Corvair Forum

I don't know if this was the same one that was on Ebay a couple years ago, but it looks like it. Very rare, very expensive. I'm sure it will go for several thousand...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Latham-Supercha ... a4&vxp=mtr


If you don't know the deal, most superchargers fall into 2 main categories: positive displacement and centrifugal. Positive displacement is the roots style blowers we all know and love, including the subtype of twin screw units that exhibit internal compression. Centrifugal superchargers are units like Paxton, Mcculloch, and technically the turbocharger is just an exhaust driven centrifugal supercharger. The Latham is a different animal, compressing incoming gas much like a turbine engine in stages. I wish I had the cash to pick something like this up, but lately I can't even afford a Mculloch VS-57.

A friend of mine had one of these on his 38 Chevy coupe. I think that the drive belts are hard to get. Sometimes he would run his without the belt. Afte he shut the engine off, the supercharger would coast down and would give a neat wooooo sound.

miniman82 wrote:I'm sure it will go for several thousand...

Currently bid up to $3500.

Funny I should wind up here and see this old post.
To start off I am Richard Paul owner of Latham Supercharger.
I haven't thought about Corvairs in a very long time.
The original Latham for these was made only in the '60's.
However someone called me about a Corvair blower a few weeks back.
I begain to think about it and remembered I had built a CC rotation blower prototype some years ago
I then dug through my shelves and found two compressors configured that way.
These are not like the old ones, these are 1/3 the size
Modern CAD/CAM has allowed us to make much more efficient designs.
Anyway I sort of built a blower out of those two units.
It would package on a Corvair very nicely
It is the right rotation (cc) and flow.
You will have to be able to build your own brackets and ducts
I would like to see a 1.75 SU carb but anything will work.
It's on Ebay now with pictures and you will see how it's set up.
There is a 4:1 internal planatery set so you don't need much overdrive
Anyway I can help with that part.
rap@axialflow.com if you need info

Saw the auction, then came back here. What material are the rotors made from, out of curiosity? T6 I assume? Also, how is it oiled? Does it have its own supply, or does it borrow some engine oil?

Neat units!

This sounds interesting...

Rotor is 7075 t6
The front gear case is engine oiled, this includes the gears and front bearing as well as the two input shaft bearings.
The rear bearing is self contained.

The Ebay number is 301402188052

how would this unit compare to an E flow turbo, how much air flow or psi is generated?

We did run this unit on the test bench but it's been a few years.
As well as I remember it flowed over 400 CFM at 7psi
At the time we were more interested in finding a good blade design that didn't stall.
The big advantage for you would be the lower heat rise.
And of course lack of lag.
Since this is smaller then the air conditioning compressor and sort of the same shape
it would be a natural to install in it's place.
Drive with a 4 rib multi v belt.
Easy package.
Original Lathams came with 2 or 4 YH carbs so I know them well.
Don't bother with them unless you hate yourself.
An SU will be so much better and easier to find.
A 1.75 inch SU will outflow a YH by 50%+

Boost is a function of the pulley ratios, the biggest detractor will be price. If you already have a turbo Corvair, I can do the E-flow conversion on the turbo for around $300. Of course you'd still need a carb, but I suspect you will still be far under the cost of installing this supercharger. Of course I can't take anything away from the cool factor, you'll likely be the only person with one if that's what you wanna do. FWIW, the power potential should be much higher with a turbocharger, but this will likely make a lot more low torque than a turbo. It's all about what you're trying to achieve.