Can I install a small block V-8 engine into a 1962 Corvair?

Question:

I have a 1962 Corvair with a tired engine. I’ve been told that a small-block Chevrolet V-8 engine will bolt right in. Is this engine swap possible?

Answer:

A small-block Chevrolet engine can be installed into your Corvair, but it will not bolt right in. In the 1960s a number of firms, including Crown in California and Mid-Engineering in Michigan, manufactured conversion kits that made it relatively easy to install small-block Chevys and a number of other engines, including Buick’s aluminum V-8. You can accomplish the engine swap you're contemplating on your own, but it will be much easier if you start with a conversion kit. Contact the Corvair Society of America at 708-257-6530 for assistance locating a kit.