On BaT right now: Corvair powered CMC
I'm going to need a moment.
Stupid-Cool.
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tight fit....that belt comes off all the time
I saw that ad. That's one of the nicest looking CMCs I've ever seen, but I'll bet it's tail happy.
i LOVE the road racing video....very kewl!....the corvair 6 cyl is a great platform....back in the day the weapon of choice for lots of sand rails 
But 2300 cc and only 80 hp - is it worth it? Now the later 2.7L turbo Corsa version at 180 hp maybe. I recall all Corvairs back in the day had the rear covered with greasy oil coating (guess to stop the rust).
According to Ray's info, at 284 lbs., a (somewhat stripped down) Corvair engine weighs about 60 lbs. more than a VW engine (with heater boxes and dual carbs). The members' Speedsters that have been checked for front/rear weight bias (that have been reported here) have come in anywhere from 39/61% (666/1032- total weight 1698 lbs- Lane Anderson's) to 41.4/58.6% (Gordon Nichols' car at Carlisle, 2,000 lbs fully loaded- how much junk was in that thing?). A couple of others (Jack Crosby, Pauleric) were in the 40-41/60-59 range. Car & Driver weighed a real Speedster (a '56?) and f/r bias was at 42/58 (total weight 1680 lbs- I have seen other literature listing non- Carrera Speedster weight at 1675 lbs.). The P f/r weight bias is probably a good figure to strive for.
Taking Lane's former Speedster and adding 60 lbs to the back changes the weight bias to 37.88/62.12- definitely NOT the direction most people would want to go, considering there's really not any more power to be had. I imagine it would feel even a little more tail happy, and with it being so hard to put substantial rubber under the rear fenders, I don't know- if you really want that much power, it's not that hard these days to get 180 hp out of a big (2.3- 2.4 liter) VW without the weight penalty...
I think we might all be missing the entire point here.
The point is not that it's better than a T1 Speedster. It's heavier, it's more complicated, it's a cross-pollinated aberration.
The point is that it's a stick in the eye for the stuffy and self-important cult of personality that has grown up around european cars. If it were mine, I guarantee I'd be flying a headshot of Larry, Curly, and Moe out where the Pegasus normally goes.
I love the lightweight Mighty Mouse ethos of a well-thought out replica, but we've all been fattening them up for market out in the feed lot for years. Nobody ever gripes about a 6-cyl Porsche engine behind the seats, and it's a heavier proposition. Everybody waxes lyrical about a Subaru EJ2X, and it's a boat anchor back there. Marty's car had power seats.
This thing is loud and proud. It is quintessentially 'murican. It's got a big honkin' motor. It's uncouth, fast, and just slightly obnoxious (in the best sort of way). It's the metalhead version of a light and airy symphony. It's country music in a Parisian cafe.
I suspect this is the larger problem. However, there's zero issue for this corn-fed white guy with fingers like small sausages and well-worn work boots out here on the rim of nowhere. I've been a lot of places in this world, and I'm not fooling anybody - I'm a bit like country music in a Parisian cafe. I've got no problem owning it.
As far as the 80 h/p thing - that's a bit like saying a VW engine only has 45 hp. There's a world of go-fast stuff for these things too. If that mill can't be made to make 180 hp, I'll eat my hat. All the normal tricks (heads, cams, etc.) would make this bad-boy scream.
You did (of course) notice the part where it has no top at all, right?
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Yeah, it is a neat engine, and yes, a bit of history as well. If you want to do something with it, be my guest. I've already stated my opinion, and it's exactly that- only my opinion. If people agree with me, fine, and if people don't, that's ok too. I've only pointed out what it does to the weight bias- I hadn't given any thought to your point, Stan. If someone else needs to stick a Corvair engine in their Speedster or Spyder to "be a stick in the eye for the stuffy and self-important cult of personality that has grown up around european cars" , all the more power to them (except our little abortions aren't even 'real' european cars, so I think your little rant against the 'establishment' is a wee bit off base). Bottom line- it's their car, they can do what they want, and if they're happy that's all that matters. As someone told me, it's a big tent, with room for all.
@ALB posted:If you want to do something with it, be my guest.
