Air-Cooled Light Plane Engine in a Hot Rod?

A pilot friend and I were bench racing the other day and I noted how similar the flat four used in something like a Piper Cub was to a Corvair or Volkswagen engine. I also remember seeing an old photo of an air-cooled Lycoming (?) inline engine in a ‘32 Ford at the drags.

I suggested that something like a Cessna 150 engine in a Model A highboy would be an interesting and different car to drive.

But my friend thought that without the constant air movement over the cylinders provided during flight that a light-plane engine would overheat on the street. But ‘Vairs and Volkswagens don’t, so what’s the difference? Has anyone done it? My friend said that old aircraft engines were rather inexpensive because a lot of them cannot be legally reused after so many rebuilds.

-Dave

 

Corvairs,VW and other air cooled car engines have engine driven fans to cool them.Most aircraft engines don't.Aircraft engine don't rev high,they are designed for constant speed running at lower rpm's compared to most car engines.

 

In the '70s I put a 4 cylinder Lycoming in a '65 Corvair. it was almost a bolt in.

 

If you could keep it cool, it might be a fun package. Typically the power-weight ratio is very good on airplane engines....

 

They put air cooled radial aircraft engines in Sherman tanks in WW2. 9 cyl 400 hp

 

The Tucker was powered by an engine that had been developed for Bell Helicopter and was converted to liquid coolant to enhance public acceptance.

 

How much "horsepressure" ?? What would make it any better than anything else ?....

 

The first 2 pidtures are a tank engine made up of 5 Chrysler flathead 6's. 30 cylinders!
How's ya like ta change plugs on that baby

 

They used to put hot rod engines in airplanes, so why not?

An aircraft museum near me has a hopped up B with a Weiand head and a magneto that was used in an old plane. They didn't want to sell it so I could put it in a car.

 

The Cessna 150 engine is 200 cu. in. and all of 100 HP. Plus they only turn 2700 rpm.

Most aircraft engines have no provisions for a bell housing or such. It could be done but why?

Add to that the intake and carb hangs off the bottom of the engine, not very practical in a car.

 

How about pulling a 180 and putting a vintage water cooled automotive engine into an airplane!
http://www.antiqueairfield.com/images/pietenpol_walt_bowe/pietenpol_walt_bowe_in_flight1.jpg

(Model A banger mounted backwards btw)

 

have you checked into the price of any small Lycoming or Continental engines?

 

There was someone putting BB aluminum Chevy's in planes at one time. Don't remember much about it.

 

the PW - R4360 has 56 plugs !

 

Would you like ****er on that corn cob?

 

One of the arrow sport line came with a flathead v8 from the factory

 

get a load of that 2bbl holley at the top rear of the engine , about 3 feet by 2 feet

 

you might also check out the Jot Horne Airoadster '27 T on 32 rails that ran early drags in the '50's and at bonneville. Horne was an employee at Bell auto parts and developed many of the Cragar intake manifolds, some marketed under the Horne brand name. The Airoadster later sprouted a track style nose that accomodated a front mounted GMC 6-71 blower. see Don Montgomery's Hot Rods As They Were and the American Hot Rod by Dean Batchelor for history on the Airoadster

 

Franklin cars also used air-cooled inlines in the 20`s

 

I don't see why you couldn't. Jury rig a fan system and change the cam, you could pull it out and have it ground for better Hot Rod RPM. I think it would be coooool. --TV

 

Air-cooled aircraft engines are not suited to the sort of rpm ranges and or quick-revving situations that automotive engines typically operate in. Additionally, as has already been mentioned, you would have to engineer sufficient metal shrouding and ducting to ensure cooling as to render the result unattractive. Keep in mind that small single-engine aircraft don't weigh much, they do not have the same problem overcoming inertia as an automobile and last, but not least - they're REALLY REALLY expensive.

As to installing automotive engines in cars - it's done all the time. Weight and balance are a major consideration in aircraft design, operating parameters and operation. You can put a Chev V8 in an airframe if you like, but without a corresponding/offsetting weight on the other side of the CG (center of gravity) you very likely will not be able to control the plane.

Attached to this short note is a picture of a RV6 homebuilt that belongs to an acquaintance - it has a Buick V6 in it, and uses a patented (BELTED POWER®) reduction setup to run the three-bladed prop at a more suitable RPM. The picture is somewhat blocked by myself, and I apologize for that. Somewhere out at that same airport (VGT), there is a gentleman with a 350 sbc in a homebuilt, the name of which escapes at 'press time'.

dj

 

very cost prohibited...aircraft engines are costly..even a **** for nothing core could set you back way too much to even bother with all that would need to be done to it to use it effectively..

true that most small aircraft 4 cyl. lycomings and continentals turn around the upper 2000 RPM range..but take the 76" prop. off the front of it..it will scream.

the largest 172 engine was a 6 cly.continental 195 HP..after that..you would have to move up to the cessna 182 to get over 225 or more HP.

currently the SP model of cessna has a 180HP lycoming..

 

Interesting thought, very bad plan.

 

You could try a turbine engine but you would incenerate everthing behind you Fired Ricers for eveyrone

 

Guys around here use Subaru engines in their home-built planes.

Bob

 

A long time ago in a galacy far awy I saw more than one airplane powered by V8 60's

 

Funk airplanes, made in Akron Ohio had a model B ford engine inverted in them.

 

Ralph Watson's Lycoming Special.

http://ralphwatson.scienceontheweb.net/lycoming.html

In this pic with Jimmy Clark behind the wheel.



And this Ranger powered T.

 

The Nickelson Tool & Die Dragster with Lycoming power.