Ecomodding my 1966 Corvair

[freebeard]

Zombie threads rock!

The Corvair Specialties links suggest to me a retrofit to a Type I engine. I'm thinking twice fans underneath with a collector on top, working with the chimney effect instead of against it.

My next door (two over) neighbor has a Baja Bug with electric fans on the stock cooling shroud. Parked waiting for a rebuild, so I wouldn't do it that way.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

retrofit to a Type I engine

Sometimes I do wonder why GM didn't try to fit the 153 engine into the Corvair instead of developing the flat-6. It used to be a common engine swap done to Kombis in South Africa. But a souped-up Type 1 engine (or a Type 3 which could eventually be more suitable to the station-wagon version) would already be interesting.

[Piotrsko]

Height of the Vw popularity, GM developed an aircooled engine that mimicked what the Germans were doing then copied the car using Detroit speak. I just cant see a doghouse cover working on a corvair.

I guess you all know it's the external bits that make the different type motors? All the basic parts: blocks, cylinders, heads, crankcases are interchangeable. Well, maybe not 6v motors, but even those bolt up.

[MeteorGray]

This thread brings back memories about my misspent youth in a brand-new, just-introduced 1961 Corvair that I drove in my senior year of high school.

If Ralph Nader had been right about the Corvair being "dangerous at any speed", I'd be the guy they talk about at reunions who didn't make it past the '61 senior prom due to the big crash that night. Instead, the little Corvair handled very well despite my crazy Phil-Hill-wannabe driving.

I don't remember what type of mileage I got in that little Corvair 60 years ago, probably because I usually had the odometer disconnected so I could fool my parents that I honored their demands that I wouldn't go out of town on dates. My mom checked the odometer in an unsuccessful attempt to keep me honest, and you can't figure fuel mileage without knowing how far you drove :=)

Ah, the memories.

[freebeard]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_542

Porsche 542 - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_542
Porsche 542 or Studebaker Z-87 was a prototype made by Porsche for Studebaker in 1953. The first prototype Porsche 530, a four-seat version of the Porsche 356, was rejected. The new prototype got a different engine, a 120 degree V6 at three litres. Two versions were developed, one aircooled 542L and one watercooled 542W.

Porsche made a 120 degree V-6 for Studebaker in 1953 in air- and water-cooled versions. It looked a lot like a front-engined Type III.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Porsche made a 120 degree V-6 for Studebaker in 1953 in air- and water-cooled versions. It looked a lot like a front-engined Type III.

Front-engined with a V6 air-cooled engine? The only ones I remember right now are those Magirus-Deutz trucks

[samwichse]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Front-engined with a V6 air-cooled engine? The only ones I remember right now are those Magirus-Deutz trucks

From Wikipedia:

Layout
rear engine, rear wheel drive

So no front engine according to Wikipedia

Yes front engine according to Motorweek pg 31 on the bottom left of the page:
https://studebaker-info.org/studepor...porsche08.html

I think I'll trust the old Motorweek

[samwichse]

Edited the Wikipedia article based on the motor week info. We'll see if it sticks.

[freebeard]

I went looking for the article where I'd learned about the Type 542, but Special Interest Autos Studebaker by Porsche, A (1954 Type 542 prototype) 404s. The Teardroppers Powered by Ford article is gone too!

[some_other_dave]

You might check on www.archive.org , if you know the old URL.

-soD