corvair engine conversion

[andewilson]

does anyone know much about fitting a corvair engine into your bus. they were built in the sixties, were flat six and ranged from a single carb 110hp to a turbocharged 180hp. i have come across a pair of engines but am appprehensive due to my lack of knowledge. but they is quite a bit of info on the web. albiet in america. has anyone ever seen these fitted as my leanings to the porsche powerplant have been met with huge prices

 

[slammedkustom]

i belive they turn the opposite way to a vw engine so you will have to get the diff "flipped" or you will have 4 reverse and one forward!

 

[shane r]

My mate Dave has put a corvair in his late bay. he was bringing it to DATP to debut it but, a power issue with the ECU made it break down on the way. He is the only person known to have ever successfully put one in a VW van. He also knows where to get more of them. Check out THIS tidy install...

 

[andewilson]

My mate Dave has put a corvair in his late bay. he was bringing it to DATP to debut it but, a power issue with the ECU made it break down on the way. He is the only person known to have ever successfully put one in a VW van. He also knows where to get more of them. Check out THIS tidy install...

looks tidy. what engine did he fit mate? did he use the corvair gearbox or vw? as ive found a website that does a kit to simply bolt the lot in and it supplies the engine mounts etc. does he say the conversion was worthwhile

 

[shane r]

He's running a stock gearbox. He just rebuilt the cam to run backwards. He is of course running an ECU with Mega Squirt as well. I'm sure he's spent a good deal more than putting a Porker in though. His engine is a 6 cylinder 2.4 corvair, not sure of year.

He's Dangerousdave1972 on JK. Send him a message on there. Here's a thread...

http://www.justkampers.co.uk/interactive/kamperchat/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87578&highlight=corvair

PS what's the site you're talking about? Wouldn't mind having a look.

 

[Monkeyspinner Tim]

What's wrong with the good old type 1 engine in your bus?? nice and light and plenty of reliable power if built properly... lovely sound too

 

[Scampi]

What's wrong with the good old type 1 engine in your bus?? nice and light and plenty of reliable power if built properly... lovely sound too

Yep, Type 1 FTW :wink:

 

[shane r]

Hey, I've got a Type 1 too, of course!

 

[andewilson]

dont know. nothing wrong with type one engines. i built a 1600 with kadrons on 12 years ago now

it was pretty fast and at the time i was 20 and it was the best i could afford. i did a complete rebuild with barrels cam lifters. each member of my family bought a bit each for my birthday (bit like a wedding list at triax vdub shop) and i built it (even dragged it at nights of fire at nas in peterborough). but with the arrival of ebay and forums etc it has oppened up so many alternatives. porsche 914 912 911 would be my prefered engine swap. but in the past week my wifes sharan has cost us £1000 to keep on the road. thats three cylinders of the 911 sc 3.0 engine i was guna buy. so i have been looking at all sorts or engines.
when i bought my van the metalwork in the back that surrounds the engine was v rusty so i cut it all back so it kind of puts any vw engine out unless i weld all new metal in the back.

 

[shane r]

What was the address of that corvair website you mentioned mate?

 

[andewilson]

What was the address of that corvair website you mentioned mate?

i simply googled corvair, or corvair vw, and it brings up quite a bit of stuff. i was interested in buying a pair of engines that were on ebay. but they had both stood for 10 years so thought i might have been buying into a pricey rebuild. i think i am gona wait and get a porker lump when it comes up. 2.2 or 2.7. my van still has a way to go before engine time so ive got time to save