If you were building it again...

[Dennis]

Folks,
 I'm new here, but a long time fan of the A/C. I'm finally ready to start building. (I've had plans for longer than I'll admit) Heres the question. O-320 or O-235? I'd like the power but not at the expense of range. I want the range, but not if I need to fly from a 12,000 foot strip. I don't plan of lots of "gadgets". Just basics. I've been flying a pals O-235 version lately, and love it. Just how much extra weight are we talking about with the bigger engine? (assume no vac sys, B+C starter and alt, you know....LIGHT) Lay your corporate wisdom on me...
Thanks
Dennis

[Drew]

Once you try the O320, you will never want to go back.

[EZRider]

I am still building, but was convinced after talking to a lot of Longez drivers that the 0320 was the way to go.  I sold my o-235 and installed a 0-320.  You can see my install at www.longez209.com

[longezo320]

For a new EZ-repeat after me six times-  :lol: "I will install an O-320."  You will not regret it.  Just build it safe, light and straight.

[Snappy]

Be SURE that your O235 engine mount has been re-worked with gussets to provide the extra strength you will need for the additional Hp/torque.  Mine wasn't and the top extrusion seperated on takeoff.

Luckily I felt 'something' and landed.  I had it gusseted and welded by a real pro, so now after 100hrs we're still ok.  I check the mount carefully every time the cowling is off though.

Good luck and do the O320.  Have you ever flown an aircraft with too much power?

[Dennis]

Good luck and do the O320.  Have you ever flown an aircraft with too much power?[/quote]


This is a trick question....right? <BG>
 Thanks Amigo.  
Dennis
Louisville,KY

[Drew]

Dave Ronneburg reworked my O235 engine mount for me.  All he did was add another "arm" to the upper biscuits.  Gussets were not used----no other welding was done.  I did replace the upper extrusions----increased the vertical web to 1.5 inches----same thickness.  I had no problem with the mount.

[Jack]

Good luck and do the O320.  Have you ever flown an aircraft with too much power?

More power is always good.  I always loved having a light weight bird after burning off lots of gas and putting the pedal to the metal.  

O man a slick wing A-4 on a cold day and not much fuel is a nice lil rocket. Even a Herc with 20,000 lbs of fuel, no payload, and on a cold day is pretty damn fun to takeoff with.

Now a freaking Long with a full bag, taking off from West Texas on a hot day with an O-235 mouse motor isn't real fun and headed towards the Rockies.

Cheers;

Jack

[NWade]

As a non-builder and only a beginner pilot, I've often wondered what the engine changes do to the takeoff roll / distance (if any).

I mean, on the one hand you're adding more power, so you should be able to generate more thrust (depending on prop choice, of course) - but on the other hand you're adding some more weight to the plane.

Anyone with direct experience care to make a comparison?

Thanks,

--Noel
P.S. Do people mostly hang O-320's on Long-EZs and stick with the O-200/O-235 on the VariEze?  Seems like an O-320 would be kinda hefty for a VariEze (but then, most of my experience is in automotive/racing engines).

[Jack]

As a non-builder and only a beginner pilot, I've often wondered what the engine changes do to the takeoff roll / distance (if any).

I mean, on the one hand you're adding more power, so you should be able to generate more thrust (depending on prop choice, of course) - but on the other hand you're adding some more weight to the plane.

Anyone with direct experience care to make a comparison?

.

On my old Quickie I swapped out the 18 odd HP Onan engine for a 44HP Rotax and my take off roll and climb were super.  Never did get the exhaust right for a proper check. Fun was stabbing in left rudder on the roll to.

Planes are like race cars tis HP to weight ratios that work. Main difference would be in the prop area.  The compromise between a climb or cruise prop makes a helluva of a difference.  

Trying to think of the increase in thrust between A-4s, think the final model was pushing 12,000 odd pounds compared to early models of 8,000 odd pounds. Big difference in performance and takeoff roll.  You could push right through the 250KIAS limit in a heartbeat. :twisted:

Another major problem in glass birds, folks tend to build them far heavier than what the plans call for.

Cheers;

Jack

[Drew]

I did the conversion from 0235 to O320.  You get off the ground much faster and climb much faster.  You also gain lots of knots (about 25ish or so)---but not as much as you think (drag reduction can score much more points than HP additions).

Adding a bigger engine does add wt----and is not necessarily the culprit in Longez performance reduction due to wt addition.  You have a lot of sources of wt addition----starter, alternator, IFR inst panel with all the bells and whistles, poor workmanship and so on.  You also have performance reduction in being a heavy pilot, carrying a passenger, and carrying lots of fuel.

My Longez had two personalities-----nimble fighter (alone with a light fuel load) and a truck (carrying a passenger with lots of gas).  The heavier weight is being noticed the most in the roll inertia.

The O320 was the best upgrade I did.

[allen]

Has anybody combined the IVO prop with the 320 in a long. Seems like a great way to max out the performance of these planes. Thoughts...

http://www.ivoprop.com/

[Dennis]

Understood,
But if I wanted to rock and roll I would get an RV. I have flown a heavy 0-235 on a hot day. It's the same as a maxed out 747 out of Hong Kong. (done both) Or a 65 hp Champ with two butts and a full bag during the summer. Long take off rolls and slow climbs until you get the speed up. Two different missions, two different animals. When flying the RV, I didn't need to do much planning. Power and performance were good.  I don't think it could fly as far as a Long ez though. I'm interested in the Longez for how far it can go, comfortably,  on as little fuel as possible.  BTW, the 0-235 with one guy and twelve gallons did pretty well for itself.
   Thanks for the input.
Dennis

O man a slick wing A-4 on a cold day and not much fuel is a nice lil rocket. Even a Herc with 20,000 lbs of fuel, no payload, and on a cold day is pretty damn fun to takeoff with.

Now a freaking Long with a full bag, taking off from West Texas on a hot day with an O-235 mouse motor isn't real fun and headed towards the Rockies.

Cheers;

Jack[/quote]

[Waiter]

I had an IVO on my 320 several years ago. Working closely with Mr Ivo, we had problems with keeping the blades clamped.

I understand that Ivo does not recommend this propellor for use with O-320s (or higher) in a pusher configuration.

Waiter