VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 01-01-2011, 05:30 PM
mike in phx mike in phx is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: phx
Posts: 61
Default RV-6 Turbo

After blowing up a stock motor on a four mile final with no turbo on November, 28 2009 at KDVT, it was time to rebuild. It was too big of a temptation to add a turbo and intercooler to this RV6. Running 33" at 11,500 it sure works fine.

The company that built my motor back in 1998 was sold, changed their name, and moved so getting an explanation why the number 2 cylinder's rod nuts were in the oil pan without anything in them and why my crank was in two pieces (snapped in half) after 260 hours on a newly-built motor was impossible.

I built up a new motor O-360 Lycoming with Bendix fuel injection, 9.5:1 compression, with total seal gapless piston rings. I also added a Lightspeed dual ignition, a Rayjay turbo, and a very big intercooler. Like i said, it works really well. Temps are good; and the first part of testing is over. I cruise at 11,500 ft at 2,400 rpm, 28" manifold pressure burning 11.2 gph doing 180 ktas. Alternately: 13,500 ft 2,400 rpm, 26" manifold pressure burning 10.6 gph doing 180 ktas.

Being located in Phoenix, temps are a big issue in the summer...even on a stock motor. But I seem to have found a good combination and have temps in check running 33" manifold pressure at 11,500 ft, I get 100 F temperature drop over the inter-cooler. compressor Out temps are 230-240 F and after the inter-cooler, I see 120-130 F. Playing with the oil temps they are finally down to 195-200 F.

The gain over how it was (before the turbo) is a lot of climb speed 1000 fpm @ 130 kias all the way to 11,500 ft. I gained 35 kias cruise speed.

It was a long process, but compared to building a kit plane, it wasn't a big deal.

I made a billet oil pan, new intake, new exhaust, my own scavenge pump for the turbo, my own inter-cooler, and my own upper deck pressure injectors. I still have an inverted Christen oil system.

It sure is nice to have a forum like this to get some info. If anyone would like to try what it's like to fly a turbo RV-6, feel free to let me know...I'm always up for flying.

The next step is to get some oxygen and go high to do some testing. Hope you all have had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mike Poulsen
Phoenix
RV 6 TURBO
N 694 MP

http://s1182.photobucket.com/albums/x441/omp2746/










Last edited by mike in phx : 01-02-2011 at 07:07 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-01-2011, 10:43 PM
mcencula mcencula is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Delaware, OH
Posts: 435
Default Edit

Congrats, Mike! That looks great and it sounds like you're getting some great numbers. Good work!
__________________
Mike Cencula
RV-7A (fuselage)
www.our7a.com
Betcha my pile-o-scrap is bigger than your pile-o-scrap.

Last edited by mcencula : 01-02-2011 at 10:45 AM. Reason: removed quote
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-01-2011, 11:05 PM
rocketbob's Avatar
rocketbob rocketbob is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
Default

Awesome, very nice work.
__________________

Please don't PM me! Email only!

Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-01-2011, 11:10 PM
Sig600 Sig600 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRTS
Posts: 1,798
Default

Me likey. Me want. Me no have that kind of cash!

Awesome.
__________________
Next?, TBD
IAR-823, SOLD
RV-8, SOLD
RV-7, SOLD
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-02-2011, 01:46 AM
jetjok's Avatar
jetjok jetjok is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Sutter Creek, CA
Posts: 842
Default CHT's

Mike,
I have fantasized about doing this to my RV, and I really enjoyed looking at your pics. One question though. Why is Cyl #4 running so much colder than #'s 1-3?
WOW! Not only can you do it high and fast, you can also be inverted!
__________________
Mark Ohlau
RV-6 N506MM VAF #1410
2017 Donation Made
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-02-2011, 02:18 AM
mike in phx mike in phx is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: phx
Posts: 61
Default thanks

the number 4 cht probe wire is broke and in a very tight spot. so when its time for more close inspection i will change it out.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-02-2011, 03:15 AM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default I need to stay non-turbo to stay in RV Blue Class

