Manx Ult. Hadley Vair

1856 · Post by **1856** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:37 am

Our recently purchased Manx Utility has a Hadley Corvair conversion. It uses type 1 suspension with Corvair running gear The engine is tired and the trans is a three speed. We're look'n at an up-grade. Has anyone experienced working on a Hadley? I want to pull the Corvair. It looks like the Hadley kit and the Corvair stuff needs to come out as a package?

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:44 am

The engine and transaxle drop out as a unit, but the cage doesn't need to be removed. There is a 12 page article about the Transvair in Petersen's "The Complete Volkswagen Book No. 2" published in 71.

1856 · Post by **1856** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:50 pm

Thanks Nelson ... Any readers out there experienced with this conversion? Mark & Carol

ManxRob · Post by **ManxRob** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:00 am

I have one buried in the garage.... I took it off a parts buggy. The original installation required cutting off the VW pan frame horns. It might be quite a bit of work to return such a pan to VW transmission. The Hadley conversion seems like a nice period piece. Why not keep it? Maybe convert it to a 4 speed, or even an automatic?

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:31 am

The standard Corvair rear end was 3.27:1. The turbo had a 3.55. The Greenbrier van had a 3.89. For a buggy, a 3.89:1 Greenbrier rear end would be essential.

1856 · Post by **1856** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:42 am

Thanks again Nelson ... You'r a wealth of information. I have been bouncing between the Dark Side Vair and rebuilding the unit back to VW. The Hadley was original for this Manx ... Rob You have a good point I guess it should stay that way. Mark

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:04 pm

If you decide to stay with the Corvair drivetrain, I believe there is a Corvair specialist shop in San Jose: Mel Raven of M & J'S VAIR Mart 1858 Almaden Road Suite 6, San Jose, CA 95125 (408) 267-8164. You should also buy a copy of Keep Your Corvair Alive from Clark's. Its out of print, but they still have copies. Its the best book for explaining what can and should be done to a Corvair. http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... N&page=249

1856 · Post by **1856** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:54 pm

Nelson ... I picked up both books awhile back they're great. I also just picked up a sweet sand rail, from a yard sale, that is Vair powered. The engine is a tricked out 140HP with all the Edelbrock stuff and it came with two 4 speeds. The folks also have, 4 SALE, a great looking "Manx Wana-B" buggy with a 1776 that is very road / trail worthy. Anyway it looks like we have a winter project ... after Lone Pine. Mark & Carol

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:32 am

It'll fly with that engine. Another variation I've seen with Corvair drivetrain in buggies is similar to what Transvair used to do with later busses. You'd need to install VW IRS semi-trailing arms. You splice together half the Corvair swingaxle with a VW IRS half axle. You leave the Corvair U-joint on the inner end of the half axles but you have a VW CV joint on the outer end, to connect with the VW stub axles. Or there is an adapter Clark's sells which uses CVs at both ends. http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... ge=OTTO-44 Corvair swingaxle bearings aren't very good to begin with and are hard to get now. Replacing the whole rear suspension with VW IRS parts would improve reliability and handling.

1856 · Post by **1856** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:47 am

The Hadley Transvair set up is an interesting concept with it's design. should work for our road needs. I don't think it will be ready for Lone Pine but a spring run is our goal. It will be fun to bring it to an event for a coming out ... The folks that sold us the vair stuff also have, 4 SALE, a great looking "Manx Wana-B" buggy with a 1776 that is very road / trail worthy if our barn wasn't run'th over ... Mark & Carol

CairoManx · Post by **CairoManx** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 6:55 pm

Here's a picture off a Samba ad of someone who has adapted a Corvair transaxle to a VW IRS suspension. I'm not sure why he mounted the transaxle so far aft though. On a Transvair the front of the transaxl;e bumps right up against the torsion housing. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/ ... ?id=650694

Tom-Szwajkos · Post by **Tom-Szwajkos** » Sat Nov 03, 2018 2:56 am

I am looking to convert my Manx with the Hadley Transvair Kit from the Corvair swing axles to cv joints or utilizing the late model Corvair IRS components. I want to maintain the Chevy 4 3/4" 5 bolt lug pattern. I cannot seem to find a long enough stub axle for this application. I looked at the Chevy S10 bearing assembly but the stock and aftermarket stub axles are too short to fit. The Transvair kit custom arm assembly has the 3" long tube between the outer flange which mounts the swing axle and the other end which mounts to the VW spring plate. I looked at the 68 Corvair stub axle assembly but it looks too short. Any ideas?

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Manx Ult. Hadley Vair

Manx Ult. Hadley Vair

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