[V8Vairs] rear mounted 215 pg

[craig nicol]

On 1/17/2013 7:40 AM, moonpie8n at comcast.net wrote:

    I  HAD  THE  CHANCE  TO  DRIVE  A  '63  OLDS  F-85 [215 ENGINE]. IT  
is  virtually  the  same  as  a  aluminum  v-8 powered 'vair. IT  was  
plenty  "Zippy"  but  I  d on't  think it  is  worth  the  work  to  
change  a 'vair  over. The  231 Buick  is  capable  of  making  much  
more  power  for  the  same money [and  same  hardware]. What  do  you  
think???   Bob

Craig Replies:
Comparison yields a mixed bag.  The Corvair is lighter than the F85 so 
the engine is peppier in the Corvair platform. The all-aluminum 215 is 
lighter than the all cast-iron 231/3.8; probably 100# difference, so 
there's another edge. There are performance parts for both, including 
superchargers and turbos. The 215 is easily stretched to 300/5.0L. Not 
sure about the 231/3.8 but stock they only go up to 4.1L.  Reverse 
rotation parts are scarce for both, in fact I'm not sure if there are 
ANY rev-rot parts for the 3.8.  The shorter 3.8 V6 is much easier to fit 
in a Corvair, that's for sure.

My Olds 215 (now 255/4.2L) is more than zippy. While nothing like a 350 
would be, it still packs a wallop. Not scary quick; but certainly 
eye-opening. No doubt right at the limit of the Corvair transaxle.

If you're looking for an easy fit, medium displacement engine with 
readily available rev-rot and performance parts, my suggestion would be 
the Chevy 4.3. Aluminum heads are readily available and there are even 
(rare) aluminum 4.3 blocks. I did my Olds 215 (255) as a nostalgia 
piece, which coincidentally, gets down the road in a pretty big hurry 
and offers stock weight and handling. Works for me and meets my goals.
Craig

Some pix etc on this Corvair Center thread: 
http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/read.php?1,405466,405466#msg-405466