tfarin(at)farin.com
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 Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:19 am Post subject: Zenith-List Digest: 78 Msgs - 07/06/06 |
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Let me respond to the Corvair discussion.
First, the passionate and dogmatic response. There was a similar discussion that occurred yesterday on the C601XL list on Yahoo yesterday. The subject was engine choices. One member suggested the Corvair. He was immediately attacked by another on the list for his choice. So it works both ways.
The best place to post questions relating to Corvair engine conversions is the Corvaircraft site. As pointed out earlier, it is a very active group of folks working on Corvair conversions. http://www.corvaircraft.com/ I find the discussions to be open and occasionally a bit heated.
The most widely talked about issue relating to Corvair engines in the last two years is the four recent crank failures. Keep in mind the Corvair engine has been flying in aircraft since the Corvair was introduced in 1960. There was a tremendous amount of dicussion at Corvaircraft, on William Wynne's site, and at Mark Langsford's site. Mark had one of the four failures. The consensus seems to be that in all four cases the installation deviated from the instructions in Wynne's manual - prop extensions, horsepower upgrades, etc. - in a way that placed additional stress on the crank. In spite of that both Mark and William put substantial time into examining the causes of the failures. In spite of the fact there are no known crank failures on installations per the WW manual, WW is now recommending the crank be Nitrided to give it additional strength. In spite of a harrowing experience, Mark is again flying with a stock WW conversion.
The reason I wrote the last paragraph, is I wanted to respond to the comment that Corvair builders may not be properly doing the due dilligance before making the choice. I'd respond by saying the average Corvair builder puts a lot more time into due dilligance than those choosing Jabiru, O-200, or Rotax installs. And they should. After all, the Corvair engine wasn't designed originally as an aviation engine.
I certainly have. I've read virtually every post on the CorvairCraft site in the last two years, read all the information on the WW site, own and have read the WW manual, own and have browsed the GM Corvair shop manual and have read most of the engine parts of the Finch book, "How to Keep Your Corvair Alive".
As for the ignition system, I have yet to see a post relating to a Corvair ignition system failure. Yes, a full dual system would be nice, but that's far from my biggest concern about a Corvair engine install.
In my own case, I went up in a Zodiac XL at the EAA SP tour in Romeoville a few weeks ago and will be building an XL. I'm still keeping my options open on the engine. But this weekend, I'm going to drop $250 to pick up a Corvair engine along with some rebuilder parts. It's a cheap decision. But when I'm in Oshkosh the end of the month I'll be asking lots of questions. I always have the option to change my mind later.
Keep in mind one other thing. The majority of Corvair engine owners rebuild their own engines. That cuts them from a somewhat different cloth than the majority of Zodiac builders. I'm not saying they are better, smarter, or more stupid - just different. When the project is complete, most know a lot more about the engine they are flying than the majority of Rotax, Continental, or Jabiru owners. Frankly, the thought of building my own engine appeals to me.
I was one of the combatants in the discussion on the other list yesterday. When you put as much time into research as I have and someone who clearly hasn't done his attacks your choice, you do tend to respond emotionally.
Tom
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