Noah
Well Known Member
Two Part Post ? Part One. When I bought my partially completed RV-7A project, it came with an IO-360 A1B6 200 hp angle valve counterweighted crankshaft engine. This was the engine that I wanted, after having read through Dan Checkoway's site and learning about the performance and economy he got with this powerplant. I was impressed.
My engine came out of a Beech Sierra, and has around 1800 SMOH, 900 since being topped. It has been shrink-wrapped and pickled in a crate for 3 years. I had been planning to install this engine and run it for a couple of hundred hours, then overhaul it.
Unfortunately, I learned not too long ago that the engine had NOT been pickled as I thought it was. The shop who sold the previous builder the engine indicated that the engine was pickled on the receipt, but there was no oil in the engine. The guy I bought it from didn't know because he never even removed the shrink wrap or took it out of the crate. After removing all of the cylinders, I found light rust in the jugs, and the tappets & camshaft are not good either
So I need to overhaul the engine before installing it or running it, which I am now learning is quite an expense. I have gotten several quotes for overhaul, and they're all in the $22-$24K range.
Some people have advocated selling my core and buying a Lycoming clone or a kit engine (for only $15K?) due to the significantly lower initial and operating costs. If I did this, I could subtract my core value and buy a NEW experimental engine for very little money. Some have advocated keeping this engine, and implied that I?m crazy for even THINKING about selling it.
I've been told that the 200 hp engine is 34 Lb heavier than the 180 hp engine, but this might be a good thing on an RV-7A given the aft-CG tendency.
Bottom Line: I don't know what to do, and need your help making a decision.
(Part 2 follows)
Highest Regards,
My engine came out of a Beech Sierra, and has around 1800 SMOH, 900 since being topped. It has been shrink-wrapped and pickled in a crate for 3 years. I had been planning to install this engine and run it for a couple of hundred hours, then overhaul it.
Unfortunately, I learned not too long ago that the engine had NOT been pickled as I thought it was. The shop who sold the previous builder the engine indicated that the engine was pickled on the receipt, but there was no oil in the engine. The guy I bought it from didn't know because he never even removed the shrink wrap or took it out of the crate. After removing all of the cylinders, I found light rust in the jugs, and the tappets & camshaft are not good either
So I need to overhaul the engine before installing it or running it, which I am now learning is quite an expense. I have gotten several quotes for overhaul, and they're all in the $22-$24K range.
Some people have advocated selling my core and buying a Lycoming clone or a kit engine (for only $15K?) due to the significantly lower initial and operating costs. If I did this, I could subtract my core value and buy a NEW experimental engine for very little money. Some have advocated keeping this engine, and implied that I?m crazy for even THINKING about selling it.
I've been told that the 200 hp engine is 34 Lb heavier than the 180 hp engine, but this might be a good thing on an RV-7A given the aft-CG tendency.
Bottom Line: I don't know what to do, and need your help making a decision.
(Part 2 follows)
Highest Regards,