, power and engine weight, I would never go back to a Corvair. But the Corvair was, and remains, the most reliable piece of transportation I ever owned.
My husband had a corvair when I met him. Worst car I've ever seen that always started... The 110 or 140hp engines are probably the best to use for our applications. Stay away from the turbos (180hp). The flat on top the motor fan would really eliminate space and cooling problems in a spyder. They came with a very good heater. As I recall, after steve fixed the flaps on the exhaust, the darn thing would bake a cake inside the car. No smoke inside the car either from the exhaust.
The carbs on the corvairs are pitiful. And the intake manifolds are even worse. I mean, who would put the carbs on the "corners" of the engine and then try to feed three cylinders, one straight below, one to the side and the 3rd clear at the other end of the engine? DUH!
There is/was a company back east called Corvair Underground. If they are still in business, they are THE corvair people. They used to have weber carb conversion kits/manifolds even some wild roller bearing engine.
The transaxle is, of course, turned the wrong way for a spyder(but is derived from ones that turn the "right" way). The auto is a two-speeds oozo-matic and I believe the four speed was basically a saginaw (but can't remember for sure). I'd ditch either one of them. They make VW conversion plates for pretty much anything.
The mechanical fuel pump was always problematic on the car. Leaky diaphragm about every six months. No good can come from leaky diaphragms. Definatelly go with an electric pump.
Never had an over-heating problem with the 140 we had. Probably make a real zippy spyder as the 140 was quite torquey. angela
The carbs on the corvairs are pitiful. And the intake manifolds are even worse. I mean, who would put the carbs on the "corners" of the engine and then try to feed three cylinders, one straight below, one to the side and the 3rd clear at the other end of the engine? DUH!
There is/was a company back east called Corvair Underground. If they are still in business, they are THE corvair people. They used to have weber carb conversion kits/manifolds even some wild roller bearing engine.
The transaxle is, of course, turned the wrong way for a spyder(but is derived from ones that turn the "right" way). The auto is a two-speeds oozo-matic and I believe the four speed was basically a saginaw (but can't remember for sure). I'd ditch either one of them. They make VW conversion plates for pretty much anything.
The mechanical fuel pump was always problematic on the car. Leaky diaphragm about every six months. No good can come from leaky diaphragms. Definatelly go with an electric pump.
Never had an over-heating problem with the 140 we had. Probably make a real zippy spyder as the 140 was quite torquey. angela
I don't recall ever seeing a Corvair that the back wasn't covered in oil -- they leaked oil worse than any VW engine (or maybe the owners just didn't care - GM apathy)
Clark's Corvairs used to have extensive catalogs on all parts for Corvairs including conversions. I had a catalog kicking around for a long time...
Its not a simple conversion but then I'd think that none are. For one thing the Corvair engine spins in the opposite driection. So you either flip a gear in the transaxle (but that leaves it weaker) or rebuild the engine with new parts (cams and such) that will change the direction.
When I looked at it, and the cost of a good engine (I found them for about $250 Cdn in Alberta), I figured you'd be better off building a good T1 or T4 that would just bolt up. You'd sacrifice a bit of power but save on weight.
Check out Clarks if you're interested...they are into Corvairs big time.
Brian
Its not a simple conversion but then I'd think that none are. For one thing the Corvair engine spins in the opposite driection. So you either flip a gear in the transaxle (but that leaves it weaker) or rebuild the engine with new parts (cams and such) that will change the direction.
When I looked at it, and the cost of a good engine (I found them for about $250 Cdn in Alberta), I figured you'd be better off building a good T1 or T4 that would just bolt up. You'd sacrifice a bit of power but save on weight.
Check out Clarks if you're interested...they are into Corvairs big time.
Brian