Original Posted By: Warren Shoun
I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For ExperimentalAircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair engine.According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit) plandesigned by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold byLars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd. SantaBarbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any troublecontacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans?Duane RevennaughI bought the book byRichard Finchcalled Auto Engines For Experimental Aircraft and found someveryuseful info on the Corvair engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU(PropSpeed Reduction Unit) plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gearbox. theplans are sold by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34ParadiseRd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had anytroublecontacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans?DuaneRevennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Corvair Engine info
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Warren Shoun
I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Lars always has a lotof projects going and sells so few of these plans that it may be days orweeks before you hear from him. In my speaking with him, the mainreason for the limited use of these units is that they require the stepdown drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early 60's, whichsimply are not as available as they once were. In addition to this,what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of1.35:1 ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carrythese and neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts, it works like acharm and is very rugged. The plans even show how Bud Rinker made hisprop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the same bus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40 year old parts justaren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Larsalways has a lot of projects going and sells so few of these plans thatit may be days or weeks before you hear from him. In my speakingwith him, the main reason for the limited use of these units is that theyrequire the step down drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early60's, which simply are not as available as they once were. In additionto this, what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of 1.35:1ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carry theseand neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts,it works like a charm and is very rugged. The plans even show howBud Rinker made his prop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the samebus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40year old parts just aren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:Ibought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For ExperimentalAircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair engine. Accordingto Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit) plan designed by BudRinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold by Lars Nelson throughVertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Hasany body built this unit or had any trouble contacting Lars Nelson to geta set of plans?DuaneRevennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Lars always has a lotof projects going and sells so few of these plans that it may be days orweeks before you hear from him. In my speaking with him, the mainreason for the limited use of these units is that they require the stepdown drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early 60's, whichsimply are not as available as they once were. In addition to this,what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of1.35:1 ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carrythese and neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts, it works like acharm and is very rugged. The plans even show how Bud Rinker made hisprop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the same bus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40 year old parts justaren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Larsalways has a lot of projects going and sells so few of these plans thatit may be days or weeks before you hear from him. In my speakingwith him, the main reason for the limited use of these units is that theyrequire the step down drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early60's, which simply are not as available as they once were. In additionto this, what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of 1.35:1ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carry theseand neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts,it works like a charm and is very rugged. The plans even show howBud Rinker made his prop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the samebus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40year old parts just aren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:Ibought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For ExperimentalAircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair engine. Accordingto Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit) plan designed by BudRinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold by Lars Nelson throughVertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Hasany body built this unit or had any trouble contacting Lars Nelson to geta set of plans?DuaneRevennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Kevin McDonald
