<VV> Porsche 911 (with Corvair)

[jwcorvair at aol.com]

I currently own a Porsche 912 with a reverse rotating Corvair engine. In fact, this is the signal red Porsche that you can see on Steve Goodman's Rear Engine Specialist web site (http://rearenginespecialists.objectis.net/). The engine has a Rochester 4-bbl on a center mount intake manifold into modified single carb heads. Dual carb heads will not fit because of the rear engine mount for the original 1600 cc four cylinder engine. People who install Porsche 911 engines in 912s cut the rear engine mounts off. I could do that, but I am reluctant to cut off the mounts at this time. Aside from annoying 911/912 owners (who can be real snobs at times) the best part of the Porsche-to-Corvair engine swap is that a person can get a lot more horsepower for very little weight gain. The stock 912 engine was rated at about 102 SAE hp and weights approximately 280 lbs. The original 2000 cc 911 engine was rated at about 120 SAE hp and weights approximately 450 lbs including the oil tank an cooler for the dry sump. Our Corvair engines weight approximately 310 lbs and produce approximately 130 (?) hp in the 4-carb configuration. So, by installing the Corvair engine we can get an increase in power and torque for little gain in weight so that we don't upset the handling. (The 911 in a 912 shell, especially the short wheelbase early 912s, can get downright squirrley.) The downside of the conversion is that the 901/902 gears currently in the car are not the best for the engine torque curve. One day, perhaps, after I've taken care of all of the little problems with the car, I may have the gear box rebuilt to take advantage of the Corvair's torque curve - perhaps even back to a turbo.
 
Regards, Joe White
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