Snorkel - less
 

New to the RV and learning...I've noticed many advertised fuel injected RVs w/the snorkel engine cowling and some without. I would think the IO- would have air induction through the engine inlet sans snorkel. Can someone clarify what determines which configuration? Thx

Ahh, Welcome! Completely up to the builder. Van's per plans is a smooth front without the "snout" (technical term from Paul) for the injected configuration as you describe. However, some of us choose not to do it that way and use forward ram air instead.

Welcome to VAF!!
 

Rich, welcome to the good ship VAF:D

Snorkel - less
 

Thanks for the replies, clarification, and welcomes to VAF. Much appreciated. rh

One additional clarification that can avoid massive confusion on threads - "snorkel" is usually used with reference to an internal air duct that gets air from the right-side cooling inlet to a horizontal-induction fuel sevo. The cowl for the "Snorkel" configurations are smooth - they have no "snout", which is what the forward-facing inlet is usually called. Conversations where these two are (understandibly) confused turn into a "who's on first" type routine....

Smooth cowls have an internal "snorkel", the rest have a "snout"....

As somewhat of a newbie and looking at the various models I also have a "snorkel" question.

Does Vans offer a snorkel cowl for the 9(A) model IO-320 equipped airframe? I don't recall seeing any with the smooth cowl.

In Van's catalog there is a note about the IO-320 on a -9 requiring the wider scooped O-360 cowling for the -6/-7 for vertical induction. Horizontal induction can use the smooth cowl.

They are out there. I have one. In order to make it all work you need to order the IO-360 cowl for the RV-7 and the "snorkel".

The RV-7 style smooth cowl will fit on the RV-9 fuselage. More than one RV-9 powered by a car engine (don't ask) has used it:



I imagine an IO-320 would fit in there just fine, although you might have to get creative with baffling and/or make your own fiberglass snorkel to get it all to work. It would certainly be a cool and unique RV-9!

mcb

And here is mine with an ECI IO-340 with forward facing cold air induction. The standard Vans snorkel fit with no modifications at all. Standard baffles fit like a glove with no abnormal modifications at all.