From: CARLTONGHOLT@aol.com
Message-ID: <b3.145e29d.25eea79f@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 12:04:31 EST
Subject: Eagle 540 engine
To: 102077.3003@compuserve.com
CC: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 
>>
My golly it is heavy.  I'll bet it takes a chunk of tail ballast or a lot 
moved to the tail.  Eagle brochure says engine  697 "w heat exhcanger".  You 
say weight is 715 without the radiator, enormous belly pod, plumbing.  A 
minimum of 18 lb brochure error.  Continental spec detail spec sheet lists 
550 with one alternator at 597 so Eagle way over 150 lbs. heavier.  The 
Orenda nvil in the Tigress weighted about same as Eagle, needed a tail 
stretch of 2 ft, and sitll reportedly did not fly right.

You wrote that if you compare the Continental with a metal prop to the Eagle 
the difference is less.  Not true.  The Eagle uses a 5 blade MT that weighed 
98 lbs according to MT at Oshkosh.  So it is heavier than the metal prop for 
the Continental because it has to take more power.  It weighs far more than 
the 43 lb 3 blade MT for the Continenal.  The Ealge is then at least 175 lbs. 
heavier before you add the airconditioner, tail ballast - assuming metal prop 
vs metal prop.  Composite vs composite prop makes the Eagle a whopping 225 
lbs. heavier.  225 lbs heavier to gain 150 hp. + all of the drag of that huge 
belly pod, and the loss of 225 lbs of useful load is a terrible deal, 
especially for the +$100,000 asking price.

You wrote the Eagle was not an auto conversion but scratch built.  The 
Oshkosh display engine had a GM2500 intake manifold like my 454 pickup, a 
boat water pump on spacers, firebird ignition parts, every bolt pattern 
matched BB Chevy with all bearings sizes same.  A 540 is just a 502 chevy 
with a 1st overbore.

You wrote that you have been waiting on the engine for years to be delivered. 
 This worries me as none of my messages, mail, or emails were answered by the 
company.  Eagle appears to be operating from a closet with a mailbox and no 
real employees or ooperations.  No one in the Oshkosh booth had a clue about 
engines.

You wrote that the engine had only been run in a test cell without the 
gearbox and prop.  This is a huge concern as every autocon has had problems 
if they run a gearbox instead of direct drive.  Orenda was plagued with 
broken crands at less than 800 hrs. and dropped vlves at less after spending 
more money.  To make it worse the Eagle has a 2/1 ratio for 4500 rpm that is 
howling for a BBChevy to take continuous.  GM540 boats can't take more than 
400 hours of that before going boom.  

The Oshkosh display crew said the Eagle has no warranty, no guarantee, and 
idea of a TBO.  For that they want over $100,000.  I can buy two Continentals 
for that. Seems like a huge lack of faith by Eagle in their own product.

I guess the Eagle gearbox, auto conversion no test running with a prop, 
whopping weight, enormous belly pod, company in a closet, lack of warranty, 
and huge price factors just concern me to much.

Carlton


[I'm not going to comment on the weight issues, you seem to have pretty
well researched that yourself.  As for the company "operating out of a
closet", that's not quite true.  I visited the American Engine facility
in Ontario, CA, back in early January, saw Rick Van Grouw's engine on the
engine stand waiting to be shipped later that week.  The dyno run screen
captures that they showed me were done with the engine in the test cell,
but they were using a 4-blade MT hydraulic prop to soak up the power.  I
have never had any problem reaching either Darrell Buehl or Curt Longo, the
engineers behind the project.  Their website (http://www.americanengine.com/)
is operating, although the address and phones given there are strictly
sales numbers as far as I know.  If you want to talk with Darrell his
number at the factory is 909-947-1447.  This is neither an endorsement nor
a condemnation of the Eagle 540 project, just a few data points that I
can report from personal contact with the folks involved during my
recent visit.  FWIW...              <Marv>          ]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
Builders' Bookstore:   http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair

Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>