Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:47:46 -0800
Reply-To: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Annie <lsandrsn@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Corvair-powered Bay on Virginia CL
In-Reply-To: <1347973263.1132222.1321027175407.JavaMail.root@sz0063a.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net>
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I've always like Corvairs . . . got a '61 2 door Monza Spyder that I
purchased when I was 14 sitting right here in my garage. Haven't driven it
in a long time - it needs a little body work from an accident that occurred
before I owned it. But that's about all it needs to be fully restored now.
Other family members have had a number of Corvairs over the years and I
happen to think they are cool cars. I'd like to have another one myself.
Like Loren said, problems occur when people drive a rear-engined vehicle
like the Beetle or a Corvair as though it were a sports car.
Putting a Corvair engine in a VW is something I've heard of before. Not
sure I'd do it, though. But the extra horse power would be fun, I'm sure! I
do plan to 'upgrade' my Vanagon's engine with either the Zetec or a Subaru
but I haven't really decided which yet. I'd like to check out others' and
see which one seems more ideal for me first.
*Thanks, ~Annie* email: lsandrsn@gmail.com
On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 7:59 AM, J Stewart <fonman4277@comcast.net> wrote:
> Actually, not all that strange at all, there are plenty of Corvairs still
> out there. It is often referred to as the "poor mans classic car", as fully
> restored examples rarely go over 5K in value. What is strange is that the
> engines suffered many of the maladies that VW engines did, leaky pushrod
> tubes, dropped valve seats, etc. It also had a very bizarre fan belt
> arrangement and was prone to throwing the fan belt-so much so that there
> are kits out there to warn the driver that the fan belt has been thrown. I
> had the pleasure of driving a Corvair powered '71 Westy a few years ago and
> it was a blast. I was interested in doing the conversion to my '75 Westy,
> and obtained 90% of the parts to do it, but like most projects the time
> just wasn't there and I sold off all the stuff-some to a guy in the
> Virginia Beach area. As for being dangerous, well, most would say the same
> of our beloved Beetles and early (Split & Bay) buses. Jeff Jeff Stewart
> ----- Original Message -----
> > Very strange.
> > The Corvair was Chevy's failed attempt to offer a US alternative the
> > strange and rapidly multiplying VW Beetle.
> > It was so poorly engineered it flipped and killed lots of people,
> > including
> > two I knew in high school.
> > It gave Ralph Nader his start as a consumer activist, the subject of
> > his
> > book "Unsafe At Any Speed"
> > As an engine, if I recall correctly, it fried valves frequently or had
> > another fatal defect. Strange to have one running, let alone in a VW.
> > Halloween is over isn't it?
> > On Fri, Nov 11, 2011 at 8:51 AM, Stephen Grisanti
> > <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote:
> > > Not mine:
> > >
> > > http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/2676492483.html
> > >
> > > 1979 VW BUS - $5000 (Varina) - 1979 VW Bus with 1967 chevy corvair
> > > engine
> > > with two speed auto transmission. Interior stock. Bill 399-9490
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Stephen
> > >
>
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