2,850cc Corvair Engine Run – Don Murphy

Builders,

Below are a few photos from Don Murphy’s 2,850cc Corvair run done at our house today. The engine is a 110 HP model destined for Don’s Zenith 650.  Don is a highly experienced aviator; he flew medevac helicopters in both Korea and Vietnam. I take it as a compliment to our work when an aviator of Don’s experience and understanding chooses the Corvair as the powerplant option that makes the most sense to him.

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Above, Don’s engine running in our front yard. It started in 2 seconds of cranking, and put down a perfect 45 minute run. The engine features all of our most up to date systems, including a 2400-L ultra light in weight starter system. The engine is a 2,850 cc 110 HP engine set up with 95 heads. This motor will run on 91 octane car gas, or 100LL without issue. It is built around a Weseman Gen II 5th bearing, which all feature a billet CNC bearing housing. The crankshaft was processed as a pair by Dan and Rachel at SPA/Panther.

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Above, engine on the run stand, priming taking place. The plugs are out because it makes the prop easier to turn while priming. We do this for at least 15 minutes. Fram 6607 filters are only used on break-in runs.

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Above, oil drips off the rockers into the catch bins. It is stained red by the sticky engine assembly lube we used. We check the oil flow and prime every engine run this way, including all the engines run at Corvair Colleges.

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Above, Lucas ZDDP, found at most chain auto parts stores. It is $20, and it supplements the ZDDP in the Shell Rotella T for the break-in run. When adding oil before the valve covers are on, you pour it down the distributor hole.

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Grace taking a minute to film the movie linked below. In support of freedom and human rights she elected to wear her red, white and blue bikini. This is only a joke on the surface, as Grace is making a point that the most repressive regimes in the world always start by treating women as possessions and dictating what they can wear, often under pain of imprisonment or death.  Grace does not care how modestly any woman chooses to dress, she is just opposed to women being forced to dress in ways dictated by men.  In a world where 80% of the 3 billion women on the planet live in places where the government can dictate their dress, how many children they have, and even if they can learn to read, it is startling how few people care about this.

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Above, the first 25 minutes of any run should be done between 1,700 and 2,000 rpm.

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Above, the engine running at 2,500 rpm for the second half of the break-in run.

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Above In the middle of the run, one of our neighbors came home to pick something up in the “company vehicle.” Landed in his front yard for five minutes and took back off with a very smart looking maneuver. Seemed very fitting background for the first run of Don’s engine. Below is a link to a movie of the run:

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Above, gratuitous dog photo. Scoob E gnaws the head off his stuffed red squid, but gently naps one minute later with his stuffed dog.

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-ww.

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