ARI cowling and IO-390 UPDATE

[bdjohn4]

So, I finally got the new, sandwhiced-version ARI cowling and also the Lycoming IO-390A3A6, along with the Hartzell scimitar prop (decided upon going back to a 2-blade this time). Also did the Lasar Oil-cooler relocation mod and the oilamatic preoiler mod. I also did the ARI landing light lens cover mod as well and the Lasar brake caliper reversal mod.  

 

Here are a few pics of the project (and a photo of the plane PRE-upgrade. Will post completed photos later). The ARI cowling mod went on in fewer hours than it calls for (i.e. far less than the 12 hours alotted), but we wanted to look good, so we spent some time prepping it for paint and went way past 12 hours. That said, if you don't care much about aesthetics it goes on in just a few hours with two people working.

 

The motor is hanging now but is definitely not a simple swap from the old IO-360A1A. We had to get a new bracket for the prop governor and the oilamatic pre-oiler installation takes up space over the pilot's feet (photos forthcoming) and requires some really expensive oil lines with unusual fitting angles (two TSO'd lines = $542) to work.

 

The oil-cooler relocation mod from Lasar was straight forward. The patch for the cowling fit well and is barely visible.

[rbridges]

this will be fun to watch.  keep us posted.  

[KSMooniac]

Please post some pics of the Oilamatic!  I'm planning to add that as well.

[Steve65E-NC]

Ari install looks much cleaner than others I have seen going back to the early 1990s.  I understand the interleave option, I put my Lasar closure on that way.  Much pretter than just riviting it on top. 

 

If my dog house would allow the Lasar Oil Cooler Relocate mod, I would add a taxi light or redundant landing light.

 

Tell us again what the advantage is to the 390 change.  Still looks like 200 hp but with new and amazing fit problems. Is the IO-360 not available with oiler??

[bdjohn4]

To be clear, the IO-390 has MINOR fit issues. Nothing to write home about. I wouldn't let that discourage anyone. The IO-390 was chosen because:

 

1) It was only a few grand more for what is basically a new engine (compared to overhauling my old IO-360A1A).  It has roller rockers, and came out in 2009, vs the IO-360A1A, which came out years before I was born.  Don't take the Lycoming Website price list at face value. My I/A got it waaaaay cheaper from them through a distributor.

 

2) I needed a new prop anyway, and the scimitar prop isn't any more costly than an old-style Hartzell Top Prop.   Someone on here said that all they did was change to the scimitar prop and got 5-6 knots improvement. As momma used to say: "We'll see......". Momma was always right though.

 

3) I needed a new governor anyway (390 uses a different one, that costs about the same, but, as we found, has a slightly different lever position that required fabrication of a new bracket to work with its little control arm).

 

4) Duh....More horsepower  (210 HP for 5min allowable, 200HP continuuous, so maybe It'll just raise my optimum cruise altitude. I don't know yet. Will give PIREP in a couple of weeks. Long- Xctry planned).

 

The Powerflow Exhaust I had on the 360 bolted right up and so all the other little nitnoy things (baffles, sensors, etc) have as well.

[bdjohn4]

Oilamatic's Preoiler STCs are "Aircraft-Type" specific, not engine specific.

[scottfromiowa]

Looks good. Looking forward to hearing about performance.

[OR75]

To be clear, the IO-390 has MINOR fit issues. Nothing to write home about. I wouldn't let that discourage anyone. The IO-390 was chosen because:

 

1) It was only a few grand more for what is basically a new engine (compared to overhauling my old IO-360A1A).  It has roller rockers, and came out in 2009, vs the IO-360A1A, which came out years before I was born.  Don't take the Lycoming Website price list at face value. My I/A got it waaaaay cheaper from them through a distributor.

 

2) I needed a new prop anyway, and the scimitar prop isn't any more costly than an old-style Hartzell Top Prop.   Someone on here said that all they did was change to the scimitar prop and got 5-6 knots improvement. As momma used to say: "We'll see......". Momma was always right though.

 

3) I needed a new governor anyway (390 uses a different one, that costs about the same, but, as we found, has a slightly different lever position that required fabrication of a new bracket to work with its little control arm).

 

4) Duh....More horsepower  (210 HP for 5min allowable, 200HP continuuous, so maybe It'll just raise my optimum cruise altitude. I don't know yet. Will give PIREP in a couple of weeks. Long- Xctry planned).

