Building my own engine

[tmbg]

So, my life has gotten dramatically more exciting lately, mostly because my new best friend is an A&P

He's been helping me work on my plane, he's officially my supervising A&P. We're talking about overhauling the O-320-E3D in my cherokee this winter. It is currently about 1700SMOH, and zero-timing it would increase the value of my plane fantastically. Being able to do so for the cost of parts will be GREAT.


I've showed him my RV project, and we talked about power plant choices. I told him I'd love to go 200hp, but cost reasons were gonna limit me to 180hp. He said 'why don't we just build a 200hp engine?'


So why not? I'm gonna start keeping my eyes open for an angle valve core. I think that I can probably build a HOT angle valve 360 with everything exactly how I want it for less than I could buy a 180hp from some place like superior.

[Spike]

....We're talking about overhauling the O-320-E3D in my cherokee this winter. It is currently about 1700SMOH, and zero-timing it would increase the value of my plane fantastically. Being able to do so for the cost of parts will be GREAT.

Are you going to be selling the Cherokee?

[N258RE]

I am currently building a O-360 (180 HP)

Stupid simple engines really, aircraft spruce,wicks whomever sells a assembly video,that and a overhaul manual,and a parts manual is all you need


Having said that,in hindsight it would be cheaper/easier to buy a ECI kit from aeroinstock and build that rather than mess with a core,

after you send all your stuff (cases crank cam tappets) out to be reworked and comply with any AD's and SB's its a wash unless you get a REALLY good deal on a core

[tmbg]

....We're talking about overhauling the O-320-E3D in my cherokee this winter. It is currently about 1700SMOH, and zero-timing it would increase the value of my plane fantastically. Being able to do so for the cost of parts will be GREAT.

Are you going to be selling the Cherokee?

Not really sure... my new A&P friend and I are talking about starting a flight school. I let him fly my cherokee, and he LOVES it, and was asking if I'd sell it to him. I think I'd rather hang on to it but partner up with him on the school, and have access to his planes as well. I'm thinking that I may get my CFI next spring and start teaching.

I don't really know what direction I go, but no matter what I do, being able to zero-time the cherokee cheaply will be beneficial.

[tmbg]

I am currently building a O-360 (180 HP)

Stupid simple engines really, aircraft spruce,wicks whomever sells a assembly video,that and a overhaul manual,and a parts manual is all you need


Having said that,in hindsight it would be cheaper/easier to buy a ECI kit from aeroinstock and build that rather than mess with a core,

after you send all your stuff (cases crank cam tappets) out to be reworked and comply with any AD's and SB's its a wash unless you get a REALLY good deal on a core

Thanks, I'll definitely keep that in mind when I'm looking into what parts/core/kit/whatever to buy!

[captain_john]

My reason for going with big power is primarily having a counterbalanced engine for smoothness.

The extra power is a by product!

CJ