<VV> SNIMTA_SPAM Re

[Dave Morris]

I have to chime in here, because this may be some encouragement for you.

A bunch of us airplane builders are "rebuilding" Corvair engines to go into 
our airplanes.  What we're doing is buying new cams, lifters, pistons, 
rings, gaskets, seals, etc., and letting the pro vendors do the valve jobs, 
cylinder boring, crank regrinding, etc.  Thus for $1900 you probably could 
actually have an engine that is "rebuilt", not just "overhauled".  And the 
interesting part is that there are a lot of these guys who are digging up 
140 and 95 engines that we cannot use in our airplanes (we stick to the LM 
110).  So our two groups should stay in touch, because there may be some 
meshing of interests.  (I put out a request for anybody with a 95 smog head 
and had a reply within 5 minutes.  Anybody need one?)

William Wynne (www.FlyCorvair.com) publishes a manual on converting the 110 
engine to aircraft use, and armed with that, the Shop Manual, the Finch 
book How to Keep your Corvair Alive, and a support group like this one, 
you've got most of what you need to rebuild the engine, even if you've 
never done it before.  Take a look at the photos on the FlyCorvair.com page 
for the "Corvair College #8" and you'll see just how many people are 
rebuilding engines.

Dave Morris
www.DaveMorris.com/Dave/DFly.html



>Message: 13
>Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2004 13:09:05 -0800
>To: <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
>From: Tony Underwood <tonyu@roava.net>
>Subject: Re: <VV> engine rebuilder
>
>At 10:20 hours 11/23/2004 -0600, Landis, Art MR wrote:
> >I want to have my '66/140 hp engine rebuilt.  I found a place on line called
> >rebuilt.com.  I called and was told that they will rebuild my engine for
> >$1950.  This includes shipping both ways from Missouri to Chicago where the
> >shop is.
>
>This MUST be an overhaul and not a rebuild.   A genuine rebuild will cost
>at least twice that or more... and it involves considerable machine work,
>new parts like pistons and camshaft/lifters, labor, etc and what you get
>back  is for all intents and purposes a brand new engine.
>
>An overhaul (what's most likely advertised above) is usually rings,
>bearings, *Maybe* new pistons (depending), new seals and gaskets, and
>perhaps a valve job.   What you get back is likely to last 30 or 40
>thousand miles or maybe more, maybe less.   It's a tossup, depending on
>what was done and how carefully it was done and of course the condition the
>engine was in to start with.
>
>
> > Well.....ouch!  I can't afford that and I certainly can't do it
> >myself.  Does anyone have any recommendations?
>
>
>We are unfortunately at the point where an original Corvair engine is no
>longer likely to be in 1st rate condition...  I've pulled engines out of
>scrap yards, left lying out in the weather, with white carbs and rusty air
>cleaners which, with a little going-over, ran like champs once they were
>refitted with good carbs and "cleaned up" etc.    This seldom ever happens
>anymore.     I *do* have an engine I got for free not long ago that had
>been sitting out in the weather, no carbs on it and it had been rained in
>two days earlier... got the water out of the cylinders (which showed no
>rust, fortunately) and crankcase, and filled it with ATF through the plug
>holes, let it soak...  it turns easily and smoothly and is going to
>eventually be checked out thoroughly and refitted/test-run so as to see
>just what I got...  if it's OK I'll consider myself lucky.  If not, it
>comes apart and gets fixed.
>
>Vair engines these days are starting to become commodities.  Gone are the
>times when a good engine could be had for a few bucks or sometimes almost
>free for the taking because somebody wanted the rusty banged up but good
>running Vair in their back yard gone off the property so the city won't
>fine them for keeping "junk cars".
>
>This means that if you want an engine, you'll have to pay or get real
>lucky... which is still possible but I wouldn't count on it happening.
>
>
>If it were me...  I'd check around to see if maybe someone might be willing
>to sell a good 140 engine.   Maybe, depending on circumstances, your engine
>could be taken in as a core with credit issued towards the price of the
>replacement.
>
>What's wrong with the engine you have?   Is it runable, tired, smoking,
>knocking, or inoperative as in locked up or otherwise known to be a dead
>duck...?
>
>
>One option in your camp might be to consider learning about engine
>overhauling and may be give a shot at doing your engine at a later point
>along the way, after maybe securing a good useable replacement which I'll
>bet could be had for considerably less than 2K.
>
>
>Unfortunately, even a general purpose overhaul is gonna cost around 2K
>anymore (depending on who does it) and a genuine rebuild will cost
>considerably more, depending on what the engine needs.
>
>
>
>
>Me, I'd ask around for a good useable replacement engine, shake the bushes
>and see what's available.    This is as good a place to look as any.
>Keep in mind that if your engine is a 140/PG variant, and if you want to do
>a little wrenching (and if the 140 heads are OK) you could swap the 140
>heads onto a 110 engine which could likely be had a lot cheaper than
>another complete 140 engine.
>
>Or... save up, and have a good shop with a Vair reputation give you an
>estimate on an overhaul for your current 140 engine.
>
>
>
>tony..