1970 Covair Microbus

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99% of poo got blown out before we went still getting some straw and bits when there disloged lol,
must say heating works very well had to turn it off on way back lol

only downside is when heating is open you get more engine noise as the air is direct from the hot engine but think i can live with that till i get a radio system in after x-mas.

cheers scoobydoo, glad i got it on the road when i did as now decorating daughters flat she's got so havent much free time, plus displaying another vehicle at NEC show this weekend, think i will be glad of the rest when i go back to work lol
 
hi all
been a bit quiet here,
clocked up about 600 miles since getting on road and pleased to say no problems (yet(touch wood))
just been driving it most weekends, for fun and x-mas shoping(not fun lol),
took it back towork today and adjusted the tappets, one side is easy,
other had to take engine frame off to get rockers cover off, need to look at repositioning engine a bit more central to stop having to do that, but with hydraulic tappets shouldnt have to do it to much.


not VW but the local MVT allways have a new years day BBQ at Chacewater nr Brownhills so took bus up there, so couple of photos from yesterday,
DSC01839.jpg

DSC01836.jpg

when funds allow will be looking at sound system and what to do with interior, just like driving it,
(mate wont even take his cover of his t 25 as it might get wet lol)

well hope everyones recovered from x-mas and new years (was driving so wasnt drinking myself, didnt want to spill it lol)
happy new year to all and hope to meet up with as many i can this year
all the best Peter and Gail
 
Looks chilly but you seem to be having a good time 8)

Glad the van is working well :D
 
Hey Guys

Just come across this thread, glad to see there are other corvair vans in the uk have mine a couple of years and go to all the shows but never seen another.
If anyone is in need of any spares i have a few boxes and prob a whole engine minus the case.
Mark
 
cheers surfbus,
hiya Mark might take you up on the offer sometime, where abouts are you,
were in Coventry in the midlands,
got any photos of your bus would be interested in seeing it, did you have to do much to yours

cheers Peter
 
2011-10-09190842.jpg


You have any photos of how the accelerator cable is fitted? I will be switching back to stock carbs and would like an idea of how it's hooked up. Thanks
 
hiya Soviet1942
are you runing the corvair box or vw box,
mines the corvair box and accelerator cable is shortend and fitted to origional metal throtal linkage pivoting on gearbox, linkage to join it is very micky mouse and looks like mecano, will be changeing it at some stage, if you look at this photo its the long rod behind the startermotor
IMG_0285.jpg

if you meant your going back to manual choke carbs i just made a 2 -1 adaptor up and run a solid cable from below the drivers seat to it,
found it was easier to do this than mess about with auto chokes (didnt have all parts on engine for them) when i ordered my new carbs from america.
this vid shows both the throtal rod set up as well as choke set up hope this is some help for you


cheers Peter
 
Peter

i am down near gatwick airport but go to all the shows.

I bought my engine supposidly as a referb from US, but as usual was not happy so stripped it down and rebuilt and reversed the rotation so it could be fitted to standard 091 vw gearbox as i was at it went 60 over on the barrells so now 2700cc. Bought some adapted heads from a corvair specialist in US (starr cooke) which had been flowed and adapted to accept a pair of triple webbers which gives a seperate 40mm choke for each cylinder. reverse rotation cam, external oil cooler, Mallory racing distributor, MSD ignition. Converted the cooling to porsche overhead fan to get away from that silly fan belt and custom made shroud.
Have raced it down the strip a few times, best time 17.3 in a fully loaded van so well happy.
All the above has been done over a 2 year period and i dont want to know how much i have spent.
Engine again out of the van for a winter rebuild as the cam has gone flat and a new 296 duration cam has just arrived from the good old usa so hope to get it all up and running for March/April. Just the old 2 litre type 4 in it at the moment.
If you need any bits just let me know as i have spare cylinders, pistons, push rods, and a couple of boxes of odds and sods.
Will up load some photos when i can resize them as the board is telling me they are too big
 
Thinking alound. It would be interesting to know how many corvair powered buses there are in the uk. I am on late bay and have asked there but had no replies yet.
 
