Talk Me Into (Or Out Of) A -6GT, With SAE Engine Bolts! Options

[Nogoodwithusernames]

So I don't generally post much, but do browse the forum on the regular to keep up with things like Chris' builds and the Alien and whatnot, but I wanted to pick your collective brains for something I've been considering lately.

You may remember that I ended up with what could be a parts car/major project a while back. What you don't know yet is that whilst browsing FB marketplace I ended up with a relatively complete Corvair motor.

To preface:
Since moving a few years back most of my free time has been spent remodeling the new house that was poorly maintained prior to our purchase. However that is what we were able to afford and also get a larger house and yard. I am getting close to being done with the work as much as one can ever be "done" when owning a house... However I got the green light from my better half that once the master bathroom remodel is complete I can commence on my timber frame barn/shop space.
I acquired a large pile of treated German lumber from the absolutely enormous crates that a DMG Mori milling machine was delivered in. (Not mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) it is at an aerospace machine shop a good friend works at...) After much planning and measuring and counting of lumber, I can turn it into a small 16.5'x19' two level barn. Plenty big enough for me as I do also have a 2 car garage and am only on 1/3 of an acre.

Anyways, to get to the point of this long winded story I have been considering projects that I can work on in said shop space. The corvair motor and mostly complete but rough 914 has me contemplating a GT tribute.

I know the corvair power plant is old and antiquated, and many newer engines could be used with more power etc etc. but I'm wanting to stay air-cooled for dumb sentimental reasons and a Porsche -6 is out of budget by leagues and other vast units of measureme. I have a crazy hare-brained idea to do custom side plates (similar to https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2153784.jpg and use maybe 102MM Deutz cylinders, with something like Yamaha XT600 four valve OHC air-cooled head.

Crazy I know. It is obviously much faster and easier to just put a Subaru in it, or build a big T4 or a Porsche 6. BUT I enjoy fabricating and machining things, have a lathe and mill and access to casting equipment and Fusion360 for CAD work.

Off the top of my head the biggest hurdle would be getting custom cams or somehow combining 6x single cylinder cams.

Anyone done anything remotely similar? Or know someone who has? Am I thinking TOO crazy? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) Not crazy enough? (Maybe twin turbo? Add some cylinders and go for an H-8? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) )

I'm open for thoughts, discussion, criticism etc. Hit me with your best shot.

[Nogoodwithusernames]

Good replies so far, I appreciate people putting their thoughts and experiences to paper. I'm only 30 right now so I've still got plenty to learn. I do want to put it out there that the '74 2.0 in my signature line is a good runner, so if I need to hop in a 914 and drive I do have one that is in fairly good shape already. Not pristine but a solid runner and looks good from 15 feet or so.

The potential recipient of Frankenstein engine would be a '70 1.7 that is pretty rough. It's got some sort of long reinforcement already, which I have a hunch was not a preventative measure (unless you consider it preventing the car from folding in half) and it's had at least one bump in the front as the frunk and fender gaps are all weird. If it turns out to be in better shape than it looks like, then I will revise plans and change course accordingly.


Nobody seems to have noticed or bit on the thoughts about cylinder head swap and trying to convert a Corvair to OHC instead of pushrod? AKA some ghetto Porsche engineering? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)


Perhaps some insight into why I am asking this; I have for a long time wanted to design and build a sports car or vintage race car from the ground up. (Yes, even designing a motor, and the suspension system, etc. No I will not be making my own brake pads or forging crankshafts and coil-over springs. Probably. I'm not THAT crazy.) A project like this seems in my mind to be somewhat of a stepping stone. I've rebuild a VW motor, next would be starting to modify motors and do some body work and chassis work etc.