Clarification: This is NOT any part of a VW transmission gearassembly. It is a 2 gear separate unit that bolts to the transmission wherethe later CV joints attached. It was only on early busses, and ineffect gave it a permanent "granny gear" drive. The Mountain Versionthat I referred to could climb anything, at about 26 miles per hour topspeed. If you are as old as I am, you clearly remember passing thesethings on any hill.Duane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh Clarification: This is NOT any part of a VW transmissiongear assembly. It is a 2 gear separate unit that bolts to the transmissionwhere the later CV joints attached. It was only on early busses,and in effect gave it a permanent "granny gear" drive. The MountainVersion that I referred to could climb anything, at about 26 miles perhour top speed. If you are as old as I am, you clearly remember passingthese things on any hill.Duane wrote:Ibought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For ExperimentalAircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair engine. Accordingto Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit) plan designed by BudRinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold by Lars Nelson throughVertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Hasany body built this unit or had any trouble contacting Lars Nelson to geta set of plans?DuaneRevennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
Clarification: This is NOT any part of a VW transmission gearassembly. It is a 2 gear separate unit that bolts to the transmission wherethe later CV joints attached. It was only on early busses, and ineffect gave it a permanent "granny gear" drive. The Mountain Versionthat I referred to could climb anything, at about 26 miles per hour topspeed. If you are as old as I am, you clearly remember passing thesethings on any hill.Duane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh Clarification: This is NOT any part of a VW transmissiongear assembly. It is a 2 gear separate unit that bolts to the transmissionwhere the later CV joints attached. It was only on early busses,and in effect gave it a permanent "granny gear" drive. The MountainVersion that I referred to could climb anything, at about 26 miles perhour top speed. If you are as old as I am, you clearly remember passingthese things on any hill.Duane wrote:Ibought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For ExperimentalAircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair engine. Accordingto Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit) plan designed by BudRinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold by Lars Nelson throughVertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd. Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Hasany body built this unit or had any trouble contacting Lars Nelson to geta set of plans?DuaneRevennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Patrick Panzera
I have purchased the plans for the Rinker Drive (Corvair PSRU) from Lars Nelson (Vertical Systems). I was very pleased with the package that he offers. The plans are simpler and less machining is required than I had expected. It's nearly a model of simplicity. The plans package includes a few reprints from journal articles describing the assembly and performance. There are two sets of plans: one for a simple PSRU that requires machining of the crankshaft, and one that's a bit more complex and bulky but requires no machining of the crank. There is also a plan for a propellor hub cut from a VW brake drum, and the plans show an installation of starter motor ring. If anyone has questions about what he offers, I'd be happy to respond (although I'll be away for a week starting now). I've learned a lot about this PSRU, and I have not yet become convinced that I will build it. As Warren points out, it requires a somewhat obscure part of a long extinct type II VW transaxle (from an old bus). The standard reduction unit is not terribly difficult to find in a parts-rich environment like southern CA, but the mountain gears are a bit more of a challenge. They are prized by the home-built dune-buggy community who build Corvair sand-rails, and there seems to be an modest trade there. I should point out that even the standard reduction unit offers some advantages over having no PSRU at all: for example, 1) thrust loads are removed from the crankshaft and the crank main journal webbing that were not specifically designed to carry these loads, 2) the prop spins the right way, and 3) you get a bit closer to operating the engine near the peak of the torque curve. There also seem to be some disadvantages, too. Such as the added weight (the standard unit adds something like 20 lbs), and Jim Vandervoort (PIetenpol builder) reported some vibration that caused accelerated wear of his elevator hinges. He later removed the PSRU and he's been flying with the stock Pietenpol arrangement for many years. I have some photographs that were sent to me by Lars Nelson several months ago. I posted them to a little website that I aborted when I bought my first house in November (Richard, I don't know how you do it!) Here's the address:http://home.earthlink.net/~jillnpeter/p ... thlink.net on 07/08/99 07:13:00 PMcc: (bcc: Peter P Frantz/West/Aerospace/US)Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Lars always has a lotof projects going and sells so few of these plans that it may be days orweeks before you hear from him. In my speaking with him, the mainreason for the limited use of these units is that they require the stepdown drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early 60's, whichsimply are not as available as they once were. In addition to this,what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of1.35:1 ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carrythese and neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts, it works like acharm and is very rugged. The plans even show how Bud Rinker made hisprop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the same bus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40 year old parts justaren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
