Opinions on Turbonormalized M20J/Lycoming

[CoffeeCan]

Since my 231 was written off last December, I’ve been working with Jimmy at GMax to find a new turbo Mooney.  So far we have had three M20K deals fall through due to engine problems in each prospect.  NowI have an option to offer on a  M20J with Lycoming IO-360 that has had an aftermarket turbo with inter cooler and Merlyn installed.  

I am very familiar with the Continental IO-360 in the 231 and 252 configs (more than 400 hours in them). I made the decision to stay with the 231/252 series because of my familiarity… better to dance with the devil you know than the devil you don’t, if you will. I am told that the Lycoming is less likely to have a catastrophic failure such as the one I had last September that forced me to land in a Colorado pasture. 
 

So. The M20J looks good on paper, but I have zero knowledge of the history of engine mods of this type. Any input from the folks here on Mooneyspace would be appreciated. 

[LANCECASPER]

34 minutes ago, CoffeeCan said:

NowI have an option to offer on a  M20J with Lycoming IO-360 that has had an aftermarket turbo with inter cooler and Merlyn installed.  

I am very familiar with the Continental IO-360 in the 231 and 252 configs (more than 400 hours in them). I made the decision to stay with the 231/252 series because of my familiarity… better to dance with the devil you know than the devil you don’t, if you will. I am told that the Lycoming is less likely to have a catastrophic failure such as the one I had last September that forced me to land in a Colorado pasture. 
 

So. The M20J looks good on paper, but I have zero knowledge of the history of engine mods of this type. Any input from the folks here on Mooneyspace would be appreciated. 

One thing for sure is that the M20J doesn't have a Merlyn wastegate installed. That's only an STC for the Continental TSIO-360 engine. (https://www.merlynproducts.com/blackmagic.html)

What you want to find out is what aftermarket turbo is on the M20J and if it's still supported. 

[KLRDMD]

19 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

One thing for sure is that the M20J doesn't have a Merlyn wastegate installed. That's only an STC for the Continental TSIO-360 engine. (https://www.merlynproducts.com/blackmagic.html)

What you want to find out is what aftermarket turbo is on the M20J and if it's still supported. 

It is the M20 turbo which has an intercooler but a fixed waste gate. By all accounts it is a good system and I wouldn't hesitate to have one. This one also has TKS so it is a very interesting airplane.

[N201MKTurbo]

19 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

One thing for sure is that the M20J doesn't have a Merlyn wastegate installed. That's only an STC for the Continental TSIO-360 engine. (https://www.merlynproducts.com/blackmagic.html)

What you want to find out is what aftermarket turbo is on the M20J and if it's still supported. 

It could be done. The M20Turbos STC, which I have, uses the same fixed waste gate as the early 231s. The Merlyn  will screw right in. Hooking up the sense lines wouldn't be that hard. I can see it being done on a 337. 

But I've never heard of that being done. It has me interested now.

[KSMooniac]

I tried to buy the M20 Turbos STC many years ago, but the deal fell apart at the last minute. I believe it is completely orphaned now, but that doesn't mean the plane is unsupportable.

The turbo, waste gate, check valves, etc are all off-the-shelf components. Exhaust, brackets, etc could potentially be repaired by a good aerospace welder if needed. The intercooler is custom, but could probably be replaced with some effort.

I think the system has an efficiency advantage over the K since it retains high compression pistons. I still want to put the system on my J, in fact. However, the K will likely be more supportable due to production quantity and easier to sell down the road as a factory standard model. That might not matter to you.

I too am curious about the Merlyn and would like to know if there was a field approval as I would like to eventually do that as well.

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

[Beard]

I have a 1984 M20J with the Turbo Bullet conversion. The turbo was installed on the Lycoming IO-360.Apparently, due to some accidents it was determined that the turbo was producing more than 200 horsepower and breaking the crankshaft, so an AD was issued that placarded it down to 33" of MP. I can still get 38.5" if I go WOT, but I keep it consistently at 33" or below. The parts are still available for it and about a year ago I purchased a rebuilt Rayjay turbo and a new release valve. The exhaust also had a crack once that was easily welded.

 

So, while the STC conversion started as a full turbo, it has be reduced on paper to a turbonormalizer, even though I can still get the full boost at WOT.

[1980Mooney]

FYI