> I follow the Mecum auctions and they have this Westy on the
> block coming up in May. It has a Corvair engine in it!
>
>
<http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=SC0511-106153&entryRow=
2224>

Corvair engines were a popular conversion for VW Buses in the 70's and 80's;
there were even aftermarket conversion kits for doing the swap. The Corvair
engine was available in up to 140 horsepower normally-aspirated or 180
horsepower turbo charged, so it was quite the power upgrade over the stock
air cooled VW engine, while still requiring no plumbing. As I recall, the
biggest snag was that the crankshaft turned in the opposite direction of a
Volkswagen engine, so if you didn't know any better you'd end up with one
forward gear and four reverse gears!  Of course today Corvair parts are
relatively scarce (Clark's Corvair Parts being the only major supplier), as
are healthy donor engines, so few people attempt Corvair engine conversions
anymore.

For those who are curious, Ben and Lynn Stiles, who organize Kampers Near
Knoebels in Pa. each September, drive a Corvair van, and are typically
joined by one or two other Corvair owners at the event - including over the
years a camper with a metal-sided poptop, and a rear-engined dropgate pickup
truck, both clearly Volkswagen inspired.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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