Are Corvair engines any good?

Marz Seriously Crusin Dubber

117 posts · joined Jul 2004 · 30 Nov 2004, 10:04 pm

#272897

I just bought a camper and it has a corvair engine and I was wondering if there any good? is it worth fixing up?

twoguns simply aircooled

4,275 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 30 Nov 2004, 10:05 pm

#272899

nice. i wouldnt minda corvair 2.8l 6 cylinder... from what i have read, they make a good conversion.

Simply Cruzin'...

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 · 30 Nov 2004, 11:10 pm

#272943

Only ever heard about them, but they sound good.
Good power/torque for a bus and no water cooling to worry about. Like the VW motor they are getting old and heads are prone to problems when they've been re-built a few times. Parts may be a little scarce in Oz, but they still have a good following in the US.
If it's a neat job and the motor runs well, just enjoy it.
If it needs a re-build, there are a few good US sites with all the info you need and get pricing and see if it's worth doing it up, or replacing.
😉

kombibob AKA: Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter Van Robert

1,698 posts · joined May 2004 · 1 Dec 2004, 4:47 pm

#273269

all parts can be bought fom clarks corvair in the states i built a motor about 5 years back orderd parts on a monday got them the same week and it worked out about the same price as you would pay for vw motor parts in australia

1961 swb buggy
1960 karmann ghia
1963 Single Cab: "El Concreto"
1963 bent 23 window " Frieda Samba "
1963 Eriba Faun camper " Cara Van daCamp"
2012 Skoda Octavia scout

Get down low and go,go,go

squizy Thinking about another dub...maybe

4,082 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 1 Dec 2004, 9:33 pm

#273414

I've only seen / been in one install. It went and sounded great. Went even better when the fan belt slips off as it apparently takes some of the power off the engine. But well worth keeping it in for sure.

The guy was look at ways of turning the fan without the twisted pulley setup so that he could gain access to the extra power. Not sure how he ever went with it.

Squiz....

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Dec 2004, 8:37 pm

#273925

How does 180 horsepower sound??? Not bad from a turbo 6 from the 60's.......

HP Books does a book "How to Hotrod the Corvair Motor" might be worth a read.

[Edited on 2-12-2004 by 11CAB]

65 Meyers Manx
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Marz Seriously Crusin Dubber

117 posts · joined Jul 2004 · 3 Dec 2004, 2:06 pm

#274158

Thanks guys i got the engine going and it runs sweet, it packs a bit of punch to. so think its gonna stay. I think the engine has a reverse kit on so it still has a kimbi gearbox so this will be handy if i ever decide to change it back.

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 · 3 Dec 2004, 4:50 pm

#274222

what does the reverse kit do again?

run the motor backwards? and if so why?

"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

11CAB If ya got it....Baja it

4,674 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Dec 2004, 4:58 pm

#274228

The corvair motor runs backwards compared to the VW motor, so the reverse kit is different cams from memory that allows the corvair motor to run in the same direction as the VW

65 Meyers Manx
68 Country Buggy (KO 367)
68 Country Buggy (KO 669)
68 Country Buggy (KO 789)
68 Country Buggy (KO 815)
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Marz Seriously Crusin Dubber

117 posts · joined Jul 2004 · 5 Dec 2004, 12:03 pm

#274930

yeah it makes the corvair engine run the same way as a vw engine so that the Vw gearbox dosnt have to be changed.