2/3 scale Mustang

[VonMessa]

Reduction, like you say, is on every plane nearly. But an auto conversion gear drive is not something I'd like to trust.

This is what I was getting at.

There is a guy in Alaska building the same plane that I am.  He is using a Subaru engine.  I love the whole setup, right up to the gear reduction box...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ14WhtZ2Ck&feature=plcp

[flight17]

I personally don't get why people put automotive engines in cars... They aren't built for that type of running and quite often fail.

[VonMessa]

I personally don't get why people put automotive engines in cars... They aren't built for that type of running and quite often fail.

A lot of the homebuilt forums that I visit mention the liquid cooling and EFI as the biggest reasons.

Not worrying about mixture might be convenient, but I have had to pull over on the side of the road on more than one occasion due to a cooling system failure.

Overheating at 5000' because a radiator hose blew does not sound like fun to me   

Full and half VW engines on the other hand, seem to be OK as they do not require the cooling system or the gear reduction drive.  Corvair engines seem to be popular, too.

[Grayeagle]

Auto engine conversions fpr aircraft have been around since the first combustion engines were available.

Minimizing failures means 'doing it right' .. you cannot just bolt it in and expect an auto engine to perform well inverted ..an such

If anything ..these days are a golden age for conversions.
A properly thought out design and a CnC machine can solve any problem areas.

Heck a good machinist can build his own motor from blocks of suitable material.

As for the LS series motors . . you would have to go some to find a better engine.
They are anvils ..just amazing all the way through.

-Frank aka GE

[VonMessa]

Auto engine conversions fpr aircraft have been around since the first combustion engines were available.

Minimizing failures means 'doing it right' .. you cannot just bolt it in and expect an auto engine to perform well inverted ..an such

If anything ..these days are a golden age for conversions.
A properly thought out design and a CnC machine can solve any problem areas.

Heck a good machinist can build his own motor from blocks of suitable material.

As for the LS series motors . . you would have to go some to find a better engine.
They are anvils ..just amazing all the way through.

-Frank aka GE

Agreed, but...

The biggest issue is reducing the rpm's at the prop.

Having a gear-reduction drive is one more thing to break.

[RngFndr]

I remember, way back..

We had a 63 Olds F85 2dr post on the lot..
Was a nice car, had the Buick aluminum V8..

Guy paid cash for it.. Said he only wanted
the engine for an airplane he was building..

I think it was one of these..