An example of the Chevrolet Corvair engine in flight

[Bubbleboy]

Nice scenery too!

 

 

Scotty

 

 

[fly_tornado]

at idle it sounds like a bag of bolts in a washing machine

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

at idle it sounds like a bag of bolts in a washing machine

I think more the quality of the microphone! These engines are extraordinarily smooth.

 

 

[facthunter]

That they are..Nev

 

 

[old man emu]

I agree. Lousy mike, but if you listen to it, it's smooth.

 

Six is sexy

 

How's your engine coming along, Bubbles?

 

OME

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Hi OME...well a bit of bitter sweet really!

 

As your aware I bought a Block from LS Corvair in the USA as the guy I was emailing proposed to be an expert on what was needed for the aero conversion. Mental note: NEVER buy anything form LS Corvair in the USA!

 

If the Corvair block is blast cleaned in anyway it is stuffed. They need to be hand cleaned so the bearing surfaces are not worn away and so they wont leak oil etc. This guy from LS Corvair stated he knew all this and he had a block there so sent it over. It got here and it looked a little pitted so went in to the local engine rebuilder who rebuilds Porsche engines and the like and when he looked at it said straight up its been blast cleaned. He took a look at it and said he wouldn't rebuild it for a car let alone a plane! At this stage I was a little dirty you could say so emailed LS Corvair as politely as I could asking them what they propose to do about this and never heard anything back. That now gives me the right to warn other people about their crappy service. It came about when I received an email from a guy in the USA who saw my website and emailed be stating I should have the crank journals measured as a lot of the Covair engines have been thrashed to death in buggies over the years and that is where they wear in this situation.

 

Anyway I have mentioned on as many forums how crap LS Corvair have been and lost them a lot of customers so, you get that!

 

Out of the blue after reading one of my posts a chap in the USA emailed me suggesting I needed someone in the USA to work with me in coordinating the rebuild and shipping of the Corvair parts. He is building a Corvair aero conversion and had a spare core engine there.

 

To cut a long story short, Roy from Roys garage has organised for the core to be dropped off to him and he is going to check this core over to make sure it is rebuildable. If it is, he is going to have the crank modified(threaded for a safety shaft and nitrided), fit a new cam & gear, torque the case together and fit one of his fifth bearings which can be seen on his website below. There are a few fifth bearings out there but the difference with Roy's is that each one if custom fitted to each block. Hence why he needs the block! He line bores the case and makes sure the fifth bearing is aligned properly. For anyone who doesnt know Roy, he is a master machinist and does amazing work.

 

http://www.roysgarage.com/new/Welcome.html

 

Add to this I now have here the rebuilt dual ignition distributor and starter motor, Ma3SPA carb, John Deere Dynamo and regulator and most other parts to assemble the rest of the engine after the block arrives here.

 

Anyway its a learning experience and I still hope to have a fully rebuilt 100hp Corvair aero conversion for around the $7000 mark!

 

Scotty

 

 

[Deskpilot]

Thanks Scotty, nice vid. My question is,what makes all that noise whilst taxiing? Nothing to do with the engine obviously, but as soon as he touches down, sounds like a shot bearing and/or loose washers rotating.

 

BTW, wouldn't want an IFEF when chasing along those canyons, would you?

 

 

[old man emu]

Maybe I'm a bit on the lazy side, but I'd rather send the Corvair wizard a cheque and tell him to ship me a ready to fit engine. It may cost a bit more, but I'd know that I would have an expert built engine and at least a bit of a stronger basis for a product liability claim if ever it was needed.

 

And don't throw that dud crankcase out. It will be a boon to people who want to make an engine mount.

 

OME

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Ok...a better example!

 

 

 

[old man emu]

That first one has a good shot of the engine mount. Sure is smoother than a Rootex.

 

OME

 

 

[Bubbleboy]

Yes OME...dead sexy they are! Dont know why more folk dont use them at half the price of the others.

 

Scotty

 

 

[old man emu]

Shhhhhh! You'll have all the riff raff coming after them, then there will have to be a Corvair Discussion Thread and people will come to love them and hug them and ......oops that's my line for LOLCats!

 

OME