dodge6x6 said:
hiya Soviet1942
are you runing the corvair box or vw box,
mines the corvair box and accelerator cable is shortend and fitted to origional metal throtal linkage pivoting on gearbox, linkage to join it is very micky mouse and looks like mecano, will be changeing it at some stage, if you look at this photo its the long rod behind the startermotor
IMG_0285.jpg

if you meant your going back to manual choke carbs i just made a 2 -1 adaptor up and run a solid cable from below the drivers seat to it,
found it was easier to do this than mess about with auto chokes (didnt have all parts on engine for them) when i ordered my new carbs from america.
this vid shows both the throtal rod set up as well as choke set up hope this is some help for you


cheers Peter

Eek, thats looks weird. Luckily I got my weber on correctly finally so I think I'll take a pause on that idea. Just need to sync the carbs now...

BTW, hows your shifting? Mine is stupid sloppy.
 
well all i can say Mark is wow love what you've done, dont think funds will allow that sort of work
on mine as just happy to get it on the road as is, have seen a custom porsch shroud for sale on e-bay before, nice to see it all working and well done on the drag strip,
as to how many on the road in the UK, well i think there have been a few imported with the Corvair fitted but apart from yours and now mine i dont think there are any others on the road in uk, (i stand to be corrected) they seem to have been removed and not used would like to find one just to have for spare parts if needed or even to have a play with lol,
they seem to have resonable power even in the standard set up that i have,
i see you dont have lower pannels on your engine take it you havnt had any problems with cooling.
but dosnt that mean you have no heating connected to the bus?

at the moment the only problem i have is a sticky starter motor have striped and lubed it but still a bit sticky after a while, will have to sorce a replacement at some stage,
look forward to seeing yours in the flesh sometime,

cheers Peter
 
Eek, thats looks weird. Luckily I got my weber on correctly finally so I think I'll take a pause on that idea. Just need to sync the carbs now...

BTW, hows your shifting? Mine is stupid sloppy.


hiya Soviet1942
not sure what you mean do you mean gear selection, if so i changed the first plastic bush under the gear leaver and tightend the play out of the modified gear selection rod at the gearbox end this took most of the play and gives a positive gear selection,
as to driving it has very good pick up from standining and have to remember to keep below speed limits around town, not taken it to flat out yet but should be good for 80mph plus, need a rev counter before i push it to much,
all ive done set up wise is to fit new carbs and ballance them myself, havnt touched the timeing at all
as havnt got the gear to check dwell and timeing, but its running sweet as is so will leave for now

cheers Peter
 
Peter
No dont run any heating from the engine and have disconnected the servo from the intake, upsets the intake. Hence have run an electric powered vacuum pump to operate the servo. For warmth put on a hat. But when stationary have a propex heater plumbed in.
Dont forget if you need any bits give us a call

Mark
 
hiya been hidein in the background enjoyin drivin the bus most weekends, 900miles since mot now,
little bits done
bought and fitted yesterday Z bed hinges from DDFFrost on here
2012-03-03150035.jpg

2012-03-03150029.jpg

2012-03-03150119.jpg

new rubber mats for cab area and then mat set from Mad matz,
just shouldnt have picked such a light colour lol
2012-03-03145720.jpg

2012-03-03145703.jpg

got a towbar centre section from uswesty just need to manufacture side mounting plates with bumper mounts should be able to do that in a couple of weeks

was up at the butty run in Long Itchington today pity about weather but still a few classics there
a stretch bay!
2012-03-04105329.jpg

2012-03-04105338.jpg

2012-03-04105402.jpg

foods good held 1st sun every month
cheers Pete
 
Hi Pete, i had a towbar on my old crossover, i know it aint the same but welcome to take a look at the bumper/towbar mounts. Intend to put it on my bus one day but will need remanufacturing slightly as the bumper mounts are different. At my sisters near the sheperd every saturday tinkinering with the bus if you wanna take a look. (can also sneak a look at your z hinges :msn4: )

Karl
 

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