Corvair engine swap, Tell me why this isn't popular Options

[Gearhead1432]

If I end up doing a conversion, it will probably be a Corvair engine. My main concern would be the width of the engine. Would the valve covers contact the suspension consuls or engine mounts? There is also the oil filter that could contact the fire wall.

-Rob

[Brett W]

I inspected and drove the Corvair powered car in the classifieds. It was a nice running engine swap. The engine idled smoothly, had great torque, etc. Pulled hard enough to slip the clutch. Engine needed some tuning work, as it had some flat spots, pretty sure it had to do with the weird two barrel carbs into three cylinders. Could be a good swap for a driver.

[Dr Evil]

If I end up doing a conversion, it will probably be a Corvair engine. My main concern would be the width of the engine. Would the valve covers contact the suspension consuls or engine mounts? There is also the oil filter that could contact the fire wall.

-Rob

The oil filter is easily relocated. Look into my bus thread. Also, there are readily available adapters that take the filter from horizontal to vertical. The width of the engine is not an issue. I dont have the exact measurements, but the corvair is either the same or smaller than the 911. I think the same as a TIV. The valves do not need periodic adjusting thanks to Chevy hyraulic lifters. Lifters that are readily available and cheap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I could easily install a vair engine into a 914 in a weekend with the parts. Maybe even a day. That includes fabricating custom cooling tin. Stupid easy.

[r3dplanet]

Funny that this should come up right now because just today I found a '64 Corvair today on Craigslist, not a mile from my house. The car is trashed, but its the 164 and the whole car is $600. All I want is the motor. I'm tempted to buy it, given that the rebuild kits are well under a thousand dollars. (I know I need a reverse cam and a better carb system). Is $600 bucks worth it? I'm not sure what to spend on such a motor.

Anyway, I think that such a conversion has numerous advantages:

* Even with the fab work its still far less than a Type-4 engine rebuilt KIT.
* It's air cooled - no fabbing up water cooling rigs
* Parts are cheap and available, and the longevity is well-known
* splendid sound!
* no more valve adjustments
* its a six!

I'm surprised we don't see more of these conversions.

-m.

If I end up doing a conversion, it will probably be a Corvair engine. My main concern would be the width of the engine. Would the valve covers contact the suspension consuls or engine mounts? There is also the oil filter that could contact the fire wall.

-Rob

The oil filter is easily relocated. Look into my bus thread. Also, there are readily available adapters that take the filter from horizontal to vertical. The width of the engine is not an issue. I dont have the exact measurements, but the corvair is either the same or smaller than the 911. I think the same as a TIV. The valves do not need periodic adjusting thanks to Chevy hyraulic lifters. Lifters that are readily available and cheap (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I could easily install a vair engine into a 914 in a weekend with the parts. Maybe even a day. That includes fabricating custom cooling tin. Stupid easy.

[carr914]

I'm afraid the gene pool on this site is getting pretty stagnant.Shooting down other options without any hands on knowledge dosen't help us learn.I lurk here a lot and don't say much due to the parrots that keep reiterating the same thing over and over.

Were you previosly registered as Alpha or red? Responses like that are not going to help you in the least. I thought most of the replies were good, it's too bad you don't have an open mind to consider them. The way you are going, if you do a project, you might end up with 2 or 3 people helping you out.

[gandalf_025]

If I was going to do a conversion of this type.. I'd buy a 65 and up 140HP motor for a carb motor or a factory turbo motor as a starting point because you get the Hardened Crank and the big valve heads and the proper distributor with the right curve built in on the 140 HP and the turbo also has the hardened crank and the sodium filled exhaust valves and pressure retard distributor. You would probably be looking for some of those parts for any motor you built, so why not get them all at once. The 65 and up had the bigger stroke crank also. I'd Do the 3.1 Big Bore setup too. Big oil pump is easy also. And make sure whoever does the valve seats knows the issues with them.

What about flipping the R/P in the transmission instead of reversing the engine rotation ?? I know VW guys had been doing that for years. ???? just asking ??

