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From: "Gary Edwards" <gary21sn@hotmail.com>
Scott R.
>>I am also looking at constructing an engine plenum for my O-290.
Initially I was going to do it in aluminum, but am now looking
at doing it in carbon or E-glass across the top with std
aluminum baffle plates around the bottoms and sides.
- Is one epoxy system (E-Z-Poxy vs Jeffco) better/worse for
the higher operating temps of the engine compartment?
- What's the collective wisdom on using carbon fiber vs std
E-glass for an engine plenum?<<
N21SN has a plenum which I built. It is constructed of 4 layers of E-glass using Jeffco. There are 2 glassed-over, 2 inch wide,
1/8 inch thick foam stiffeners, side to side, in the center, one over each bank of cylinders, on the underside of the plenum.
The EGT's run somewhat on the warm side of normal. Daytime afternoon temperatures here in the summer are in the 90's with several
weeks in July or August in the 100's. So after summer morning flights, cowl temperatures in the hanger are high (unscientific
cylinder fin finger touch-test). I open the oil-check access door after each flight.
After 140 hours, there is no indication of sagging or material failure.
Info on this plenum was presented in Issue 48 of Lancair Network News, as well as a picture of it in Volume 15, Issue 2 (3rd Qtr.
00) of Lancair Mail Newsletter.
And, since I am the only Lancair on the MFR field, and all my friends here are RV (RV gridlock here) and Glasair flyers, I get a lot
of friendly "hanger chat". So, in my own quiet way, only when the top cowl is removed, there is a response for my friends on top of
the plenum. An airbrushed picture of N21SN above having shot down the planes below. Thus far, the picture has been well received
with most finding it entertaining.
Attached are two pictures of the plenum.
Gary Edwards
LNC2 N21SN
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