Sam Bailey in Pratt, Kansas, was running an 1835 cc VW in his KR-2 for many years. He had gone into Salida, Colorado, with a density altitude in excess of 9,000 feet several times. He decided that he wanted more power, and replaced the VW with an O-200. By the time he added more fuel--since he doubled the fuel consumption--his total increase was 300 fpm in climb, and 10 knots in cruise.
Like all things about airplanes, there are tradeoffs on engine selection. The Corvair is an excellent engine with great horsepower-to-weight ratio and moderate fuel consumption. However, if you are trying to build light and simple, the VW is a good choice for a low-cost KR. My opinion is worth what you have paid for it, and it's free! Jim Vance N303JV waiting for the final inspection. va...@hbcomm.net
