So this is the core engine from a Corvair car. Originally the engine ran a 5500 redline rpm and 550 cht. The motor when completed will turn direct drive at 3200 rpm and 350 cht. Displacing 3200 cc it is rated 120hp at 2800 rpm. I will probably see close to that with the increase in rpm and my altitude at just under 4000'.
So the first step is to drag the motor home and start getting dirty. Most of the external parts are discarded such as the top cover blower fan, oil pan, front and back plates, and some of the baffling sheet metal. The rest is used as a basic core for rebuilding.
William Wynne is the writer and publisher of the Corvair Manuals I follow from this point until the engine is running. He has put many years into this and I feel as long as the book is followed I can avoid any obvious mistakes. I listen to him and Sport Performance Aviation, and they listen to guys who are way smarter than me. Dan Weseman of SPA has also been a tremendous help and both of them are going to be behind a new engine mount and exhaust for this installation. I don't want to get ahead of myself here because I don't want to make any premature claims. i will be posting what I'm doing and the steps I make for a firewall forward install using a lycoming continental cowl. After the install I will be posting numbers for performance data using as many different props as Dan and William think I should test.
Once the core is obtained and disassembled, the various components are sent to SPA. (Some parts such as the crank are sent to certain trusted shops who do the kind of quality work these guys trust). What you get back is a combination of original parts you sent in now refurbished and set to standards, and new components ready for installation.
Re: Corvair in a Kitfox
Reply With Quote