I have purchased the plans for the Rinker Drive (Corvair PSRU) from Lars Nelson (Vertical Systems). I was very pleased with the package that he offers. The plans are simpler and less machining is required than I had expected. It's nearly a model of simplicity. The plans package includes a few reprints from journal articles describing the assembly and performance. There are two sets of plans: one for a simple PSRU that requires machining of the crankshaft, and one that's a bit more complex and bulky but requires no machining of the crank. There is also a plan for a propellor hub cut from a VW brake drum, and the plans show an installation of starter motor ring. If anyone has questions about what he offers, I'd be happy to respond (although I'll be away for a week starting now). I've learned a lot about this PSRU, and I have not yet become convinced that I will build it. As Warren points out, it requires a somewhat obscure part of a long extinct type II VW transaxle (from an old bus). The standard reduction unit is not terribly difficult to find in a parts-rich environment like southern CA, but the mountain gears are a bit more of a challenge. They are prized by the home-built dune-buggy community who build Corvair sand-rails, and there seems to be an modest trade there. I should point out that even the standard reduction unit offers some advantages over having no PSRU at all: for example, 1) thrust loads are removed from the crankshaft and the crank main journal webbing that were not specifically designed to carry these loads, 2) the prop spins the right way, and 3) you get a bit closer to operating the engine near the peak of the torque curve. There also seem to be some disadvantages, too. Such as the added weight (the standard unit adds something like 20 lbs), and Jim Vandervoort (PIetenpol builder) reported some vibration that caused accelerated wear of his elevator hinges. He later removed the PSRU and he's been flying with the stock Pietenpol arrangement for many years. I have some photographs that were sent to me by Lars Nelson several months ago. I posted them to a little website that I aborted when I bought my first house in November (Richard, I don't know how you do it!) Here's the address:http://home.earthlink.net/~jillnpeter/p ... thlink.net on 07/08/99 07:13:00 PMcc: (bcc: Peter P Frantz/West/Aerospace/US)Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info I have spoken with both Bud Rinker and Lars. Lars always has a lotof projects going and sells so few of these plans that it may be days orweeks before you hear from him. In my speaking with him, the mainreason for the limited use of these units is that they require the stepdown drive from old VW buses from the late 50's and early 60's, whichsimply are not as available as they once were. In addition to this,what you really need is the even more rare Mountain Version, whichprovided a 1.69:1 ration as compared to the regular street version of1.35:1 ration. From my inquiry, VW Dealer parts depts. don't carrythese and neither do the normal street guys like Kragen or Pep Boys. Having said all of that, if you can find the parts, it works like acharm and is very rugged. The plans even show how Bud Rinker made hisprop drive from the axle and Brake Drum from the same bus. It is a good idea that works well. The 35-40 year old parts justaren't that easy to come by. If you do find a source, let us all know.Cheers,WarrenDuane wrote:> I bought the book by Richard Finch called Auto Engines For> Experimental Aircraft and found some very useful info on the Corvair> engine. According to Finch there is a PSRU (Prop Speed Reduction Unit)> plan designed by Bud Rinker. It uses a VW gear box. the plans are sold> by Lars Nelson through Vertical Systems. Address is 34 Paradise Rd.> Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Has any body built this unit or had any> trouble contacting Lars Nelson to get a set of plans? Duane Revennaugh________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Patrick Panzera
I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also bought his book on the corvair and like it. also about the redrive he mentioned the rinker one but said there are better ways to go allthough the rinker unit was good when it was introducedmany years ago. I would contact Mr. Finch for more feedback.Craig Aho________________________________________________________________________________
I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also bought his book on the corvair and like it. also about the redrive he mentioned the rinker one but said there are better ways to go allthough the rinker unit was good when it was introducedmany years ago. I would contact Mr. Finch for more feedback.Craig Aho________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: "David B. Schober"
CAho878935(at)aol.com wrote:> > I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also bought his> book on the corvair and like it. How can I do likewise?Pat________________________________________________________________________________
CAho878935(at)aol.com wrote:> > I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also bought his> book on the corvair and like it. How can I do likewise?Pat________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: dannymac
Hello Pat:Mr Finch can be contacted at Phone 1-805-683-5346 or Fax 1-805-6838868.His address as follows: 54 Lassen Dr.Santa Barbara, CA 93111 He charges about 16.00 bucks for the book.Craig________________________________________________________________________________
Hello Pat:Mr Finch can be contacted at Phone 1-805-683-5346 or Fax 1-805-6838868.His address as follows: 54 Lassen Dr.Santa Barbara, CA 93111 He charges about 16.00 bucks for the book.Craig________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By:> Patrick Panzera
Sorry i missed you there,also bought the book from Mr. Finch,a down toearth interesting man. Did not see any piets there,bummer. Doug
Sorry i missed you there,also bought the book from Mr. Finch,a down toearth interesting man. Did not see any piets there,bummer. Doug
Pietenpol-List: Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Replicraft(at)aol.com
No Piets at Arlington this year.________________________________________________________________________________
No Piets at Arlington this year.________________________________________________________________________________
> Re: Corvair Engine info
Original Posted By: Doug
> > CAho878935(at)aol.com wrote:> > > > I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also boughthis> > book on the corvair and like it. > > How can I do likewise?> > Pat________________________________________________________________________________
> > CAho878935(at)aol.com wrote:> > > > I talked with Mr Finch at the Arlinton Flying yesterday. I also boughthis> > book on the corvair and like it. > > How can I do likewise?> > Pat________________________________________________________________________________