I am currently going through the annual condition inspection again and with all my lower cowl baffling it is more difficult than most RVs to work in the area behind the engine but it is wide open compared to your installation. On the other hand I only picked up 4 kts. I looked at the two photographs and it is obvious that you have addressed each problem and found a way to get the propulsion system you want in the space available. From your description it sounds like you have achieved a very high performance system that addresses the heat problems. Very impressive. I cannot even imagine the grass that will be killed around your airplane at Oshkosh if you pull the cowl for inspection or the interest that will be generated in the press.

The SARL has a separate class for RV 360 turbos so you would be flying alone in the competitions around the country but when the results are published usually where you stand in the whole field is almost as important as where you stand in your class. Speed is its own reward. This year there is a race scheduled in your back yard:
The Thunderbird 100 Air Race
8 October, 2011
Holbrook, AZ (P14)
There you could make a competitive run just to see how it does in competition. I'm sure the results would be impressive. Perhaps the one at the high altitude of Pagosa Springs would be even more so:
The Pagosa Springs 100 Air Race
24 September, 2011
Pagosa Springs, CO (PSO)
AirVenture Cup is a place where you can really shine because they do not place turbos in a separate class. I think you could fly in the RV Blue class there because the classification is based on displacement alone. Some pressure might be applied to force you into the RV Gold class but I'd say your performance will be at the top of whatever class they put you in. This year the race is to be flown from Dayton to Oshkosh again but if the series continues as it has recently, next year the race will be from Mitchell, South Dakota again. In that situation your high altitude performance will really excel. It is a fairly long race however so fuel could be a problem at high RPM max power. You would show the next speed step in the RV envelope followed closely modifications to the structure.

I have never heard much about Myron Jenkins' composite RV-7 that crashed but I would sure be interested in reading the full story behind that pioneering effort as well - the whole story not just the unfortunate end.

Bob Axsom

Last edited by Bob Axsom : 01-02-2011 at 03:18 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-02-2011, 07:10 AM
N941WR's Avatar
N941WR N941WR is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 12,887
Default

What a great job of packaging all that plumbing! Congratulations on a job well done.

Do you have some pictures of the custom parts? You can't really see them under all pipes.

You have also answered the question regarding speed brakes on an RV.

With the brakes out, how fast do you come down and what attitude change does it cause?
__________________
Bill R.
RV-9 (Yes, it's a dragon tail)
O-360 w/ dual P-mags
Build the plane you want, not the plane others want you to build!
SC86 - Easley, SC
www.repucci.com/bill/baf.html
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-02-2011, 07:37 AM
rv6ejguy's Avatar
rv6ejguy rv6ejguy is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 5,766
Default

Nice job and welcome to the turbo 180 knot club!
__________________

Ross Farnham, Calgary, Alberta
Turbo Subaru EJ22, SDS EFI, Marcotte M-300, IVO, Shorai- RV6A C-GVZX flying from CYBW since 2003- 441.0 hrs. on the Hobbs,
RV10 95% built- Sold 2016
http://www.sdsefi.com/aircraft.html
http://sdsefi.com/cpi2.htm


Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-02-2011, 07:58 AM
B25Flyer B25Flyer is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 358
Default Compression Ratio?

This sounds really cool!!!!

9.5 to one is a very high compression ratio for an Turbo'd engine. What do you use for T/O MP? What kind of CHT's do you see in climb? Have you had any detonation issues? Have you been to FL 180 with it? If so, can you keep it cool up there?

A turbo-normalized EVO rocket would be an incredible X/C airplane. Mark intended to put a Turbo on Ole '84 but decided it would not fit under the hood.

I have always known what my next airplane would be and right now the only step up that holds any interest for me would be a Turbo'd EVO Rocket. Probably a normalized, rather than supercharged, just for durability reasons...

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Tailwinds,
Doug Rozendaal
F1 EVO
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:16 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.