 

The Powerflow Exhaust I had on the 360 bolted right up and so all the other little nitnoy things (baffles, sensors, etc) have as well.

Can you clarify the following:

Can any IA install the IO-390 ? My understanding is that in order to get the engine installed you need the STC and the install can only be done at a Lycoming Authorized Service Center .

[jetdriven]

The io-390 has a roller cam and lifters, which is what all lycomings have except the o-235. You get more horsepower above the 27.2" of Mp which the max continuous MP, which is between 1-7 HP at altitude.

I went for a formation flight with an IO-390 RV-8 of a good friend of mine. After 10 minutes of photos at 120 knot I asked his fuel flow. "8.5" was his reply. I checked ours, 7.5. And two extra seats.

[bdjohn4]

We'll give plenty of PIREPs once the installation is complete.

[bdjohn4]

"Cripes Al Mooney" had her first test flight yesterday post IO-390A3A6/Hartzell-scimitar/ARIcowling/Oil-coolerRelocation/BrakeCaliperReversal/OilamaticPreOiler upgrades.  In a nutshell, this motor is putting out a lot more power than my old run-out IO-360A1A. Can't say any more than that now. Need to break in the motor and see how cooling is, etc. 

 

A few hiccups (hooked up the prop governor backwards and didn't realize until in the middle of run-up and something "felt off"..... "Hmmmm..... why does the prop check seem different?.... Son-of-a !" .  That took a couple of hours to unbolt the six little 4mm x 20mm screws holding on the end cap on the governor, rotate 180 degrees then hook up and safety wire. My I/A face-palmed.  

 

Yes, Cripes now has "metric scum" parts on her (just the governor).  

 

The 2-blade seems a lot smoother than the 3-blade was (even though I had the 3-blade meticulously balanced).  

 

Attached are a few photos. More to come.

John

[DaV8or]

Now that you have a bigger motor, a better prop and a slicker cowl, do you think you will be racking up even more German kills?

[bdjohn4]

Yes.

[bdjohn4]

I am based out of Greensboro NC. A little known fact, even to those from here, is that WW2's leading P-51 Mustang Ace, George Preddy, was a Greensboro native. His plane was "Cripes a' mighty".  I think Kermit Weeks has a "Cripes a' mighty" themed P-51D down in Florida.

I thought "Al Mooney" sounds a lot like "a'mighty", so I went with a stylized version of Preddy's P-51B paint scheme last October. There actually should be something like 12 German crosses but I neglected to specify with the painter so there are eight I believe.

 

The result is an omage to both Al Mooney and hometown hero George Preddy.

 

I am reading the book (see photo attached) about Preddy right now, little by little, and am happy to read Preddy talking about learning to fly near Greensboro, all the local landmarks that I fly past frequently, etc. A little nostalgia never hurt nobody.

John

[rbridges]

I am based out of Greensboro NC. A little known fact, even to those from here, is that WW2's leading P-51 Mustang Ace, George Preddy, was a Greensboro native. His plane was "Cripes a' mighty".  I think Kermit Weeks has a "Cripes a' mighty" themed P-51D down in Florida.

I thought "Al Mooney" sounds a lot like "a'mighty", so I went with a stylized version of Preddy's P-51B paint scheme last October. There actually should be something like 12 German crosses but I neglected to specify with the painter so there are eight I believe.

 

The result is an omage to both Al Mooney and hometown hero George Preddy.

 

I am reading the book (see photo attached) about Preddy right now, little by little, and am happy to read Preddy talking about learning to fly near Greensboro, all the local landmarks that I fly past frequently, etc. A little nostalgia never hurt nobody.

John

 

 

thanks for the backstory.  I was wondering where you got your plane's name.

[OR75]

Looks good. 

 

Still wondering if you had to go through Lycoming Service Center to get the STC for the IO-390 install..

[MB65E]

I was never a fan of the "look a like fighters" But yours is the best example of how to do it right!!

The little play on words is great! Enjoy flying it! It looks like a rewarding airplane! Guess it helps that we are all partial to Mooneys.

Well done!

-Matt

[dlmorris]

N231CW owner checking in on the forum. John, give me a ring to catch up on the plane 210-535-5402, Dave

[Bob_Belville]

John, that's a  '69 M20E. Great looking! 

 

My '66 has about all the same mods, cowl, prop, PFS, o. cooler move, brakes, etc., but with a IO360A1A. I'll be interested in your performance numbers. My 70% ROP cruise is about 158k.

 

In '69 I suppose you have an electric gear?