I think you overestimate my pain tolerance, Al. I can't even get an engine I've got sitting ON A STAND into my car. I just think this thing is at least as cool as a blower on a Type 1 (I thought that was pretty cool too), but I'm not doing either one of them.
@ALB posted:As someone told me, it's a big tent, with room for all.
Absolutely.
Nicely done. Cool video! 
I feel that if you want an aircooled a typeIV is king but a Type 1 for me has too narrow a powerband and torque band.
Now A subie just oozes torque and mated to their tranny is really a very nice experience but I guess I left the purist camp a while ago 
I keep looking at doing a KG, and Rich Drewek with full Mandeola has got a nice car but ... there is the proverbial but, would I have any time to drive another car and take care of it? I just added a BMW R100RT (84) bike, bought from the original owner with full specs and log of repairs and maintenance that I am enjoying. I use it for short pleasure rides, after many years not in a 2 wheeled saddle.
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The family car I learned to drive in was a '62 Corvair with the base engine (80 hp) and two-speed Powerglide. (You may have guessed my dad was not a car guy.)
Thing is, a large percentage of Corvair buyers opted for the Powerglide (surprise), so out of the box, GM had to tune that motor to make more torque than hp. As Stan notes, more power is to be had for those who wish to tinker.
But a largish displacement, low-reving torque monster is not necessarily a bad thing to be hooking up to a VW 4-speed gearbox. The gentleman in the driving video seems to be enjoying himself without having to use a lot of revs.
And if the motor weighs 80 or 100 pounds more than a VW mill, the vehicle it's now pushing weighs about 600 pounds less than the one it was designed for.
Maybe we could learn something from those sainted Ypsilanti engineers.
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I love it!!
I agree. The video sells the car.
@IaM-Ray posted:I feel that if you want an aircooled a typeIV is king but a Type 1 for me has too narrow a powerband and torque band.
Obviously Ray has never been for a ride in my Spyder. Torque? I has it. Type1 too.
FWIW, Stan, I LOVE this Corvair-powered Speedster.
I also LOVED a 911SC with a Chevy small block in it. But I'm weird. The owner autocrossed the $hit out of it at a local AutoX. We had a nice chat. Misfits both, you know.
He was having fun! And so was I.
I love it!!
I knew I could count on you, Jim.
@Sacto Mitch posted:.Maybe we could learn something from those sainted Ypsilanti engineers.
Mitch - you may be the funniest guy I've ever (not) met. I really appreciate a turn of phrase, and witty banter - and you are the king of it. The way you build up to the punchline is amazing.
Write a book, please.
@DannyP posted:... FWIW, Stan, I LOVE this Corvair-powered Speedster.
I also LOVED a 911SC with a Chevy small block in it....
He was having fun! And so was I.
... and there it is, tied up in a bow. If it's no fun, you aren't doing it right.
Yes Ray. Danny’s Spyder has tremendous low end torque. Pulls hard. Obviously I’ve got more displacement with my 2.5 L Suby vs his 2.165 L type 1. So I would say our cars both have pretty equal pull off the line but the Suby just has more on top. My car can pull hard up to 7500 rpms. Danny’s type 1 will need to be shifted while my car is still pulling. I’m not faster than Danny since he’s a better driver than me but I would contend that on a road course Danny would be faster in my car.
I know it is fast … Joe and I followed him at Carlisle and had trouble keeping up to him. I think the weight being so low is a great advantage and requires less torque off the line IMO and makes it an R8 killer. Just saying
it would be a fun ride DannyP
Hoping for Carlisle next year 
@IaM-Ray posted:I know it is fast … Joe and I followed him at Carlisle and had trouble keeping up to him. I think the weight being so low is a great advantage and requires less torque off the line IMO and makes it an R8 killer. Just saying
it would be a fun ride DannyP
It's more than that. Much more. That engine has all of Jake Raby's ingredients, and has benefited greatly in being cooked up by a master chef (Danny).
We're all playing checkers. That car is 3D chess.
As a kid my dad had a few Corvairs. He also had a bug with a Vair motor in it. There is a place in my heart for them, especially the later model. That thing looks cool AF.
There is one late model running around here with a front mounted V8. There is also a red one with a souped up Vair motor in it. That thing gets going pretty good.
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Wow, thanks man. Goes off and sulks sheepishly in the garage.
