larry(at)macsmachine.com
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 Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject: [Probable Spam] RE: Kit Planes accident and reliability art |
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Hi Frank,
The Kit Planes article is extremely well done and I don't contradict
what you said below. Their data only said internals of automotive
conversions and
perhaps carburetor systems were better represented than type certified
engines. The facts are not disputed, that cooling, ignition, fuel
systems and redrives
will be problematic so long as the user builder isn't totally aware of
what a good installation requires. It does take a little more education
for a Subaru
owner than for a Lyc or Cont because certified engines don't allow much
room for variation. If the owner does the study, I believe the Subaru
is capable of being
a better engine in cost per hour for the average builder. It's about
$8K for a Subaru now and $20+K for a Jabaru or 912 and much much more
for the TC engines.
I'm not an engine guy either Frank, but I learned a lot from the
difficulties you experienced and the travails you'd posted before me.
I also made mistakes, but none that cost any serious money or downtime
thanks to you.
Very best regards,
Larry McFarland 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com
Hinde, Frank George (Corvallis) wrote:
[quote]
Hmmmm.....
I think that's a little bit of a sweeping statement there Larry..If you remember I suffered three valve guide failurs in my Subaru conversion..I would say that as I had only 400 hours that was an appalling failure rate..Fourtunately I was able to re-engineer the package and fix a fundamental flaw in the suppliers product, but that's only because I have a lot of experience in this area.
Most folks I fear have little clue about such things, or about killer vapour lock, how to engineer a cooling system etc.
If somebody with my experience can have such troubles (and who bought an engine package to avoid having to mess with the conversion itself) then the average Joe has no chance.
I would be interested to read the article because anecdotal evidence would appear to dissagree with your statement.
Hopefully the market will weed out poor engine conversions...But at a potentially great cost.
Don't get me wrong there are one or two really good auto conversions, but they certainly are not cheaper on the initial installation cost (comparing an Eggenfelner Soob with an experimantal Lycoming clone) and if you add the extra cooling drag of a water cooled engine vs an aircooled (at least on a fast airplane) then fuel consumption is going to be worse....Ok that last statement is fiercely debated...
Where auto conversions really shine is in rebuild costs are much less..But is that really a big factor in the overall cost of an airplane?..I personally doubt it.
Frank
601 HDS Soob 400 hours
RV7a 330 hours IO360 WAAY faster and better MPG than the Zodiac....Also runs on pump gas
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