[quote author=Colonel link=topic=232.msg782#msg782 date=1434108570]
Why would you put a car engine in
an airplane?
[/quote]
As a generality, it seems guys want to install auto engines "Because they're dirt cheap compared to airplane engines". When you dig into it, it is of course a pretty false economy. For one thing you run the risk of dealing with outfits like Egginfelner. http://www.avoidvikingaircraft.com/ Who knows how long Viking will last till Mr. Egginfelner looses interest and starts his next company?
Secondly as auto engines turn faster than is practical for a prop to make use of, so they need a well engineered reduction unit. Many on the market are not that well engineered, but you won't know it till the fan stops turning in flight. One of the fellows with a 13B in his Tailwind puked all the oil out the gearbox front seal on his first flight. It caught fire but he got it down and rolled the airplane into a ball. He's OK fortunately. From what I gather the gearbox builder redesigned the front seal arrangement after this event, I don't think it's really fair for businesses to use their customers as test pilots.
A product that I suspect is one of the better offerings is from Titan, for their T-51 Mustang. Suzuki and Honda V-6 options for $9K to $10K, http://www.titanaircraft.com/engines.php but the small print says the gearbox and conversion kit aren't included. That'll cost you another $16.5K! Bottom line, if you want 'X' horsepower in your airplane, it'll cost you 'Y' dollars, regardless of whether you use a purpose-built aircraft engine, or an auto conversion.
Gerry
Re: Private Aircraft Engines
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 4:48 pm
by Slick Goodlin
[quote author=Colonel link=topic=232.msg782#msg782 date=1434108570]For the love of sweet Baby Jesus, you
don't put an airplane engine in a car[/quote]
You know you'd want to try any of these.