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801 - Subaru engine

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pacificpainting(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:06 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Anyone on the list have a Subaru engine in their plane or contemplating one? I'm looking for information. Talked to Eggenfeller on the phone and looked on their website but I didn't get much. They seem to be pretty much into RV's.



Thanks,

Dave in Oregon

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Dave,

I've got a 1.8 liter Stratus Subaru on my 601HDS and I'm really pleased 

with it.  An 801 would probably take a larger 150-160 hp

Subaru from the 2.2 liter group.  Stratus, NSI, Eggenfelder and Ram 

Performance were the most prolific models around til recently.

Eggenfelder is very pricey, NSI is hard to do business with directly or 

indirectly, Stratus has a great product as does Ram Performance.



Subarus are good product top to bottom and reflect considerably lower 

prices for repair and economy of operation.  Lots of heavy

gyro-planes (1000 lb +) use them because they take the abuse of hard 

running indefinitely without complaint.  Learning how a water-

cooled engine is best set up used to be a problem, but there's enough 

info available to get past that nowdays.  One of the nicest things

about the Subaru is the cabin heat available if you divert coolant to 

that purpose.  You can have a 65-degree cabin at sub freezing temps.



We've got a 701 in our area with an EA-81 Subaru and Stratus Redrive on 

it and it climbs out really well.



Larry McFarland - 601HDS at www.macsmachine.com

 



Dave Ruddiman wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  



Anyone on the list have a Subaru engine in their plane or contemplating one? I'm looking for information. Talked to Eggenfeller on the phone and looked on their website but I didn't get much. They seem to be pretty much into RV's.



Thanks,

Dave in Oregon

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Yup (I have a Stratus on my 601 HDS) and I considered a Eggenfener for

my RV7a.



Personally I could not recommend a Stratus...Well I could but I would

buy it without the cylinder heads. Then I would have Ram Ferformance

build me the cylinder heads, but then you might as well have Ram build

the whole thing. They have some very nice packages now.



You did not mention which plane you are building. The 601 (and 701

just)701 will work with the EA 81 engines available from Stratus and Ram

Performance.

The 801 and possibly a 640 will work with the Eggenfelner packages as

these are based on the larger soob motors. The Eggs have a very good

reputation, the reason I did not go that way on the RV was because I

could not get a good read on how much cooling drag they caused and how

much they reduced cruise speed...On an 801 I think this effect would be

minimal.



On the 601 the Stratus package (after MUCH heartache and re-engineering)

is now superb.



Give me a call sometime.



Frank in Corvallis 

541-745-6386



 



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frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:15 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Wait a minute Larry...You upgraded your cylinder heads before you flew

your Stratus conversion if I remember?...With that proviso yes I would

argue it's a wonderful engine/redrive package...But not without that

mod...Oh, and the ignition system really needs to be upgraded, but that

is a fairly small job.

Frank 



--

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 1:33 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Oh yeah....well now I'm replying to my own emails...how sad is

that?...



The Eggs are based on the 2.5l to 3.0l H6 engine...some with

superchargers.



These are in the 220HP range and they are capable of MUCH more reliable

power than that in Dune buggies etc...But not in airplanes!



I think it would be a superb motor for an 801

Frank 



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pacificpainting(at)comcas
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

I looked on the Ram website and it looks like they only have a 140 HP 

engine, so I sent them an email. Does anyone know if they have a 180 HP 

engine?



Dave in Salem



---

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

You're right Frank,

I did upgrade my heads per Ram Performance after only 10-minutes of 

running it and before flying it.  The cost was not a

problem considering the benefit.  I also improved cooling with an air 

intake and louvers that helped airflow.  The

other thing was making an interlink that connected the carburetter 

throttle shafts to get one solid cable to operate the throttles

same as a Cessna to eliminate springs and adjusting of dual cables to 

the carbs.  I also put in dual ignition within the

distributor in addition to the flywheel pickup electronic ignition.  

Then combine that with the Aeroelectric wiring diagram for

dual batteries, dual pumps, main, essential and hot buses, etc.  The 

Stratus is finally outfitted right for a 601.  Some of these areas

like carb cables and springs and the Rabbit radiator were Zenith origin, 

but the Stratus Subaru was still worth the extra effort.



