Chevrolet Turbo-Air 6 engine

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Corvair engine
Overview
ManufacturerChevrolet
Layout
Displacement140 CID (2.3L), 145 CID (2.4L), 164 CID (2.7L)
Cylinder block materialaluminum crankcase, iron cylinders
Cylinder head materialaluminum
Valvetrainpushrod, hydraulic
Combustion
Turbochargeroptional
Fuel system2 or 4 single barrel downdraft carburetors, or turbocharged single sidedraft carburetor
Fuel typegasoline
Oil systemwet sump
Cooling systemair
Output
Power output80, 84, 95, 98, 102, 110, 140, 150, 180 hp (130 kW)

The Chevrolet Corvair engine is a flat-six boxer piston engine that was used in the 1960s Chevrolet Corvair automobile. It is a highly unusual engine for General Motors: It has overhead valves, air-cooled, uses a flat design, with aluminum heads (incorporating integral intake manifolds) and crankcase, with individual iron cylinder barrels.

Given the engine's air-cooling, aircraft amateur builders and small volume engine builders very quickly began a cottage industry of modifying Corvair engines for aircraft use, which continues to this day.[1]

Corvair engines fitted to Volkswagens

A conversion kit was also made that would allow the complete Corvair powertrain to be installed in the post 1967 Volkswagen Type 2.[2]

Aircraft use

A Sport Performance Aviation Panther airframe under construction, fitted with a Corvair engine

Corvair engines, being air-cooled, have been widely used in homebuilt aircraft. Some aircraft, such as the Pro-Composites Personal Cruiser have been specifically designed for them.[1] The defunct American company Hegy Propellers, which was based in Marfa, Texas, produced propellers specifically for Corvair engines.[3]

Aircraft applications

Engine Serial Number Codes

The following codes (last two characters of engine serial number) identify the year, size, power, and transmission of the engine[4]

3
Terms
  • A/C: Air conditioned
  • A.I.R.: Air Injection Reactor
  • A/T:Automatic transmission
  • HPE: High performance engine
  • P/G: Powerglide
  • SHPE: Special Hi Perf. Engine
  • T/C: Turbocharged

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 115. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
  2. ^ "Transvair Conversion on a '70 Westfalia". Type2.com. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  3. ^ Purdy, Don: AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook, page 84. BAI Communications. ISBN 0-9636409-4-1
  4. ^ "TCADec07 pg1.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-14.
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