Engine Sizes

This is totally obvious, but I'm always amazed a the size of aviation engines that have been installed in RVs. Here is a quick list of displacements in liters and cubic inches. I've got the two popular Subaru engine sizes followed by the Lycomings. I know this is not a "fair" comparison, since the RPMs are very different. Still, I am just amazed that the Lycoming 540 is almost 9 liters! The Hummer engine is 6.6 liters.

Corvette Engine

Mickey,

There's a guy here in Phoenix (Arizona) who has installed a Corvette V-8 in an
RV-6. I has a about a 300 lb useful load. Goes reeal faaast!

John

Experimental rules!

Yukon said:

There's a guy here in Phoenix (Arizona) who has installed a Corvette V-8 in an
RV-6. I has a about a 300 lb useful load. Goes reeal faaast!

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That's what it's all about - building what you want. I'm sure he'll be the first to admit that it's not practical, but I'll bet it was fun to build!

Mmmmmm, V-8 goodness

rv8ch said:

That's what it's all about - building what you want. I'm sure he'll be the first to admit that it's not practical, but I'll bet it was fun to build!

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I bet it sounds sweet too!

rv8ch said:

This is totally obvious, but I'm always amazed a the size of aviation engines that have been installed in RVs. Here is a quick list of displacements in liters and cubic inches. I've got the two popular Subaru engine sizes followed by the Lycomings. I know this is not a "fair" comparison, since the RPMs are very different. Still, I am just amazed that the Lycoming 540 is almost 9 liters! The Hummer engine is 6.6 liters.

Code:

Engine	Liters	Cubic Inches
 Sub 2.5	2.5	153
 Sub H6	3.0	183
 O-235	3.9	235
 O-320	5.2	320
 O-360	5.9	360
 O-390	6.4	390
 O-540	8.8	540

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Yep, engine size is only one function of power, RPM is also a big factor, which is why the subes can put out the same HP as a engine twice their size. Twice the RPM...

Of course props can't go that fast... so the gearbox is needed. In theory, it's possible that a 'vette engine could put out as much power as a O-320 with no gearbox, but it's not designed for the HP that low in the RPM band. Whats amazing is with all manual controls, we can get a 5.9 liter IO-360 to get over 30MPG in an RV. Whats that about land-based vehicles being more efficient?