From: Don Karich [mailto:donkarich@gmail.com]
Subject: Re: [LML] LNC2 Legacy Performance questions
I wouldn't trust any Continental engines done by preformance. Lycon not much better. Just my opinion
Ouch – that’s harsh to say the least and on the whole unwarranted.
From personal experience I believe that Performance has customer service issues that warrant their not being in business. That is because of personality and operational integrity and is reason enough not to place a new order with them. However for years they made engines that performed well in a race environment and they occasionally actually delivered equal quality engines to us peons.
My TSIO550 has 300 hrs on it (with 1 mag and 1 Light Speed EI) and is running fine. I did have one exhaust valve seat failure at 200 hrs but that seems to have been a fluke and probably caused by the cylinder manufacturer, not Performance. When I explained the problem Performance took the cylinder back, repaired it, and returned it to me at no-charge. (And no I cannot explain the deviation from their normal technique of ignoring customers and their problems.)
If I were shopping for a new Lancair I would not discount a plane because it was pulled by a Performance engine. I certainly would have it inspected carefully but if it checked out I would buy it.
Robert M. Simon,
ES-P N301ES