Date:         Wed, 16 May 2001 14:31:26 EDT
Reply-To:     BenTbtstr8@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Benjamin Tan <BenTbtstr8@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: Corvair and Porsche 914 Engines (Was: Towing!!!)
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

Hi Would Vanavairs,

After having owned a split window single cab and 69 Westy with one of these 
"belt-slinger engines" I can say w/o hesitation that it is not a practical 
swap.

Crown Mfg. makes the distributor drive to make the sucker spin the other way 
from what I can remember (when using VW trans).

The problem with these engines is they have a fan belt which makes a tortuous 
90° turn. They have a tendency to fly off in the most inopportune moments. 
Parts are also getting difficult to find. Any engine you find is going to be 
almost as old as your grandmother unless you're Mike Miller. Then there's the 
price competition for engines and parts with all those collectors looking to 
restore their Turbo Monza Convertible.

Engine swaps are usually done to improve the breed. The old "Transvair" 
conversions were the Subaru swap of their day. That's no longer the case. If 
you must bastardize your Vanagon, stick to something practical like a Subaru 
Injun.

BenT

ps:
You may have missed my post on this in the past. I was able to sell the 
single cab for more money w/o the engine than with.