REFLECTOR: Engine builder advice needed

[Geoff Gerhardt]

Guys,

I'll try to learn more from ECI today.  They do know its for an
experimental, but I think once the parts come in, they get broadly
distributed thruout their plant, and the guy who handled the cam may not
have known this, so I'll check.

Being an LIO-360 cam, I'm gathering that used/serviceable ones are not as
available, but I'll do some more scouting around to see if I can find
something.

My rebuild was going very nicely and I was looking fwd to getting all the
shiny new and refurb'd parts back.  To be honest, the cost of this rebuild
had surprised me so far.  Local A&P's warned me that even if I did all the
labor it would be $10-15K.  Right now, all in I suspect it'll be ~$7.5K
(unless I have to shell out $3.6K for a new cam).  Rough cost break down:
$3.2K - cylinder rebuilds, $1.5K inspect/recon crank, cases, rods, $2K
consumables (i.e. gasket kit, rod bolts, all new hardware, piston pins,
spark plugs...), $600 fuel controller/distributor rebuild, $250 EI unit
checkout/rebuild.

A new cam would put it up over $10K, unfortunately.

Thanks.

Geoff

On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 9:11 AM, Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net> wrote:

>  Geoff,
>
>     As John said, more options may be available if ECI knows your are
> experimental.
>
>     I would certainly call around and search the Internet for a lower
> priced new or yellow tagged cam.  Aircraft Specialties might have a used
> cam?
>
>
> Scott
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Engine builder advice needed
> From: Geoff Gerhardt <geoff.gerhardt at gmail.com> <geoff.gerhardt at gmail.com>
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org><reflector at tvbf.org>
> Date: 05/09/2012 06:11 PM
>
> Hi all,
>
>  So, I'm rebuilding my LIO-360.  All the inner bits (case, crank, cam,
> rods et cetera) were sent to ECI for inspection/rebuild.  I got a call
> today that they're just about ready to ship everything back but said my cam
> was rejected for excessive wear on two lobes that could not be polished
> out.  There was no pitting on the cam or unusual wear marks (my observation
> before sending it).  Because this is a "LIO" engine, cams are not very
> popular.  After a cursory phone around, it looks like a new $3600 cam from
> Lycoming might be my only option.
>
>  I've got to call ECI back tomorrow and check on this more, tho.  I don't
> understand why they can't regrind it - is that not something that's done on
> aircraft cams?  I see that there are companies (Aircraft Specialty
> Services) that offer grinding for experimentals - I'm wondering if that
> might be an option.  I've seen cams a lot worse than the one out be
> reground (these were for Porsche engines, tho).  Is there an issue about
> grinding/rehardening a Lycoming cam?
>
>  Thanks.
>
>  Geoff
>
>
>
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