Pietenpol-List: Corvair "junk"

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Malcolm wrote:>After some disassembly I have concluded that it is junk.Malcolm, I agree with DJ... don't junk it just yet! If you look at some of the CorvAIRCRAFT builders' sites at their "before" and "after" pictures, you'll see that you have plenty of things that are salvageable and usable, more than likely. Some of the castings like the front cover (bellhousing) and heads are almost certainly salvageable. The case is the main thing you need to look at, and once it's stripped down it can be checked to see if the cam bearing bores are within spec. Since the Corvair cam doesn't use bearing inserts, once the bores are out of spec the case is junk, but it's rare to find one that badly worn. The rest can usually be cleaned up and used as a good starting point. The oil pump end of the engine is generally not interchangeable between blocks, so don't try to salvage just that piece if the block is out of spec. But I'm with DJ... hold onto your horses there!The cylinders get exchanged for a rebored set anyway, so be careful when removing the old pistons (which are probably corroded solid into the bores). Soaking overnight in WD40 or Liquid Wrench or something, then tapping the pistons free with a block of wood, does it. Cylinders with broken fins aren't as easily returned for cores. The rods can be cut off and thrown away and the crank can be replaced if it's junk, but by all means try to salvage your heads and cases. I saw some rebuilt heads at the machine shop that had basically sat full of water (in the chambers) for 20 years. Pitted, corroded, ugly- but they are cleanable!However, as in all things, there comes a point when it makes more sense to find something else. As Dirty Harry said, "a man's got to know his limitations".Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.nethttp://resour ... __________

[matronics]

Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
For an idea of how cruddy some of these engines may look coming out of a junker, take a look at Mark Langford's, athttp://home.hiwaay.net/~langford/corvair/engine_disassy.htmlOscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.netInternet access plans that fit your lifestyle -- join MSN. http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/pl ... ______Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 14:02:27 -0400