Larry

Hinde, Frank George (Corvallis) wrote:



[quote]



Wait a minute Larry...You upgraded your cylinder heads before you flew

your Stratus conversion if I remember?...With that proviso yes I would

argue it's a wonderful engine/redrive package...But not without that

mod...Oh, and the ignition system really needs to be upgraded, but that

is a fairly small job.

Frank 



--

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:05 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Thought so,



The tone of your message sort of minimised the valve guide problem of

the stratus motor in my mind...And of course with three in flight valve

guide failures (two resulting in Mayday calls) I am a little more

"Aware" of how big of an issue this can be...



Appologise if I came on a bit strong..



Incidently Larry, Do you still have your mold for the Rabbit radiator

intake? It looks like I am selling the plane to a gentlemen in Alabama

and I have recommended a future upgrade that copies your

installation...Wondered if you might be willing to "rent" it out so to

speak?...



Frank



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frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

I don't believe so. Ron Carr specialises in the EA 81 motor (1.8L) you

really want the 2.2, 2.5 or 3.0 (six cylinder) motor.



As I said from the desk research (weeks of it) I would go with an Egg

assuming you can get an engine mount...I even sent him a deposit for the

RV but went with the Lycoming based on potential cruise speed loss.



Frank



--

larry(at)macsmachine.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Frank,

I thoroughly appreciate your sensitivity to the valve guide problem.  I 

believe Mykal doesn't appreciate the fact that a conventional

automotive-rebuild at the valve guides wasn't a good idea for customers 

or business.  He seems unable to contractually make product

corrections to fix this.  I like the package, especially the redrive and 

just jumped past these problems thanks to your advice. It's no big deal only

when you haven't had to make unexpected landings for valve guide failures.



Yes, I've still got the intake mold and the form and will be making a 

few of these later this summer to catch up with requests after my 601 

gets paint. 

He's welcome to order one from me at $200.  It takes about 10 hours over 

two days to make one intake.  I'd be flattered by anyone that decided

to copy what I've done.  I wish there were an easier process for this 

one.  The louver drawing is available for the asking and they're easy to 

make.



Larry McFarland

do not archive



Hinde, Frank George (Corvallis) wrote:



[quote]



Thought so,



The tone of your message sort of minimised the valve guide problem of

the stratus motor in my mind...And of course with three in flight valve

guide failures (two resulting in Mayday calls) I am a little more

"Aware" of how big of an issue this can be...



Appologise if I came on a bit strong..



Incidently Larry, Do you still have your mold for the Rabbit radiator

intake? It looks like I am selling the plane to a gentlemen in Alabama

and I have recommended a future upgrade that copies your

installation...Wondered if you might be willing to "rent" it out so to

speak?...



Frank



--

jean-paul.roy4(at)tlb.sym
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 3:16 am Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Larry, was just wondering if it was at all possible to divert the coolant on

a 912 for heating purpase?



Jean-Paul

---

planejim(at)bellsouth.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:58 am Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

Jean-Paul,



I remember talking to a Kitfox builder (at oshkosh) from Minnasota who ran 

some hot water hoses to a small radiator forward of his instrument panel. 

(Like your car).  He used one or two small 12 volt DC motors to blow air 

across the radiator to put the heat in the cabin. He said it worked good. My 

concerns with this installation would be hot water leaks in the cabin and 

the complications in preventing flow through the radiator in hot weather ( 

don't need the heat then). Can use the shut-off valve from you car.



I use the standard ZAC heat muff shroud on my left exhaust for cabin heat. 

It's more than adequate here in Goergia in winter. We primarily need 

cooling! Of course, with the heat muff shroud you always have the 

possibility of exhaust leaks and carbon monoxcide. Can't win!



do not archive



Jim Hoak 601HD - 80 HP Rotax 506 Hrs.

---

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: 801 - Subaru engine

In my 601 hot water flows thru thr heater core all the time...Never

noticed any heat from the coil like this in 400 hours of flying. I would

not put a heater valve in and save the complexity. I use 4 computer

muffin fans and run 2 of them for low heat...All four for high.



Works great...as for coolant leaks put the heater core above the

passengers feet...



If your worried about the heater core leaking then you should be equally

concerned for the radiator.



Frank

601 HDS 394 hours 



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