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Posted by: TargaToy Oct 23 2019, 09:40 AM

I've read the various Corvair threads here on the world over the years and found them extremely interesting and informative. What I can't seem to find is a video of a 914 running a Corvair motor...or even a build thread that went to completion. I'd like to see or read someone's experience/impressions about the transplant once it's done and drivable.

Do these unicorns exist?

Posted by: mepstein Oct 23 2019, 09:47 AM

Used to be a popular conversion. Doc Evil had one in his bus.

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 23 2019, 10:04 AM

Never had one in a 914 , but when I was 16, an aircooled turbocharged 6cylinder car for $500 was fun, autocrossed the crap out of it....thru a belt twice..magnesium fan upgrade...lost 2 valve seats...never adjusted valves and was quiet...
This was my dads engine in a shortened autocross late model, we had just bought a 914 to put the engine in and , he passed away...



Attached image(s)

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 23 2019, 10:26 AM

get a hold of this guy.. @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=19935

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=320074&hl=

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 23 2019, 10:29 AM

It seems like a neat fit and a relatively cheap way to add some power and sound to a 914...and in a way that leaves the car easily returnable to stock.

...and as many times as these things have been said on here, I have not successfully found an instance where it was done and documented.

I know JRust bought one already converted and I did not see how that car ultimately ended up.

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 23 2019, 10:31 AM

So close! Got my hopes up...and the thread died in 2017.

My dad auto-crossed and rallied Corvairs and then the 914 which I now own...so this is a topic which is of particular interest to me.

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 23 2019, 10:35 AM

Yes, but he is still around , he posts on @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=4741 thread..and Marcus has an engine for sale
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=214258&st=320

Posted by: gandalf_025 Oct 23 2019, 11:15 AM

I started driving Turbo Corvairs in the early 70's.
I used them as Winter Cars when I put the 6 away for the season.

Built some fun hot rod turbo motors over the years with oversize Forged Pistons and turbo's with the tighter exhaust scroll and the "E" Flow impeller on the intake side.
2 barrel Weber 45DCOE Carb and alcohol injection..
Great Sleeper cars.
Cheap compared Porsche Prices.....
And now they do the big bore kits with VW Pistons and Cylinders and many different turbo options....

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 23 2019, 11:48 AM

"Yes, but he is still around , he posts on @http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=4741 thread..and Marcus has an engine for sale
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=214258&st=320"

Terrific. Thank you!

Posted by: Dr Evil Oct 24 2019, 01:45 PM

I never finished putting one in my 914 because a friend gave me a 2.7 to rebuild. However, see my link below for my bus. I have a 3.1L engine in my 74 VW bus that has propelled it to over 100mph with the stock 2 speed powerglide. I am going to pull it and sell it, likely. At this time, not sure if I will part it as head and all the work are worth a bit, or sell it as whole. If someone wanted to put a reverse cam in it, and the reverse running gears to run it for a 901 transmission, it would be cheap and easy (realatively). I could even do it. Hit me up and we can talk about it It makes about 240hp.

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 24 2019, 02:46 PM

Posted by: gandalf_025 Oct 24 2019, 05:49 PM

This is still sitting on a shelf in my garage.

.

Posted by: Dr Evil Oct 24 2019, 06:24 PM

I had one, gave it to the guy at CorvairRanch for credit. I would consider putting it on this engine.

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 25 2019, 09:55 AM

Why did this saga come to an end:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=213617&hl=Corvair&st=80

Whatever became of the car with the Corvair 6???

I guess I'm really wanting to see footage of a swapped 914 in action and hear some impressions from the driver.

@http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showuser=129 ??

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 25 2019, 10:49 AM

http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,953603,953746

http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,942391,page=1

Posted by: JRust Oct 25 2019, 11:02 AM

Yeah I sold it to a guy on the Oregon Coast I think. Damned if I can remember who though . Love to buy that car back. That was a rust free car in Gemeni blue. Love to do something else with it

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 25 2019, 11:05 AM

You're a good man. Thank you!

Posted by: TargaToy Oct 25 2019, 11:06 AM

That is indeed a shame. I may have missed it, although not for lack of trying to find it , but what made you decide to bale on the project?

