Hello all,
My Luscombe is Owner Maintenance and I am looking at engine options for down the road. I'm looking at a couple of things. First of all, considering the future availability of 100LL, I'll need something that likes mogas. I looked at the AeroVee engine when I was at Oshkosh a couple of weeks ago. Their website is http://www.aeroconversions.com/products ... index.html and it looks like it will fit dimensionally, however I will have to make up a new engine mount as the position of the bushings are a little different than the Continental A65 that I currently have.
I was wondering if anyone out there in the homebuilder world has put one of these AeroVee engines on and how do they compare to something like the Continental 85 or similar. Another thing I need to consider is if I can use my existing prop or whether I will need to buy one of their models designed for the Sonex.
I'm considering an engine swap for a couple of reasons. First of all, my A65 is getting a little long in the tooth. It has about 1750 hrs in the book but the compression is still good and oil consumption is well within tolerances. Overhauling an engine that hasn't had any spare parts manufactured since 1970 would make it one expensive major (if this would even be possible at all). I also would like to have one of those new-fangled gizmos called an electric starter. My current Armstrong starter is also getting a little long in the tooth and getting it overhauled would be even more difficult. In addition, having a few extra horses onboard might be fun, and the fuel consumption would be less than I have right now at 65 horses. Kind of a win-win-win situation. I talked with the folks at Aeroconversions, and they said that as far as they know, no one has done this with a Luscombe. I've always been up to a challenge.
Any info would be appreciated.
Feasibility Study - AeroVee conversion for Luscombe 8A
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Re: Feasibility Study - AeroVee conversion for Luscombe 8A
Hi there,
I wouldnt even consider the AeroV for a luscombe.
bottom line is the AeroV engine, although 80 HP, will not make the torque required to create the low speed thrust your plane requires. Find a C-85 and hang it on,, I think you would be pleasantly suprised with the added performance over the A-65-- Plus mogas is no problem for the little continentals.
On another note, I might know where a decent A-65 is if you are interested.
I wouldnt even consider the AeroV for a luscombe.
bottom line is the AeroV engine, although 80 HP, will not make the torque required to create the low speed thrust your plane requires. Find a C-85 and hang it on,, I think you would be pleasantly suprised with the added performance over the A-65-- Plus mogas is no problem for the little continentals.
On another note, I might know where a decent A-65 is if you are interested.
Rule books are paper - they will not cushion a sudden meeting of stone and metal.
— Ernest K. Gann, 'Fate is the Hunter.
— Ernest K. Gann, 'Fate is the Hunter.
Re: Feasibility Study - AeroVee conversion for Luscombe 8A
Strega,
Can you please clarify your low speed torque sentance. I think you may be falling into a trap. I've seen guys advertise engines and tell you that the engine is only 130hp, but because it has so much torque, you can put a coarser prop on it and it performs like a 160hp engine, which is complete BS.
Can you please clarify your low speed torque sentance. I think you may be falling into a trap. I've seen guys advertise engines and tell you that the engine is only 130hp, but because it has so much torque, you can put a coarser prop on it and it performs like a 160hp engine, which is complete BS.
