Chapter 23 Engine Installation - The hunt for another new engine

Nichole @ Catto advised if the replacement engine is within 10% horsepower, my prop should still work.  The challenge now is to find an engine that is honestly within that rating.

One build quote has arrived so far from Aero Sport Power.  The ECI engine price has gone up about $4K.   Superior has provided an offer and contract to return my engine minus the SDS system, alternators, cold air sump.  They've added an allowance for labor, freight etc.

One of the closest engines in performance is the Titan/ECI/Continental Motors IO-370.  Aero Sport Power calls this engine their XP-375 just to help differentiate it from Titan's build.   Another builder of Superior Engines (and others) is Barrett Precision Engines.

It seems that Superior has the edge on standing behind their products.  Recent fliers of the Titan engine on the Vans forum have posted 400-500 hours with no trouble so far.  Some are skeptical of the claimed horsepower and think it might be around 190 but there weren't details of fuel, intake or ignition systems they were running posted.   The cold air sump should help bump it up a bit.

Sales tax will be a factor, so the out of state builders will have an edge.  If they're close enough, I can haul the engine to save freight.

If I stay with a Superior XP engine, the XP-360 is the logical choice, but I'll probably need a different prop for short field take off performance.

I was eyeballing some of the baffle drawings posted on the Cozy Builders site and am thinking XP-382 case must be a little different.  I'm told the XP-382 cylinders are .100" longer as well, so I'd probably better put making baffles on hold until I have the replacement engine selected and on hand.

Meanwhile, there's plenty of other work to be done.