Posted by: JRust Oct 25 2019, 11:23 AM

I'm a suby guy through & through when it comes to conversions. This setup was good so figured to let someone with a love for the Corvair mess with it. Rather than swap it to something else. Wish I would have kept it but that is true for damn near every 914 I have owned over the years now

Posted by: jim_hoyland Oct 25 2019, 11:38 AM

Were all the Covair motors air-cooled ?

Posted by: ClayPerrine Oct 25 2019, 01:23 PM

Yes. And the engine was designed by Porsche for Chevrolet.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Oct 25 2019, 06:08 PM

Ok, air cooled, Porsche design; why haven’t more for air conversions been done. Seems like a better way...?

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 26 2019, 07:08 PM

yes but, with the reverse rotation and the cult like following...Its just different....
I had a ton of Corvair shit...and in the late 80s they where cheap ass MFRs.....
Sold everything in one lot ...gave away all my books etc....Cool engine ...buttttttttt

Posted by: mepstein Oct 26 2019, 07:27 PM

I think conversions moved away from corvair and sbc to suby power. Also, Jake Raby, Fat, etc proved you could get some good hp from the type 4 and not have all the fabrication needed for an alternative engine.

Posted by: sixnotfour Oct 26 2019, 07:51 PM

boo on the type 4...
corvair is better ...just no easy button

Posted by: rick 918-S Oct 26 2019, 08:45 PM

I really lost track of Irv. Last active 2016.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=132215

Posted by: chrisg Oct 26 2019, 08:48 PM

Count me in as one who would love a Corvair conversion. I’ve come to the conclusion that I really don’t want modern water cooled or big horsepower for my 914. That’s why you keep a Boxster or Cayman around. But over that last two years or so, spurred by Marcus’ engine build thread and a brief contact with DaveO, I’ve come to really like the Corvair motor as it is along the same technological lines as the type 4, being a fairly simple, pushrod, aluminum, air-cooled, boxer motor. And they just sound so much better, IMO. They have their quirks and there are always naysayers, but I still like them.

That said, even though the install definitely doesn’t seem overly involved or require re-engineering the whole car, I just don’t have time to do one myself. I still have to do other things for a living everyday. I can’t ever find time to work on my car as is and it’s not nearly as bad as what some here tackle. Ultimately I’ll probably stay type 4 for ease and originality, but there is still that tug from the Corvair side, and it’s still kind of strong.

Posted by: r3dplanet Nov 2 2019, 04:14 PM

Alright, here's some shameful self-promotion unless the mods dislike it. My engine is for sale here:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=341485

Posted by: 914coop Nov 2 2019, 06:04 PM

Yes, I have a 180 corvair turbo in my 914, unfortunately I got hung up on the cooling and derailed my progress. It was on the road till that point. It screamed compared to the 2.0 type IV. It will be next spring as MN has salt covered roads.

I have went back to the stock layout but I would recommend doing a 140 verses the turbo, you run out of room in the engine compartment, I had to make some slight modifications.

Posted by: Rand Nov 2 2019, 06:20 PM

We all know Corvair is not a smart conversion. Less effort to get three times the power is so easy. It's just an air cooled thing. Drawing the line between artists and drivers I guess.

Posted by: r3dplanet Nov 2 2019, 06:29 PM

Any air cooled examples of that?

Posted by: Mikey914 Nov 2 2019, 06:39 PM

Think of it as a budget 6. Still not "correct" but a reasonable alternative.

Posted by: sixnotfour Nov 2 2019, 09:59 PM

GM v6-8 versus GM flat 6 .....cult like but still GM

Posted by: DaveO90s4 Nov 3 2019, 03:07 AM

The the OP and to all, input a 140 hp reverse rotation Corvair engine into my 1.8L 914. The project is finished. Goes really well, does not overheat, was a relatively easy installation, a bit of fiddling and thinking and so on, but it fits really nicely. I didn’t have the money for a 911 engine, not for a 2270 4 cyl, and the Corvair engine does everything I need. I reckon it accelerates about the same as my 84 3.2 L Carrera.

Happy to share info / pics on request.

Cheers all,

Dave