<VV> Turbo question

[RoboMan91324 at aol.com]

Joe,
 
Turbo engines' maintenance is similar to other engines but  there are other 
issues.  Yes, if the turbo itself and/or carb needs to be  rebuilt, it is 
an additional expense but not too bad depending on how you define  
"expensive."  They are far simpler than most any other turbo.
 
Yes, there is a turbo lag and the engine performs like an 80  hp until the 
boost kicks in.  However, you probably won't get the great gas  mileage of 
the 80 HP because the advance/retard characteristics of the turbo  
distributor are different.  On this point, make sure it has  the turbo distributor.  
Superficially, it looks the same but is very  different from a non turbo 
dist. They can be hard to find and expensive to  buy.
 
While you are checking the numbers on the dist, make sure the  car was an 
original turbo.  There should be a scooped out section in the  
right/rear/bottom where the exhaust pipe exits.  Only turbo cars have  this.  However, I 
have seen the "turbo scoop" created on non turbo  cars.  Check the metal tag 
in the engine compartment to verify turbo  originality.  The VIN tells you 
it is a Corsa but the body tag in the  engine compartment tells you if it is 
an original turbo car or a 140.  You  may want to check numbers to verify 
that you have the proper turbo and carb for  a 65 as well.  I have seen 
Frankenstein setups.  Properly set up, they  can run fine but it depends on what 
value you place on originality.  If the  parts need to be rebuilt, the 
rebuilder may work with you swapping proper parts  for whatever you may have.  You 
can find the numbers to check in a number  of Corvair publications.
 
Under boost, the exhaust runs very hot, so expect to do  exhaust work more 
often if you have a lead foot.  If you rarely send it  into boost, its not 
much different than the other cars.  The exhaust parts  on the turbo engine 
are very different from others.
 
Like anything else, the "pretty stuff" can cost you and a  missing or 
dented heat shield, air cleaner or a rusted intake manifold can  be an added 
expense.
 
At this point, you probably know the usual stuff to check  whatever model 
or year the car is.
 
I am sure others will add to this.
 
Good luck,
 
Doc
 
1960 Corvette, 1961 Rampside, 1962 Rampside, 1964 Spyder  coupe, 1965 
Greenbrier, 1966 Canadian Corsa turbo coupe, 1967 Nova SS, 1968  Camaro ragtop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
In a message dated 4/6/2014 8:51:54 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes:

Message:  8
Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2014 19:53:45 -0700
From: Joe Lewis  <joelewis33 at cox.net>
Subject: <VV> Turbo question
To:  virtualvairs at corvair.org
Message-ID:  <5B766688-A02F-4BC3-ADF2-2BD3C0D53E79 at cox.net>
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=windows-1252

As some of you know I'm looking for a  car and I came across a 1965 corsa 
with a turbo. I?m still trying to get more  information from the owner of the 
car but I?m wondering if turbos are hard to  maintain. I do understand that 
they have a high cost to rebuild and there is a  turbo lag but what other 
questions do I need to ask the owner? 

Joe  Lewis