Crazy Question

[NewCorvairFan]

Has anyone on here ever done a 140 swap into a Greenbrier?

[davemotohead]

Lots of people have as well as Rampsides and Wagons. You need to modify or build your own air cleaner system.

[66vairguy]

As dave said - lots done.

A recent discussion here should be noted! The 64 and newer engines used a different bellhousing, clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, throwout bearing. So ALL that has to be on the 140 HP engine when you bolt it up to the transaxle.

Over the years folks tried to use the 60-63 clutch and associated parts, or a kludge mix and ended up with problems!

A few articles were posted years ago about how to modify the low profiled air cleaners to fit four carburetors. Most just install the little low profile aftermarket air cleaners.

Frankly if you are going to be loaded up (camping in a greenbrier) the 110HP engine is a better choice. Also a 140HP mated to a PG is not a happy combination, if you have a PG. Basically the 140HP makes that extra HP above 4,000 HP so not that usable for most cruising. That said those four carburetors sure look good at a car show with the engine lid up!

[bbodie52]

The four carburetor 140hp engine may not be that practical for the heavier Corvair 95 Forward Control vans and trucks. Although it can be done, the driving characteristics of the typical Corvair van and truck may, in reality, seldom make it possible to open up the throttles enough to make use of the added carburetors and breathing capacity of the 140hp engine. The displacement and torque capabilities of the 110hp two carburetor, small valve engine are about the same as the 140hp configuration, and this may be the most-suitable for the typical van and truck usage.

Is it better to have more torque or horsepower?

Well, if you just want to go fast and hit 140 mph, then horsepower would be more effective for you. However, if you want a strong car that can pull boulders and take off quickly, a high torque might be more important to you. In short, torque makes your vehicle quick. Horsepower makes it fast.

According to the GM specifications, both 164 cubic inch displacement engines (110hp small valve two-carburetor engine and the 140hp big valve, dual exhaust 4 x1 carburetor engine) share essentially the same torque curve. The real-world driving characteristics of a truck or van may never really benefit from the additional horsepower found in the 140hp engine.

LEFT-CLICK THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE FOR BETTER VIEWING...

Corvair 164CI 110hp vs.140hp

[joelsplace]

It looks like the 140 would be excellent at freeway speeds. Maybe not so much pulling a trailer or full load from a dead stop. One consideration is what gearing you have in the differential and transmission. If you have an early low 1st gear 4 speed and 3.89s then I would think the 140 would work really good. Maybe terrible taking off from a dead stop up hill but I've never had any FC that was good at that.

[bbodie52]

What I was trying to say is that the installation of a solid, reliable, fairly commonly available 110hp two carburetor engine is likely optimum for a Corvair 95 van or truck, and probably much-less costly and more available as a good upgrade from an early 145 CID engine. The leap to a relatively rare and more costly 140hp engine would likely not be all that beneficial unless you plan on racing that van or truck in autocross, road racing, or a similar high RPM environment.

Increasing the engine displacement from 145 CID to a long-stroke 164 CID engine will provide an important increase in low-RPM torque. Adding an alternator upgrade from a generator, and a lightweight magnesium fan will also help with fan belt reliability, and upgrading the distributor with an electronic breaker-less ignition system, and possibly switching to a good electric fuel pump in place of the aging mechanical fuel pump would provide more reliability for your Corvair 95.

Aging 140hp engines have been having some issues with loose valve seat vulnerabilities, which are less-common in the small valve cylinder heads. That, and the increased maintenance complexity of dealing with a pair of secondary carburetors may add up to increased cost, more maintenance headaches, and less reliability with few benefits for a Corvair van or truck.

[Dennis66]

Kind of like putting an early Z28 302 in a full size Chevy van. Why? Dennis

[66vairguy]

Kind of like putting an early Z28 302 in a full size Chevy van. Why? Dennis

The Greenbrier is a bit under powered, but the 110HP engine is adequate. Compared to the old VW transporters they are certainly better. While that extra 30HP of the 140HP looks attractive it comes down to torque. As the old saying goes "You drive torque, but you sell with horsepower". Meaning folks assume a higher HP engine will provided better performance, but with heavier vehicles torque is really what you feel during "normal" driving.

Comparing the 110HP and 140HP torque curves you see there is little difference below 4,000 RPM (normal driving).

Except for turbo lag and packaging issues, the turbo engine will bring a Greenbrier to life. On boost the torque curve from 2,OOO RPM is impressive and nearly flat to redline. Just day dreaming, although I've seen a Rampy with a turbo 180HP engine in it. Yes you have to modify the engine lid and the cooling system is certainly an issue on long pulls up a grade.

[Dennis66]

I drove a Greenbrier for about 6 months back in high school. It was a '65, but had the engine from a '63 Corvair 95 in it, and that was a transplant from God knows what (top oil fill and dip stick). I felt like it had adequate power for the time. Went from that to another '63 Corvair 95 Van with an automatic (can you spell DOG?). Then a '62 Monza with the original 102 and 4 speed. I went through a lot of cars as a kid.
The Greenbrier I rebuilt about 12 years ago, another '65 with a 110 and automatic seemed to do okay. Dennis