Original Posted By: "BritishJim"
People always ask... What plane, what tools, what skills...I'm coming to the conclusion, as least for folks like me, a good shrink or somepsych courses on how to just make a decision and stick with it! This stuff just wouldn't be fun without a bunch seemingly life altering decisions...Scott and I are looking at our new project with a utility knife quivering in ourhand, do we strip all the way down or just fix the damn thing and go fly?So British Jim, congratulations on asking the ONLY question in Piet history withNO controversy! I think the wildest thing is how consistent the build priceis over time. Things that make you go hmmm?!Another universal truth, time or money. Buying a project to start out with willsave money, but you can't pick up the phone and order it from spruce the minuteyou want it. Likely gonna cost time. For what it's worth, I bought mine complete for $12k. I believe that's about medianfor a good bird. Bad news, less than it costs to build. Good news, notmuch less and will keep that value for a LONG time with minimal effort. Greatnews, either way it is a FANTASTIC return on investment. Cheers,ToolsRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Would This Corvair Work?
Pietenpol-List: Would This Corvair Work?
Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Original Posted By: "taildrags"
Even though my project is in its infancy....by chance...a Corvair has come up forsale about an hour from where I'm currently staying (I'm in Ontario for a month).Out in the boonies in Nova Scotia where I am based....you NEVER see them!I'd likely have to crate one across the country.[contents of advertisement copied below]Would this be suitable for a Piet? If so, what questions should I be asking theseller?I've called him and there's a bit of a backstory. He bought the engine from a guyin British Columbia who ran it for a few hours, but it's never actually beenmounted to an airplane. He's turned it over each month with storage oil to keep it in good shape, and heclaims it only needs a muffler to be complete. He can't get a medical anymoreso is ditching the project he planned to put it in.Look like a good deal? I'm not yet at that point where I've educated myself aboutthe ins and outs of engines (except having decided that I do want to go theCorvair route).Any guidance would be appreciated! Ad & pics follows below.J.---CONVERTED CORVAIR ENGINE $5,000 AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SALE 115 HP Complete rebuilt Corvair conversion engine, Magnafluxed crankshaft, newbalanced pistons, new heads with valves and new camshaft reground for better lowend torque sn: t05i7rd -alternator, starter, exhaust and mixutre controlledcarb -machined 0200 engine mount attach bracket with rubber mounts -remote oilfilter housing, carb filter, oil hoses, alternator plug warp drives three bladedhigh hp ground adjustable propeller sn: h6224 -prop protractor for bladeangle adjustment --------Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/bs3_ ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Even though my project is in its infancy....by chance...a Corvair has come up forsale about an hour from where I'm currently staying (I'm in Ontario for a month).Out in the boonies in Nova Scotia where I am based....you NEVER see them!I'd likely have to crate one across the country.[contents of advertisement copied below]Would this be suitable for a Piet? If so, what questions should I be asking theseller?I've called him and there's a bit of a backstory. He bought the engine from a guyin British Columbia who ran it for a few hours, but it's never actually beenmounted to an airplane. He's turned it over each month with storage oil to keep it in good shape, and heclaims it only needs a muffler to be complete. He can't get a medical anymoreso is ditching the project he planned to put it in.Look like a good deal? I'm not yet at that point where I've educated myself aboutthe ins and outs of engines (except having decided that I do want to go theCorvair route).Any guidance would be appreciated! Ad & pics follows below.J.---CONVERTED CORVAIR ENGINE $5,000 AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SALE 115 HP Complete rebuilt Corvair conversion engine, Magnafluxed crankshaft, newbalanced pistons, new heads with valves and new camshaft reground for better lowend torque sn: t05i7rd -alternator, starter, exhaust and mixutre controlledcarb -machined 0200 engine mount attach bracket with rubber mounts -remote oilfilter housing, carb filter, oil hoses, alternator plug warp drives three bladedhigh hp ground adjustable propeller sn: h6224 -prop protractor for bladeangle adjustment --------Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ttachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/bs3_ ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Original Posted By: "BritishJim"
Jim; you'll no doubt get a lot of different responses to your question about whetheror not that Corvair would work, but there are just too many unknowns foranyone to tell you for sure. Not to discourage you from investigating the useof this engine, I'll just say that "It depends".First of all, disbelieve the claim that the engine produces 115HP, unless theytell you at what RPM they are claiming that power output. In the speed rangethat you'll direct-drive an aircraft propeller suitable for a Piet, it might bea 90-95HP engine.Next, while magnafluxing the crankshaft is a good first-step diagnostic tool fordetermining if it is sound, it doesn't do anything to the crank to make it special.If it has been nitrided and has had the fillet radii inspected, thatwould be a plus. Has the engine been fitted with a 5th bearing at the front?New pistons are great, but what are they? Cast or forged?New heads? From where? GM hasn't made these heads since the 1960s. What arethe head numbers? There are many different combustion chamber configurationson Corvairs and some are more suitable for our conversions than others.New camshaft reground for better low-end torque? Okay, but what cam, what grind,and at what RPM does it make its low-end torque? A great cam in a car doesnot necessarily make a great cam in an airplane.Machined O-200 engine mount sounds good. Are any like this flying? You're trustingyour life and your airplane to that mount. And what airframe had it beenintended to mount onto? Distance from the firewall for an Air Camper is notthe same as for a KR or for a Zenith, and neither is the thrust line positionrelative to the airframe.Rear-drive alternator. Has this setup been flown?I think you will get more guidance from others on this list as far as questionsto ask the seller.