Superior IO360

[randyintejas]

Talked with Barrett engines in Tulsa today so I could figure out how much $ I am going to need and all I can say is OUCH!
Looking at a Superior IO360XP with rollers and AFP forward FI. The warranty is 2 ? yrs or 400hrs form engine start and they test for 1 hour on their Dyno for $28,950.
Lead time of 12 weeks
My questions are.. Is this the prices others are now seeing, what cowl setup will I need to do for forward induction and am I any better off going with a Lyc form Vans at this price?

[Transporter]

Barrett assembles a great engine and the price you quote is competitive for a custom engine; see prices at:

www.aerosportpower.com or

www.lycoming.com/thunderbolt/index.html for examples.

Van's prices are good...and they may have a discount at Oshkosh (they have for the past several years); if you combine a prop and engine order the savings can be significant.

Cowl setup for the Barrett would be Van's cowl for horizontal induction (no scoop) or other (James, Showplanes, etc.) custom cowl. Depends on what you want/like.

Mike

[flion]

It might be a bit cheaper direct from Superior, but that's in the ballpark. I love my Superior XPIO-360, though I don't have the horizontal sump. When a broken starter chewed up my ring gear, they replaced it at no charge even in the middle of their parent company's bankruptcy. And it says something that they are back. I built my engine at the build school and got a good look at the internals plus a hands-on explanation of all the modifications from the stock Lycoming design. I'm convinced; if they made an XPIO-540, it would be going in my -10.

[Neal@F14]

About $28.5-30K is going price for such an engine nowadays.

You'll definitely want the cold air induction too, and also perhaps piston oil squirters. If equipped with squirters, you'll need to plan on a big oil cooler too (min 9-10 rows, e.g. SW 10599R or SW8432R) but it'll really help with CHTs and oil temps flying in Texas.

The RV-8 in my avatar has an ECI IO-360 (190+hp) from America's Aircraft Engines in Tulsa, with 9.2:1 pistons, roller, oil squirters, taper-fin cyl barrels, and the ECI constant-flow "Titan EXP" fuel injection system, all turning a 74" Hartzell blended airfoil prop. It leaps off the ground almost instantly, climbs like a solid fuel rocket, and cruises at 205MPH TAS @ 7500MSL effortlessly. I wouldn't necessarily recommend the ECI fuel injection system because it was expensive, difficult to plumb (requires high-dollar Andair duplex fuel valve with return lines run to both tanks) and it was difficult to calibrate until we found a mechanic who was familiar with the Continental FI system on Beech Debonairs and C210s (from which the ECI system design is derived) who knew how to calibrate it for us. It works fantastic now, but you can get the same performance with AFP FI for less money and less installation hassle.

You might consider calling America's Aircraft Engines for a quote too, but I'd bet it'll be just about the same amount as Barrett or Aerosport prices.

On an RV-7 or RV-8, I'd rather have a Barrett/Aerosport/Americas engine than a factory stock Lycoming. A factory Lyc may be a solid engine, but will be "ho-hum" compared to one of the specialty engines.

PS: make sure to get chrome valve covers too, those are not only eye candy for when you've got the cowl off and everybody is drooling over the engine, but will give you an extra 5 knots on the top end too

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

When you say "rollers," you mean tappet rollers? How much is that adding?

[randyintejas]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

When you say "rollers," you mean tappet rollers? How much is that adding?

Same price flat or roller tappet. I can get a rebuild FI for $1k less

[larrynew]

Engine prices continue to go up. I just noticed Aerosport Power's O-360 prices went up about 2K. A year ago, I started looking and decided on either Mattituck or Aerosport. When Mattituck went up about 4K, I put my deposit with Aerosport who had only gone up about 1K from when I started looking. Now they've gone up another 2K. I only point out Mattituck and Aerosport because I'm familiar with them but I imagine other engine builders/sellers have had similiar increases.

[airguy]

What is the going rate for the ECI kit now?

[airmel]

I am eagerly awaiting my soon-to-be-built Superior IO-360 from Barrett Precision Engines! I also did a lot of comparison shopping... but I found that with Barrett I specified everything the way I want it and I will get their expertise/testing/support, etc. for pretty much the same money. I've also heard several RV owners who say their next engine will be from Barrett. Just my 2 cents...

[DanH]

Originally Posted by randyintejas

.... any better off going with a Lyc form Vans at this price?

I am capable of building my own engine, and could have bought a factory engine. I ordered new from my favorite engine builder for two reasons. First, they have equipment (for example, a Schneck crank balance machine) not available to me. Second, and more important, an independent builder provides a quality control check. Plain fact; in the not too distant past brand new Lycoming parts were coming out of the box, getting measured, and being sent back as unacceptable.

I have seen my share of factory errors in cars, bikes, and airplanes. At these dollar levels I like having somebody on my side.

For your amusement, a favorite photo from the car business here at PHAC. This is a GM part. Look close inside the brazed-on hose fitting.