

| Subject: | Re: Corvair-powered Bay on Virginia CL |
| From: | Annie |
| Date: | Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:47:46 -0800 |
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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