---------------------------------------------------------- Tailwind-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Mon 02/09/04: 11 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:59 AM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Earl Luce) 2. 10:18 AM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Ron Steber) 3. 10:24 AM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Ron Steber) 4. 10:32 AM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Ron Steber) 5. 12:53 PM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Lovelace, Malcolm) 6. 01:29 PM - Emailing: Rudder cable (Jim and Donna Clement) 7. 01:42 PM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Kenneth Graves) 8. 03:01 PM - Re: Subaru Tailwind (Mcculleyja@aol.com) 9. 03:45 PM - Center top dash panel (james wright) 10. 04:33 PM - Re: Center top dash panel (Jim and Donna Clement) 11. 06:51 PM - Covering (john) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:59:52 AM PST US From: "Earl Luce" Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron Witt told me himself that the plane is project enough you don't need another with the engine ! Use an aircraft engine .........you won't be sorry ! Earl Luce Freezing in N.Y. ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill newkirk To: tailwind-list@matronics.com Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 10:09 PM Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron Steber; I have a 2.5 Subaru just sitting around collecting dust. The intake has been modified ala Eggenfellner. I also have a Tracy Crook dual ignition for it. I'm trying to decide whether to use it in my Tailwind project. Bill Newkirk ----- Original Message ----- From: Ron Steber To: tailwind-list@matronics.com Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2004 7:39 AM Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Bill, I made a presentation at Oshkosh in 2000 and also had a follow up article in Contact. I taught a shop class were I had full dyno facilities and really rung out one of these engines. I had 150 hours on the first engine and recorded over 400 tests with various fuel and ignition systems. Found that these engines are extremely well designed and almost bullet proof for our application. Ron Steber ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:18:17 AM PST US From: "Ron Steber" Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind ----- Original Message ----- From: Earl Luce To: tailwind-list@matronics.com Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 12:05 PM Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron Witt told me himself that the plane is project enough you don't need another with the engine ! Use an aircraft engine .........you won't be sorry ! Earl Luce Freezing in N.Y. Earl, I have been working with all types of engines for over 35 years. Taught a Power Technology course for 23 years were the students did extensive experimentation with all different types of engines. I also opened an engine rebuilding business which is still thriving today. Airplane engines are VERY expensive, and very old technology. In today's world, with the high price of fuel, and the thoughts of environmental problems, why not capitalize on the billions of dollars spent on automotive engine research. Automobiles today are very reliable, fuel efficient and also clean running. There are literally millions of power plants in recycling yards at Cheap prices. There are a lot of successful conversions flying today with information available on forums like this. I have approximately $2500 invested in my Subaru powerplant including a purchased belt reductuion unit. I get an honest 160 HP at 6000 rpms. The first Tailwind with this setup peaked at 175MPH. At cruise it burns between 5 and 6 gallons of Auto fuel. Parts are cheap and plentiful. Incidentally wasn't the first Tailwind powered by an Oldsmobile V8? Ron Steber ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 10:24:53 AM PST US From: "Ron Steber" Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Bill, In the last year my brother has been seeing a rash of 2.5 cylinder heads at the family machine shop. These are all from the Subaru Dealer. It seems Sub started using a new head gasket on 2.5s and they are developing leaks. I would at least remove the heads and replace the gaskets with a name brand to eliminate the problem. The problem exists in both the double a single cam versions. You did not specify what type you have. Also the double cam engine is about 40 pounds heavier tha the single cam. Ron Steber ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 10:32:40 AM PST US From: "Ron Steber" Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind --> Tailwind-List message posted by: "Ron Steber" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Alley" Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Brian, The SVX engine is somewhat of an orphan with only a limited amount being produced. I don't how many reduction units would be available for it. With limited production, sometimes aftermarket replacement parts never appear. It might be difficult to maintain later. I had an opportunity to talk to the owner of the Velocity Aircraft and he mentioned that he had a Velocity with the SVX and it worked fine. He sold the aircraft to a customer but removed the engine to prevent liability problems. Ron Steber ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 12:53:00 PM PST US From: "Lovelace, Malcolm" Subject: RE: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron, It sounds like you know what you are talking about when it comes to the Subaru but let me share my experience. I built a composite airplane back in the 80's with an auto engine. I had a lot of experience with auto engines racing cars so I built my own engines and have a fair amount of machining experience. The airplane flew great and the engine did ok, but it seemed like for every hour I flew the plane I worked on it for 3-4 hrs. After 12 years of flying a little and working a lot I built a Tailwind with an O-320. I have less money in the Tailwind in 2002 dollars than in the composite in 1985 dollars. I can get in the Tailwind and fly any where I want and don't have to worry about the engine. I picked the Tailwind because a lot of them are flying and the O-320's are plentiful and almost indestructible. The Subaru sound cool and looks neat. So if you like tinkering more than flying, go for it. If some of you guys get them figured out some day I might try one but in the mean time I am working on Tailwind #2 (taildragger) with an O-320. Malcolm Lovelace > -----Original Message----- > From: Ron Steber [SMTP:rons2@microserve.net] > Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 1:13 PM > To: