Franklin O-350 ?

[GyroF-16]

I’ve recently become aware of the use of Franklin O-350 engines (and variants) on RV-8s.
Specifically, a Franklin EXPCIO-350E.
Does anyone here have experience with them? Praise? Curses? Stories?

Thanks!

 

[RV6_flyer]

Been around RV aircraft for almost 40-years. Never heard of an RV-8 with a Franklin engine.

 

[rocketbob]

Been around RV aircraft for almost 40-years. Never heard of an RV-8 with a Franklin engine.

You must not have paid close enough attention. One RV8 from the factory aka "Franklinstein" and the purple one in NJ.

 

[gasman]

You must not have paid close enough attention. One RV8 from the factory aka "Franklinstein" and the purple one in NJ.

I remember that!

 

[Kyle Boatright]

Plus one here in NW Georgia painted in military colors.

 

[9GT]

I’ve recently become aware of the use of Franklin O-350 engines (and variants) on RV-8s.
Specifically, a Franklin EXPCIO-350E.
Does anyone here have experience with them? Praise? Curses? Stories?

Thanks!

No personal experience, but Nat Puffer put a Franklin IO-360 (6 cylinder) in his Cozy MKIV to test it out as an optional power plant instead of the Lycoming O-360 he was powering his with. He really was not all that happy with it and after about a year, then swapped it back out for his Lycoming. He did state that it was a very smooth running engine because of 6 cylinders, but never gave me a definitive answer on WHY he went back to his lycoming. My guess is a lack/scarcity of parts. They were originally a US manufactured engine (i believe), and not real popular, but the rights were sold to a manufacturer in some other country. I would not consider one no matter the price point.

 

[jrs14855]

No personal experience, but Nat Puffer put a Franklin IO-360 (6 cylinder) in his Cozy MKIV to test it out as an optional power plant instead of the Lycoming O-360 he was powering his with. He really was not all that happy with it and after about a year, then swapped it back out for his Lycoming. He did state that it was a very smooth running engine because of 6 cylinders, but never gave me a definitive answer on WHY he went back to his lycoming. My guess is a lack/scarcity of parts. They were originally a US manufactured engine (i believe), and not real popular, but the rights were sold to a manufacturer in some other country. I would not consider one no matter the price point.

Franklin engines is Syracuse NY made four and six cylinder engines as late as the late sixties. They closed the doors and had a big auction. IIRC the rights went to Poland and a relatively small number were made. The 220 hp six cylinder was a favorite for Swift conversions for quite a while.
The Stinson 108 dash one thru three used the original Franklin of 150 and 165 hp. Nice smooth running engines. A few Stinson's have been converted to Continental 0 470's with constant speed props. Almost Cessna 180 performance for less money.

 

[rv6n6r]

The "Franklinstein" RV-8 was a valiant effort by Van's prototype shop that was eventually dropped. That's all I really need to know about it - if they couldn't make a viable thing of it, I don't think I'd want to try.