<VV> engine rebuilder

[Tony Underwood]

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..