tailwind-list@matronics.com > Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Earl Luce > To: tailwind-list@matronics.com > > Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 12:05 PM > Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind > > Ron > Witt told me himself that the plane is project enough you don't > need another with the engine ! Use an aircraft engine .........you won't > be sorry ! > Earl Luce > Freezing in N.Y. > > Earl, > > I have been working with all types of engines for over > 35 years. Taught a Power Technology course for 23 years were the students > did extensive experimentation with all different types of engines. I also > opened an engine rebuilding business which is still thriving today. > > Airplane engines are VERY expensive, and very old > technology. In today's world, with the high price of fuel, and the > thoughts of environmental problems, why not capitalize on the billions of > dollars spent on automotive engine research. Automobiles today are very > reliable, fuel efficient and also clean running. There are literally > millions of power plants in recycling yards at Cheap prices. There are a > lot of successful conversions flying today with information available on > forums like this. > > I have approximately $2500 invested in my Subaru > powerplant including a purchased belt reductuion unit. I get an honest 160 > HP at 6000 rpms. The first Tailwind with this setup peaked at 175MPH. At > cruise it burns between 5 and 6 gallons of Auto fuel. Parts are cheap and > plentiful. Incidentally wasn't the first Tailwind powered by an Oldsmobile > V8? > > Ron Steber > ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 01:29:28 PM PST US From: "Jim and Donna Clement" <168x@merr.com> Subject: Tailwind-List: Emailing: Rudder cable Cables go thru the 3/8" tubing. Use 1/8" cable, put thimble and shackle on after running it thru the tube. ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 01:42:40 PM PST US From: Kenneth Graves Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron, With your background I'd say go ahead and keep us posted. That's what Experimental is for. Also know that I have a boring Old GPU and Love it when someone takes the other road. Just build in as much redundency as you can and watch your cooling. Ken Ron Steber wrote: ----- Original Message ----- From: Earl Luce Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind Ron Witt told me himself that the plane is project enough you don't need another with the engine ! Use an aircraft engine .........you won't be sorry ! Earl Luce Freezing in N.Y. Earl, I have been working with all types of engines for over 35 years. Taught a Power Technology course for 23 years were the students did extensive experimentation with all different types of engines. I also opened an engine rebuilding business which is still thriving today. Airplane engines are VERY expensive, and very old technology. In today's world, with the high price of fuel, and the thoughts of environmental problems, why not capitalize on the billions of dollars spent on automotive engine research. Automobiles today are very reliable, fuel efficient and also clean running. There are literally millions of power plants in recycling yards at Cheap prices. There are a lot of successful conversions flying today with information available on forums like this. I have approximately $2500 invested in my Subaru powerplant including a purchased belt reductuion unit. I get an honest 160 HP at 6000 rpms. The first Tailwind with this setup peaked at 175MPH. At cruise it burns between 5 and 6 gallons of Auto fuel. Parts are cheap and plentiful. Incidentally wasn't the first Tailwind powered by an Oldsmobile V8? Ron Steber --------------------------------- ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 03:01:27 PM PST US From: Mcculleyja@aol.com Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Subaru Tailwind --> Tailwind-List message posted by: Mcculleyja@aol.com In a message dated 2/9/04 1:19:20 PM Eastern Standard Time, rons2@microserve.net writes: > I have approximately $2500 invested in my Subaru powerplant including a > purchased belt reductuion unit. I get an honest 160 HP at 6000 rpms. The > first Tailwind with this setup peaked at 175MPH. At cruise it burns between 5 > and 6 gallons of Auto fuel. Parts are cheap and plentiful. Ron, Assuming no higher cruise setting than 60% of that 160 HP engine (96 HP), and as high as 6 GPH, the BSFC would be 0.375 lb/hr/hp. At the lower stated 5 GPH, the BSFC would be 0.313. Both these values are well below the best currently demonstrated for Otto cycle engines and even difficult for Diesels. What percent power was used in the Tailwind with this Subaru setup during cruise and what was the cruise speed ? ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 03:45:52 PM PST US From: "james wright" Subject: Tailwind-List: Center top dash panel Looking at Jim Clement pix. ,I used piano hinge on each side of top center dash for easy removal. I thought the worlds shortist screw driver would still be to long as you got close to the front? Pull two pins and you have access to the back of the instrument panel Jim Wright ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 04:33:23 PM PST US From: "Jim and Donna Clement" <168x@merr.com> Subject: Re: Tailwind-List: Center top dash panel Jim, never thought of the hinge idea, that would work slick. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: james wright To: tailwind-list@matronics.com Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 6:46 PM Subject: Tailwind-List: Center top dash panel Looking at Jim Clement pix. ,I used piano hinge on each side of top center dash for easy removal. I thought the worlds shortist screw driver would still be to long as you got close to the front? Pull two pins and you have access to the back of the instrument panel Jim Wright ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 06:51:43 PM PST US From: "john" Subject: Tailwind-List: Covering --> Tailwind-List message posted by: "john" Hey Eric; You havn't even started to have fun yet! Contrary to the Covering film from Stits, they don't make a iron hot or heavy enough to get all those wrinkles out. It is looking like the fat ladies fanny. Found acouple of king size sheets of dacron and there is enough material in one to do the bottom and the the tail feathers if you start out diagonal and put er on with poly-tac. When I get all those sheets on i'll have to look up some old used quilts at a yard sale to cover the inside, to give it that homey look. I may have to park it in a dark hanger, so as people who looking for a plane ride won't be able to get a good look at it till we return from the flight. Thats all from the farm today. Farmerjohn. Don't archive.