New here, If this in the wrong sub-forum please let me know. I am looking for a reverse rotation cam gear and distributor gear for the aluminum 215 cubic-inch V8 (circa 1962) so that I can help my step-father complete his Corvair project. Anybody here have experience with this subject or knows a guy that knows a guy? Thanks in advance
Sounds like a cool project, but I have no expertise on 215. If you haven't called TA Performance yet, that would be my first step.
Rik, Suggest you check with the cam grinders for a reverse rotation boat cam. The 215 was a popular boat engine, somebody undoubtedly made one for a twin engine drive. Jim
@Darron72Skylark - Thanks for the pointer. I'll give them a shot. @Jim Blackwood - I've called Isky, Comp, and Crane. All I talked to there gave me the same answer - Nope. @alec296 - I'd think so as well. This seemed to be popular decades ago and it's the step-father's project. He's making the calls. Since it's been used in Dune buggies and boats I'm going with the 'this has been done before' mantra. Thanks all.
Didn't they somehow manage to switch the ring gear to the opposite side on those? I can't say from personal experience but that was how I was told it was done. Jim
If you hit a dead end for the 215, the 300/340 sbb used the same cam so perhaps one of those engines might of been more recent boat engines you can find the reverse rotation stuff for?
@Jim Blackwood - I'm not sure. Step-father worked at Chevy dealers and ran his own shop since the early 60's when he got out of the Marines until 2010. @300sbb_overkill - Thanks. I found a guy that can produce the cam gear for me; half the battle
@Mark Demko -Corvair engines rotate counterclockwise when viewed from the balancer; bell housing is toward the front of the car.
There was a guy a couple years ahead of me in high school who put a 215 in a VW and I bought a turbo from another who lived one town over. I don't think either one of them would have put up the money for a custom camshaft at the time if there was a cheaper way of doing it. As I recall, the second guy said you could unbolt the side covers from the diff and swap them side for side. Worth looking into anyway, might be possible to adapt the VW parts to the Corvair. The guy I knew who had a SBC Corvair though was a different matter. Engine in the back seat, custom subframe, and some fancy parts to make it work (it was a kit). I had a couple Corvairs and I don't think there is any way to do the swap like the VW guys did unless you could somehow flip the entire trans/diff assembly. The oil pump would definitely be a problem with reverse rotation though. External pump maybe. Jim
I had a 350 Buick once and a guy gave me an HEI distributor for it, it wouldn’t go in. I later learned that it was from an Olds engine. Maybe something there for you ? I know the 350 distributor fits the 215 , I also know the Olds turned opposite because looking at it I could see that the vacuum advance was facing the wrong direction.
If you could get ahold of Dan I'd say that should be true. Mark though? Well.... he likes to talk a lot but I'm not real sure. Could be he might help though. (Dan retired a few years back.) Jim
Years ago, Dan would tell you anything you wanted to know, I even have one of his catalogs that describes step by step how to build a stroked 215, including all the measurements and build specs. It seems that Mark, on the other hand, only wants to sell MGB kits, their website doesn’t even list individual parts for sale.
They used to sell complete kits for the Corvair/215 conversion. Crossmember, starter, distributor, cam, etc. Everything fit with no chopping up the body. A friend had all the parts at one time. I will see if he still has them.
Back in the day, "Art Silva" pioneered the 215 into Corvairs. He used reverse rotation cams and removed the knurling on the crank hub,( rope seal). I would ask within the national Corvair Club. I drove one of these cars, nice balance of power, quite and smooth. Good Luck, roverman
While we're on the 215 V8 subject, Dan Jones has posted here, in the past. I suggest we ask him to post results of stock and reworked TA heads for 215-340" and Rover V8's. These are the best heads on earth for these engines. I'm using these on a 4L.+ RV8. The sbf raw forged crank will dictate how short of a stroke I can use. I prefer 2.8" for 4L, TR8/ GT I, SCCA rules. Initially, engine will likely use E85 fuel, M.T. 8 port crossram with Hilborn mech. injection. This build is to prove worthiness of AW 4 , automatic transmission,(3 spd OD.). I will produce direct fit bell housings for this trans, 4 and 5 speeds,( Muncie/T5), to fit the 215 and RV8's. Onward, roverman
Since bell housings and manual transmissions have been brought up in this post, I would like to let you all know that a member of the 61-63 Skylark group already reproduces the OEM 3&4 speed bell housing. It comes as a 3 piece set, bell housing, shifter fork boot & a really nice casted (aluminum) flywheel cover. Keith
