Long Eze needs a new engine

[toelaer]

I fly long eze N51975.  I put in an 0-320 almost 30 years ago and it is time for a new engine.
Question #1.  The 1x1.5  engine mount extrusions were limited by RAF on the plans or CPs
to about 240 pounds of vibrating weight.  My 0-320 exceeds that even stripped down.  There was a
mod to use 4130 square tube in place of the extrusion.  After all this time what is the
consensus on what is the safe way to hang a heavy engine?
Question # 2.  I like the brand new ECI  IO-340 or the Mattituck  TMX  0-320 or 0-360.  From what
 I have seen on the web  these fuel injected engines  would not fit in the long eze lower
cowling because of the different sump and intake tubes.  Am I right?
Question #3.  What are long eze drivers using for new lycoming or  clones?

[Marc Oppelt]

I had some .125" 4130 bent into angle at a fab shop. That might be one idea.

Pics are here at the bottom of the page: https://sites.google.com/site/garagerocket/engine-and-mount

[toelaer]

Thanks Marc.  I am very impressed witn the strength you designed in to your mount.  I am curious why the bottom 4130 weldment looks like it covers more surface area of the spar than the top weldment.  Because I was more worried about a failure of the top mount on my aircarft, since the bottom was loaded in compression and might allow me to make an emergency landing with a broken bottom mount.  What kind of (I MEAN HOW MUCH)WOOD did you put in the spar to pick up the loads from the weldment?

[Joe Person]

Wood is not in the structure to pick up any primary loads per-se  It helps provide a bit of a hardpoint for clamp-up and such, and helps facilitate/stabilize the point-load dump from the bolt into the glass.  The more correct approach is "how much additional glass structure was added, and what was the layup schedule used to ensure satisfactory load distribution into the rest of the airframe?" 

Careful with eyeball engineering when dealing with composite primary structures - it will likely lead to undesired and even unfortunate results.

[Marc Oppelt]

The spar piece you see is just a wooden form used for mockup...not a real spar.  I cut .150 thick shims to simulate the 10-bid layup that connects the spar to the longerons, then made the mounts to fit.  When I make the real spar, I'll make the wood core (I'll use oak)  hard points larger as needed to accommodate the mounts.  

The top mounts extend farther FWD up the longerons than the lowers do, and even though they don't occupy quite as much surface area on the spar as the lowers do, they're still alot stouter, have more bearing surface and distribute the load better than the plans aluminum angles.  Certainly alot stronger than what they are hooked into.  I'll end up with more than 10-bid for the connection layup, and I'll probably run the first few layers further FWD on the longeron and inside skin to help distribute the load into the airframe.

[toelaer]

This for Joe Person.  I agree 100% and as I get older I am less willing to take chances which is why I want a lyc or clone engine and a safe way to make sure it stays on the airframe as I plan to fly to the Philippines in the Long. 
1.  Does your Vari Eze use the 1x1 inch aluminum extrusion?
2.  I have not seen the Cozy plans.  How does the Cozy attach the engine mount to the firewall?
TIA, John T

[Rick Hall]

...
2.  I have not seen the Cozy plans.  How does the Cozy attach the engine mount to the firewall?

The Cozy IV engine mount is flat on the firewall on four pads. The firewall has AL hardpoints for the engine mount bolt shanks, and fiberglass wraps sandwiching these hardpoints forward onto the longerons (upper and lower), as well as into the landing gear bulkhead structure.

There is no machined extrusion, as I understand the Long and VE use.

Rick