Eagler's Nest
Engines => 4 Cylinder => Volkswagen => Topic started by: Jaydub on August 06, 2023, 08:19:30 AM
-
I understand why VW air cooled engines have been popular, but with them not having been made now (not even in Mexico or Brazil) for many years, where are people finding good engines these days? Are aviators looking to use VW engines buying them from SCAT or similar shops?
I believe, but I could be wrong, the idea of using VW engines was because they "were" easy to find, cheap to buy, modify, and maintain but in the days of just having Hummel and Great Plains that takes out the cheap part of it.
What does one look for as there were many different types and sizes of VW engines made?
Anyhow, contemplating building either a LEXL or maybe a DE or CE but I want to know what options are really available as I haven't even seen an air cooled VW on the road for many many years now nor do I ever find one in a junkyard.
I like Les' work on the small block V-twin Briggs but my density altitude this time of year is pushing 8k' on hot summer days so that won't work for me. The big block (993cc) Vanguards are very heavy so I know that would throw a LEXL overweight and probably be too nose heavy unless the tail gets back further.
Anyhow, just wondering how you are finding good engines to use these days?
-
Google machine:
https://www.kitplanes.com/vw-type-i-engine-cases-change-is-in-the-air/ (https://www.kitplanes.com/vw-type-i-engine-cases-change-is-in-the-air/)
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=what+to+look+for+on+vw+cases (https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=what+to+look+for+on+vw+cases)
-
This one by Motorav is begging to be cut in half... 2600 CC and 100 HP. Designed for aircraft practically from a clean sheet of paper, and didn't I see hydraulic lifters going in?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2m08Zuwvbo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2m08Zuwvbo)
-
That Motorav looks pretty cool, kind of half VW/half airplane engine. Unfortunately it looks like they never went on to selling them. I was looking online and saw things from 2017 and 2019 but nothing after that. I guess they learned what a lawyer is haha.
-
You are prolly right... Either that or spending all their time making cases. :emoji_u1f62f:
-
i went back to working on cars,(914's) still have LE kit but... working again and still have kids at home...
The 914 engine is Type 4 Volkswagen, can be built stronger than stock EFInjected...
Find an old timer to custom build a stroker 84mm or at least 78mm crank. Times are changing, guys want to bolt on somthing that UPS brought 'em. Les has shown good example Briggs although still carb.
Personaly if you want to fly buy an Airplane, If you want to build you'll need a hanger w/machine shop and lots of time, like five to ten years.
many of us did RC kits(still remeber felling sick after50 laps of line controld... cir 1969.
I'm convinced LEXL needs four cylinder 60hp.