[RJMII]

What about flipping the R/P in the transmission instead of reversing the engine rotation ?? I know VW guys had been doing that for years. ???? just asking ??

the helical cut of the gears is going the wrong direction and it wouldn't be able to handle as much power.

[JFJ914]

What about flipping the R/P in the transmission instead of reversing the engine rotation ?? I know VW guys had been doing that for years. ???? just asking ??

the helical cut of the gears is going the wrong direction and it wouldn't be able to handle as much power.

What????? The 901 was designed for the R/P to run in that direction (911). It's the 914 that runs it backwards!

[RJMII]

What about flipping the R/P in the transmission instead of reversing the engine rotation ?? I know VW guys had been doing that for years. ???? just asking ??

the helical cut of the gears is going the wrong direction and it wouldn't be able to handle as much power.

What????? The 901 was designed for the R/P to run in that direction (911). It's the 914 that runs it backwards!

You're not following the line of power quite right. The R&P is flipped AFTER the gear stack. The gear stack still rotates the same direction with the 911. With the Corvair engine the gear stack would be rotating the other direction. It's the helical cut of the gear stack that I was referring to, not the helical cut of the R&P.

[Dr Evil]

Ya, the engine turning the wrong way will always turn the gears and diff the wrong way. You can flip the diff to get the car to move forward, but this is still going to be whilst the guts are turning backwards = bad. It is easy to change the cam and dizzy gears to reverse the engine.

I am thinking that I will start a corvair information thread, this one has too much anger in it. No name calling is ever going to help.

[d914]

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[Gearhead1432]

GM designed the Corvair engine to rotate "backwards" so it could be mated to the aft side of pre existing transmissions. GM could then use off the shelf transmissions rather than going through the expense of developing new transmissions for the Corvair.

[914rat]

I'm afraid the gene pool on this site is getting pretty stagnant.Shooting down other options without any hands on knowledge dosen't help us learn.I lurk here a lot and don't say much due to the parrots that keep reiterating the same thing over and over.

Were you previosly registered as Alpha or red? Responses like that are not going to help you in the least. I thought most of the replies were good, it's too bad you don't have an open mind to consider them. The way you are going, if you do a project, you might end up with 2 or 3 people helping you out.

Most of the responses were good ! There are always a few that would be better off not saying anything.As far as openminded, that is why I asked this not so popular question, because I am openminded and wanted to know why this wasn't popular.I'm not looking for an argument when I ask a question I'm looking for constructive feedback.Don't worry about me finding help with a build I have 2 that I have done on my own.Part of my problem isn't with this thread but the way SOME members treat newbies and topics not blessed by the sponsors or megaposters on the forum. I figure the ones that do either know who they are or don't care.The ones that don't wouldn't take it personally.I did recieve some PM's that agreed with me.So evidently I am not alone in my thoughts.There is a wealth of knowledge here in the archives and classic threads.There are also a lot of very thoughtful and caring people here I usually give everybody the benefit of doubt.Since we haven't formally met.My name is LaDon I am a 914aholic.1971 1.7 now 1911 in final stages of resto,1974 2.0 now 2056 my resto driver,1973 2.0 east coast rust bucket but complete,early 1973 1.7 roller and 1974 2.0 roller with gt flairs.After 5 years and 200 posts I guess I finally pissed someone off ,well it was bound to happen sooner or later.Back to lurking I guess.

[Dr Evil]

"After 5 years and 200 posts I guess I finally pissed someone off ,well it was bound to happen sooner or later.Back to lurking I guess."

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Dont be so abrasive. This tends to offend those who would be offended. Diplomacy is king (even though I have been known to not follow such).

[pt_700]

i think it's awesome the way this thread has self moderated! while the tone got just a bit rough for a spell, a lot of good information was still brought forth. thanks dr. evil for schoolin' us on the corvair motors. if i hadn't already invested in the pieces for a conversion to sbc, i'd totally consider using that engine.

paul

[RJMII]

I am thinking that I will start a corvair information thread, this one has too much anger in it. No name calling is ever going to help.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Good job on the new thread. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm looking forward to the collective of information it brings. So far so good!

[Gint]

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