Chevrolet Corvair engine

Corvair engine
Overview
Manufacturer Chevrolet
Layout
Displacement 140 CID (2.3L), 145 CID (2.4L), 164 CID (2.7L)
Cylinder block alloy aluminum crankcase, iron cylinders
Cylinder head alloy aluminum
Valvetrain pushrod, hydraulic
Combustion
Turbocharger optional
Fuel system 2 or 4 single barrel downdraft carburetors, or turbocharged single sidedraft carburetor
Fuel type gasoline
Oil system wet sump
Cooling system air
Output
Power output 80, 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-cooling, 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[11]

  • YC 6 cyl with M/T, 1962-64
  • YH 6 cyl with M/T, 1962
  • YL 6 cyl with M/T A/C, 1962-64
  • YM 6 cyl with A/C HPE, 1962-63
  • YM 6 cyl with T/C 4 sp Tr, 1964
  • YN 6 cyl with M/T HPE, 1962-64
  • YR 6 cyl with T/C 4 sp fr, 1962
  • Z 6 cyl with A/T, 1960-64
  • ZB 6 cyl with A/T, 1962
  • ZD 6 cyl with A/T A/C, 1962-64
  • ZF 6 cyl with A/T HPE, 1962-64
  • ZG 6 cyl with A/T, A/C, HPE, 1962-64
  • ZH 6 cyl with A/T, 1962-64
  • ZJ 6 cyl with A/T, A/C, 1962
  • Y 6 cyl with M/T HPE, 1962-63
  • RL 6-164 with T/C, 1966
  • RM 6-164 with M/T, SHPE, 1965-67
  • RN 6-164 with SHPE, P/G, 1965-67
  • RQ 6-164 with SHPE, AIR, 1966-67
  • RR 6-164 with A/C, 1966
  • RS 6-164 with M/T, AIR, 1965-68
  • RS 6-164 with AIR, 1966
  • RU 6-164 with M/T, HPE, AIR, 1965-68
  • RV 6-164 with P/G, AIR, 1965-68
  • RW 6-164 with HPE, AIR, P/G, 1966-68
  • RX 6-164 with P/G, HPE, AIR, 1965-67
  • RY 6-164 with A/C, SHPE, 1966-67
  • RZ 6-164 with SHPE, A/C, 1966-67
  • RA 6-164 with M/T and A/T, 1965-67
  • RB 6-164, 1965-66
  • RD 6-164 with HPE, 1965-67
  • RE 6-164 with A/C, 1965-68
  • RF 6-164 with HPE, A/C, 1965-68
  • RG 6-164 with P/G, 1965-67
  • RH 6-164 with P/G, HPE, 1965-67
  • RJ 6-164 with P/G, A/C, 1965-68
  • RK 6-164 with P/G, HPE, A/C, 1965-68
  • QO 6-164 with P/G, AIR, A/C, 1967
  • QP 6-164 with HPE, P/G, AIR, A/C, 1967
  • QQ 6-164 with SHPE, AIR, A/C, 1967
  • QR 6-164 with SHPE, AIR, A/C, P/G, 1967
  • QS 6-164 with HPE, AIR, A/C, 1967
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. 1 2 3 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. ↑ "Baby Ace". Air Trails: 14. Winter 1971.
  5. ↑ Zenith Aircraft (9 March 2018). "Zenith CH 650". www.zenithair.com. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16, page 101. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. ISSN 1368-485X
  7. ↑ "Corvair powered Flybaby, Goode and Brantley, Georgia". flycorvair.net. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Vandermeullen, Richard: 2012 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide, Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 49. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851
  9. ↑ "Pete takles a passel of Peitenpols". Air Trails: 61. Winter 1971.
  10. ↑ "Sport Performance Aviation Offers Panther Kit Plane". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "TCADec07 pg1.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-10-14.
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