Is this much too much ??

Anyone tried one of these ??

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11910867/5_7_Liter_Air_Cooled_Engine.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.alibaba.com/product/elzorroperu-11910867-11148907/5_7_Liter_Air_Cooled_Engine.html&usg=__7RpulaUGwMTSCjU6mK_GI7puP1Y=&h=370&w=567&sz=48&hl=en&start=22&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=By4Pi-gDTI6tKM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvw%2Baircooled%2Bengine%26start%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D20%26tbs%3Disch:1

Back in the 60s (seems like yesterday!) the dune buggy boys were installing VW "commercial engines", meant for non-automotive applications, into dune buggies because they were so durable. VW found aout about this, and shut down the supply line. Can't remember why, probably because they were cheaper than the automotive engine so VW was losing money?

Opportunity comes to those who know their history. This application sounds like a reverse - commercial to automotive? Gotta wonder though, an engine probably designed to run forever, but in a very narrow RPM range for dedicated machinery. Might make one want to see the Torque and Hp curves. But it IS intriguing.

Saw an air-cooled Franklin in-line six automotive engine at the museum the other day. And of course, Tucker also had that air cooled helicopter engine in his car (also in the museum).

5.7L could not hurt. The torque curve would need to be played with. I wonder what it weighs?

corvair

I've owned two Corvairs:

1962, had two warrenty valve jobs in 20,000 miles, at 30,000 I sold the car. Valve rotators did not work.

1965, most reliable piece of machinery I ever owned. 250,000 miles on two engine rebuilds. Even got it to stop leaking! I think the sealant industry (Permatex Ultra Copper) finally caught up to the engine design.

Also seen some over three liter (2.8 stock) engines with two triple Webers.

Of course the nicest Corvairs had a Chevy 5.7 liter (water cooled of course) in the back seat via a Kennedy adapter. So a 5.7 liter air cooled . . . . . ?

5.7 liter air cooled engine would be great in a VW camper van-lots and lots of torque!

My VW guru at Buggyworks in Santee, Ca uses a 5.7 liter water pumper in one of those vans for his daily driver! His brother, the engine builder, drives a beater turbo VW. Ya gotta love 'em!