--------Oscar ZunigaMedford, ORAir Camper NX41CC "Scout"A75 powerRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Jim; you'll no doubt get a lot of different responses to your question about whetheror not that Corvair would work, but there are just too many unknowns foranyone to tell you for sure. Not to discourage you from investigating the useof this engine, I'll just say that "It depends".First of all, disbelieve the claim that the engine produces 115HP, unless theytell you at what RPM they are claiming that power output. In the speed rangethat you'll direct-drive an aircraft propeller suitable for a Piet, it might bea 90-95HP engine.Next, while magnafluxing the crankshaft is a good first-step diagnostic tool fordetermining if it is sound, it doesn't do anything to the crank to make it special.If it has been nitrided and has had the fillet radii inspected, thatwould be a plus. Has the engine been fitted with a 5th bearing at the front?New pistons are great, but what are they? Cast or forged?New heads? From where? GM hasn't made these heads since the 1960s. What arethe head numbers? There are many different combustion chamber configurationson Corvairs and some are more suitable for our conversions than others.New camshaft reground for better low-end torque? Okay, but what cam, what grind,and at what RPM does it make its low-end torque? A great cam in a car doesnot necessarily make a great cam in an airplane.Machined O-200 engine mount sounds good. Are any like this flying? You're trustingyour life and your airplane to that mount. And what airframe had it beenintended to mount onto? Distance from the firewall for an Air Camper is notthe same as for a KR or for a Zenith, and neither is the thrust line positionrelative to the airframe.Rear-drive alternator. Has this setup been flown?I think you will get more guidance from others on this list as far as questionsto ask the seller.--------Oscar ZunigaMedford, ORAir Camper NX41CC "Scout"A75 powerRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... ___Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Original Posted By: "Gary Boothe"
Great information - thank you!I'll wait for any more responses and then get a list of questions sent off.Appreciate your time.J.--------Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
Great information - thank you!I'll wait for any more responses and then get a list of questions sent off.Appreciate your time.J.--------Your nose is high; you're in the sky. The other way around; you'll hit the ground....Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________
RE: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Jim,I agree with everything that Oscar says, without exception. In addition:1) I note that it has been set up with a rear starter that extends quite adistance in the back of the engine. That, plus the mount setup looks likeyou would have a somewhat long-nosed installation.2) The alternator appears to be the auto type...much heavier than neededfor a Pietenpol. A small John Deere alternator works just fine.3) I'm no engineer, but that mount just looks scary...too many variables,and, as Oscar said, has it been flown. The Corvair is a tray mounted engine,a lot like the Franklin engines, and those trays are easy to build.4) Prop hub...what flight history does that design have?All things considered, depending on the price, you may still have a goodbuy. The peripherals that I just mentioned can all be changed to what isflight-proven. Although I fly with a William Wynne conversion, and fairlycertain to be getting close to 100 hp at t/o rpm, not all flying Corvairshave that configuration....you would do just fine with less H/P. Try to findout about those pistons, and also the lifters (un-airworthy Chinese liftershave made a big presence). When you get some more answers, you may considera direct conversation with William Wynne. He'll give you honest, thoughtful,educated opinions.Gary BootheNX308MB-----Original Message-----
Jim,I agree with everything that Oscar says, without exception. In addition:1) I note that it has been set up with a rear starter that extends quite adistance in the back of the engine. That, plus the mount setup looks likeyou would have a somewhat long-nosed installation.2) The alternator appears to be the auto type...much heavier than neededfor a Pietenpol. A small John Deere alternator works just fine.3) I'm no engineer, but that mount just looks scary...too many variables,and, as Oscar said, has it been flown. The Corvair is a tray mounted engine,a lot like the Franklin engines, and those trays are easy to build.4) Prop hub...what flight history does that design have?All things considered, depending on the price, you may still have a goodbuy. The peripherals that I just mentioned can all be changed to what isflight-proven. Although I fly with a William Wynne conversion, and fairlycertain to be getting close to 100 hp at t/o rpm, not all flying Corvairshave that configuration....you would do just fine with less H/P. Try to findout about those pistons, and also the lifters (un-airworthy Chinese liftershave made a big presence). When you get some more answers, you may considera direct conversation with William Wynne. He'll give you honest, thoughtful,educated opinions.Gary BootheNX308MB-----Original Message-----
Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Original Posted By: "dgaldrich"
Depends on how you have your mail client set up - if it is set toautomatically include the previous emails as a quotation, then yes,people will have some sort of reference to discern what you're talkingabout.That's not preventing you from selecting the text you do NOT want tosend and hitting the 'Delete' key.For instance, I've left everything quoted from your last email belowEXCEPT that I selected the standard footer and deleted it.On 08/31/2015 06:35 AM, Douwe Blumberg wrote:> Hey Dan,> > > > I am always afraid if I push reply that everyone will have to read> every single post. Is that not the case?> > > > Douwe> -- Dan Yocumyocum137(at)gmail.com________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?
Depends on how you have your mail client set up - if it is set toautomatically include the previous emails as a quotation, then yes,people will have some sort of reference to discern what you're talkingabout.That's not preventing you from selecting the text you do NOT want tosend and hitting the 'Delete' key.For instance, I've left everything quoted from your last email belowEXCEPT that I selected the standard footer and deleted it.On 08/31/2015 06:35 AM, Douwe Blumberg wrote:> Hey Dan,> > > > I am always afraid if I push reply that everyone will have to read> every single post. Is that not the case?> > > > Douwe> -- Dan Yocumyocum137(at)gmail.com________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Would This Corvair Work?