RV-7 Engines????

[Epsound]

Hello all.

Can anyone offer any advice on (pre) shopping for an engine for someone with no experience buying one. Sort of...........a mandatory checklist if you will.

All I can say for sure is that it will likely be a 7 with at least 180 HP.

i.e. How much is too much (in general)
What can be considered a 'great' deal
What can someone expect to pay
What to look out for
etc. etc.

Also, where would I begin looking for used/new engines.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Cheers

Evans

[Sid Lambert]

http://www.bpaengines.com/ - Very well respected in our community and a sponsor here.

http://mattituck.com/ - Very well respected and active in our community.

http://xp-360.com/ - Superior - They are well known and do some research in an RV-6.

http://aerosportpower.com/ - Lots of these around and people seem to be very happy with them.

http://www.eci2fly.com/ - Mostly kit built but they have a great name. They are also sponsors here.

There are many more out there. As for prices they range from "Ohh, that's expensive" to "Ohhh my god, that's crazy expensive". (wrong hobby for people prone to sticker shock)

Finding good used engines is tough unless you have people with money in hand watching for you. Most of the shops buy up the cores as soon as they become available.

YMMV, have fun. And you thought you were confused before.

[frankh]

Basics...Parallel valve, 8.5:1 CR, FI'd or carb= 180+Hp

Angle valve 9:1 CR, = 200 to 210HP

Angle valves are heavier and more expensive plus definately need beefier oil coolers but heads tend to run cooler.

Mogas runs great in 8.5:CR engines..Will probably work just fine in 9 or 9.2:1 engines as well, but the supplier won't recommend it.

Fuel Injected or carb....FI will normally run Lean of peak which will save 1 to 1.5 GPH..this adds up a lot over time. Carbs MAY run LOP but not usually.

If you want to do negative G aerobatics you'll need FI....And inverted oil system (add on to any engine) plus put flop tubes in one or both of the tanks.

Fixed pitch vs constant speed prop...Crankshaft is different, needs hollow shaft for C/S but if you want a fixed pitch prop you can mount them on a C/S crank with a plug.

C/S..More expensive (of course) and heavier. But you get more performance both in climb and a little in cruise.

Then you got horizontal or vertical induction..I prefer horizontal as this avoids the pigs snout under the cwol.

Of course this is just Lycomings and clones...Automotive conversions are a whole nother matter..

Frank

[BlackRV7]

Originally Posted by Epsound

Hello all.

Can anyone offer any advice on (pre) shopping for an engine for someone with no experience buying one. Sort of...........a mandatory checklist if you will.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Cheers

Evans

Hum, you get what you pay for but my experience with Barrett Precision Engines tells me if you call them first, the bar for all others will be set very, very high

[flybill7]

A new 180 HP engine from one of the five vendors Sid listed will cost you at least $21K, more if you enhance it with things like fuel injection, forward facing sump, roller-tappets, etc.

That might seem like a lot, but it's important for that powerplant to keep on turning...

[frankh]

You might be able to get a mid time engine for cheaper but by the time you strip it down and heaven forbid there is something that needs replacing (there usually is), Parts are not cheap.

Some real horror stories of folks spending more to build an engine than to simply buy a new one.

21 to 25k..Its just the price of admission.

frank

[Epsound]

The kits at ECI look interesting. Might be able get a decent new one for around 20K and a little sweat equity.

Thanks Lambert.

Looks like 20-25K is the going price of admission Frank.

[David-aviator]

Saw this message on the EGG forum this morning....

Do to medical reason and having three grand kids to raise now will
not be finishing plane Have 15000 down on engine will take 2000 off and
mount included for Rv7 Engine is ready to ship. with final payment
7220.50 left on engine .
Have some extras with Engine will send copy of invoice if wanted.

Mike Terrell
acuetex@...

[Epsound]

Don't know anything about conversions. The thought bothers me a little. Thank for the tip.

Evans.

[N941WR]

The ECI kits can be had for as little as $13-$14,000. To that you will have to add all the accessories and of course assembly.

Accessories include carburetor or fuel injection, fuel pump, and ignition.

The auto conversions always sound promising and seem to work very well for those who like to tinker a lot. If you just want to get in and go fly, use a Lycoming or clone. Besides, the Subaru conversions all seem to come in 100 lbs heavier than the Lycoming. Dan's W&B page is still down or I would direct you there. (www.rvproject.com/wab)

Here's a linke from the "Way Back Machine": http://web.archive.org/web/200610300...oject.com/wab/. This goes back to 2006 so there are not many entries on in.

You know the saying, you can't put lipstick on a pig.