Just saw 2 Corvair Ultra Vans loaded on a flat bed with Ontario Canada plates. I assume they were going to Canada as we are only a couple of miles from the bridge going over the St. Lawrence River. They were pretty rough with one being very rusty on the underneath. Was interesting to see them. Ron Day

What you don't see when you don't have a camera handy.

bsinmich wrote:What you don't see when you don't have a camera handy.Amazing that I always forget that my phone has a camera. But it is still a pita to try to take a pic with it.Also amazing the things that can be found in the north country! Don't think I've ever seen a real live Ultra Van, just pics.And Ron, is the General Store still opened in Heuvelton? Neat place.

There used to be an UltraVan parked in a field near Detroit Lakes,MN. We drove in one day and went inside. It was amazing. The woodwork reminded me of an old Airstream. Birch I think. Everything was engineered to be super light. This one was restorable. But that was 20 years ago. It was actually quite large inside. I wonder if there is one in the RV museum near Elkhart??Moisheh

moisheh wrote:There used to be an UltraVan parked in a field near Detroit Lakes,MN. We drove in one day and went inside. It was amazing. The woodwork reminded me of an old Airstream. Birch I think. Everything was engineered to be super light. This one was restorable. But that was 20 years ago. It was actually quite large inside. I wonder if there is one in the RV museum near Elkhart??MoishehOff topic but....Moisheh your BB you have for sale at BBBB looks real nice. Good luck with the sale.

Corvair Ultra Van | Good Sam Community

John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
Well heck, that doesn't look bad at all. I suppose the next generation would be a side mount like the DP'ers do to avoid debrie from rupturing the radiator and to gain easier access to the engine.
UltravanOwners
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
John&Joey wrote:
BigRabbitMan wrote:
mowermech wrote:
Has anybody ever put the 180 HP Spyder turbo engine in an Ultravan?
Seems like it would be advantageous.
I wish I had my old '63 Spyder...
I wish I had my friend's Spyder!!!

Every time there was a little rain on the road and we pulled out onto it with my brothers' Spyder we would do a 180-360. I guess some would say it was "unsafe at any speed." Of course we were young with a heavy foot back in the day.

We also put a corvair engine in the back of a VW Manx dunebuggy that we made. Lots of fun except the air cooling belt would pop off a lot. The VW drivetrain couldn't handle the power of the engine either. Another one of those great sounding idea's that didn't stand up to the test of time.

Can't image how you would convert a MH that is based on an air cooled corvair engine into a V8 Chevy wet cooled MH and still have it look nice.

The only visual change is the rear grill so air can pass through the radiator.
And with the extra power a bumper is added so one can tow.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
BigRabbitMan wrote:
mowermech wrote:
Has anybody ever put the 180 HP Spyder turbo engine in an Ultravan?
Seems like it would be advantageous.
I wish I had my old '63 Spyder...
I wish I had my friend's Spyder!!!

Every time there was a little rain on the road and we pulled out onto it with my brothers' Spyder we would do a 180-360. I guess some would say it was "unsafe at any speed." Of course we were young with a heavy foot back in the day.

We also put a corvair engine in the back of a VW Manx dunebuggy that we made. Lots of fun except the air cooling belt would pop off a lot. The VW drivetrain couldn't handle the power of the engine either. Another one of those great sounding idea's that didn't stand up to the test of time.

Can't image how you would convert a MH that is based on an air cooled corvair engine into a V8 Chevy wet cooled MH and still have it look nice.
UltraKen
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
mowermech wrote:
Has anybody ever put the 180 HP Spyder turbo engine in an Ultravan?
Seems like it would be advantageous.
I wish I had my old '63 Spyder...

Not a good choice. Maximum torque is achieved at much higher RPMS that are not efficient for something the weight of an UV.

Actually the best choice is the 110hp model since max torque is reached at much lower RPMs than even the 140.

Ken
1996 Safari Sahara- 3530, 35 ft, CAT 300
BigRabbitMan
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
mowermech wrote:
Has anybody ever put the 180 HP Spyder turbo engine in an Ultravan?
Seems like it would be advantageous.
I wish I had my old '63 Spyder...
I wish I had my friend's Spyder!!!
mowermech
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
Has anybody ever put the 180 HP Spyder turbo engine in an Ultravan?
Seems like it would be advantageous.
I wish I had my old '63 Spyder...
Daveinet
Explorer
Jan 01, 2013
Looks like my first guess from the single picture was pretty close. Quite the history of the owner and vehicles on his property. A little Google search tells a lot.
UltravanOwners
Explorer
Dec 31, 2012
Daveinet wrote:
UltraKen wrote:
All were Power/Glide 2sp automatic transmissions
Does this mean the Ebay unit has had the trans changed? Its listed as having a 4 speed.

The one on EBay at this time is NOT a Corvair.
It was first listed on CL as a V8 and now it is listed on EBay as a Corvair V8.
When this coach was built it had a factory Corvair flat 6 and someone has switched it over to a Chevy V8.

This is the same one seen on the TV Show hoarders. You can see it on YouTube.
It has sat for many years. Who really knows when the conversion was done and if it was done correctly?
Also who knows if the coach ever saw the road again once the conversion was finished - or is it even finished?

And some pictures I have seen show that this coach was used to live in on the property. At least that's the way I see it.

Too many unknowns!!!
UltraKen
Explorer
Dec 28, 2012
Daveinet wrote:
UltraKen wrote:
All were Power/Glide 2sp automatic transmissions
Does this mean the Ebay unit has had the trans changed? Its listed as having a 4 speed.

Yes. Several people have made that change.

I never saw the point because 1st gear in a 4 spd is not as low as low range in the PG. You need the lowest possible gear to get the beast moving. ;)
The_Handier_Man
Explorer
Dec 28, 2012
UltravanOwners wrote:
Thanks for trying to share it. I was not able to see it in your post.

Here is a picture of what should have posted in your post.

It is a V8 Ultravan...

That's the picture I was trying to post. It was 2 1/2 years ago when we were heading down the Oregon Coast. I saw it a few cars back from me and waited until we had 2 lanes so I could get a picture of it. And I thought we would see it again on our way South but never did. I guess my 440 in my 22' 1973 Winnebago might have been to slow to catch it, LOL. Anyway if you like Classic Winnebago's take a look at my BLOG.

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