<VV> Where oh where is the CPF FI Corvair engine?

[peter koehler]

Since we have opened the door to discuss the Corvair 
mechanical fuel injection system I thought I'd chime in. 
Many, many years ago the Detroit chapter (DACC) built up a 
dummy engine with the Rochester FI parts installed. It was 
not operational. But it looked neat. Ken Pepke made up a 
special engine display stand (he made two of them, I still 
have one) so we could display the FI engine at the Sloan 
Museum in Flint, Michigan. This was around 1984 and Stu 
Shuster was the spark plug that made the display of 
Corvairs and Corvair memorabilia come to life. I think he 
called the event "Corvair Mania". After the display the 
engine and parts were packed up and I am not sure just 
where they are today. Probably Pete Cimbala could shed 
some light on the subject as he has most of the CPF stuff 
still taking up space in his garage and out buildings and 
basement in Swartz Creek, Michigan. I know that back in 
the 1983-84 time frame I was involved in handling the FI 
parts. There were bits and pieces from two systems, but 
not enough parts to make one complete system. We made up 
some new "ram tubes" to fit on top of the injector units. 
It did look trick - but I'm not sure if it was 100% 
accurate. Photographs were all we had to go on.

CPF also has some other neat and rare Corvair engines. The 
modular engine is at Clark Hartzel's home in Fraser, 
Michigan and he is actively working on putting it together 
as much as possible to make an interesting display. I 
think Dave Newell has a more complete version of this 
engine in his collection.

CPF also has a military engine from a Canadair vehicle. 
This engine was donated to CPF by Cal and Joan Clark of 
Clark's Corviar Parts. The Buffalo, NY club is working on 
putting this engine together as a display piece and we are 
hoping to place it in a museum in Buffalo when they are 
done.

These are examples of positive things being done by some 
local chapters and some special volunteers to keep the 
Corvair memory alive. In a word they are "preserving" the 
Corvair story. Hats off to all of them! - Pete K