The Brooklands Volkswagen Bus-Camper-Van Performance Portfolio 1968-1979 has an article that originally appeared in the February 1973 issue of "PV4". That details several engine swaps for the bay window bus. There are a ton of engine swap possibilities but the Corvair and 914 engines wouldn't require radiator work. Who knows if the vendors are still around but the addresses were:

Corvair (110-bhp & 140-bhp):
Hadley Chassis Engineering
1778 Monrovia
Costa Messa, California
92627

and

Crown Mfg. Co. Inc.
858 Production Place
Newport Beach, Calif
92660

The link for Clarks is: http://www.corvair.com/power.html

Trouble is, I think the Corvair engine is too tall for a Vanagon because the '68-'79 vans have 7" more space above the engine than we do. Plus don't you think someone would be marketing a kit if this were an easy swap? I've never seen one, or heard of anyone swapping it into their Vanagon.

The Porsche 914 was done by none other than Kennedy Engineered Products, who I assume are the same as the like named guys that do the Subaru Conversions now their new address is:

Kennedy Engineered Products
38830 17th St. East
Palmdale, CA 93550
1.805.272.1147
1.805.272.1575 fax
kennedy@hughes.net

Thanks,
Chris

On Tue, 15 May 2001, John Brush wrote:

>
> :
>
> >I've heard of people putting corvair engines in their Vanagons. I'd give
> >Clarks Corvair parts a look. You can easily build up a 110 HP corvair air
> >cooled engine.
>
> I forgot about the Corvair. Used to own one as well. Duh, getting older by
> the minute. :)
>
> The only hassle would be the stupid emissions laws. I would have to pass
> the standard for the 81 van, according to the royalty of Utah. :(
>
> I will check it out. Sounds like it might be interesting.
>
> Thanks Phil
>
> John

Thanks,
Chris Gronski
'80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY
'87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer
'91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertable
www.vanagon.org & .ca
www.gronski.com, .org, & .ca
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