@550 Phil posted:Yes Ray. Danny’s Spyder has tremendous low end torque. Pulls hard. Obviously I’ve got more displacement with my 2.5 L Suby vs his 2.165 L type 1. So I would say our cars both have pretty equal pull off the line but the Suby just has more on top. My car can pull hard up to 7500 rpms. Danny’s type 1 will need to be shifted while my car is still pulling. I’m not faster than Danny since he’s a better driver than me but I would contend that on a road course Danny would be faster in my car.
Correct. Although I don't think I'd be faster in someone else's car. I don't like pushing other people's cars.
If I had more balls I'd change the limiter and make it higher. Jake told me the valvetrain is good to 7500. But honestly, the power peaks at just over 6000 and is starting to fall off at 6500, so that's my redline.
@DannyP posted:If I had more balls I'd change the limiter and make it higher. Jake told me the valvetrain is good to 7500. But honestly, the power peaks at just over 6000 and is starting to fall off at 6500, so that's my redline.
Yeah, power falls off with a K8 or 86B after 6500, but not by as much as you lose shifting (at least to my way of thinking). With that setup, I'd wind it out to at least 7 grand.
... but then again I'm famous for breaking stuff. I've got no Pauter rockers, and I often kiss 7000 PRM.
My motto?
Torque it until it snaps or strips, then back it off an eighth of a turn.
Extrapolate what you will. More is more.
Having lived there for 15 years and now living just down the road a bit, it is nice to see Ypsilanti mentioned. Maybe a first for this site. It has an interesting history related to cars and airplanes.
Danny wrote: Although I don't think I'd be faster in someone else's car. I don't like pushing other people's cars.
I had just met Danny at Carlisle one year when he offered to let me drive his first Spyder encouraging me to get on it. Back at the Hotel parking lot he said "I don't think i want to be in the passenger seat again". Second time Danny offered to pilot that Spyder was years later on one of our Pennsylvania Pumpkin Runs with my wife Connie jumping in to ride shotgun (she just didn't know any better) We went briskly down the mountain and though a couple dozen turns and came back up the same way with aal out "briskness". She was less than happy with that, performance...... ( Pun intended :~)
I really can't play with you big boys on all this super tuning business and what makes the very actual best Speedster/Spyder combo. I know that I would not put a Corvair engine in the back of one. I know that DannyP has probably got pretty damn close to perfection on the Spyder side. I think a fully fitted 911 Speedster (a la Mr. H. Reisner) is about the best Speedster you could do. I have solo driven Danny's old Spyder, with his very gracious permission, of course. I have been right side in one or two of the aforementioned 911 Speedsters. All are really the bomb in so many ways. And lastly, my 2332 Speedster sorta scratches my itch pretty good. Generally speaking, it keeps up pretty good. I can usually keep Herr Piperato within sight. As for Ralph Nader, I think he's pretty much of a jerk.
Kelly wrote: " I think a fully fitted 911 Speedster (a la Mr. H. Reisner) is about the best Speedster you could do"
I guess I would agree with that. 
I owned my first VS Speedster 5 years before discovering the SOC. In 2008 I went to Carlisle as a 'SOC newbie' and met the coolest group of gear heads. At the Carlisle Fairgrounds Danny asks me if I'd like a ride in his Spyder.
My only comment to him was "That dang thing is fast AF"! 
Whoa......
"Ludicris Speed!"
@MusbJim posted:I owned my first VS Speedster 5 years before discovering the SOC. In 2008 I went to Carlisle as a 'SOC newbie' and met the coolest group of gear heads. At the Carlisle Fairgrounds Danny asks me if I'd like a ride in his Spyder.
My only comment to him was "That dang thing is fast AF"!
What a coincidence, Jim. I read somewhere that Rolf Wuntherich made the same comment after riding in James Dean's Spyder.
Sold. $45,000.
Well bought, IMHO.
@MusbJim posted:I owned my first VS Speedster 5 years before discovering the SOC. In 2008 I went to Carlisle as a 'SOC newbie' and met the coolest group of gear heads. At the Carlisle Fairgrounds Danny asks me if I'd like a ride in his Spyder.
My only comment to him was "That dang thing is fast AF"!
That looked like great fun !