REFLECTOR: To cant or not to cant?

[Fred Anderka]

On a related topic.  If running a Continental IO-550 you will find that the engine mounted oil cooler will hit the engine mount either on start up or shut down.  Place a 1/8" large (2" diam.) washer under the two right engine mounts to raise the engine slightly.  

I don't know if there is a remote oil cooler mount available for this engine.  Probably would void the warrantee on a factory engine.  There is lots of room on the left side of the fire wall for both a Wolf remote oil filter mount and a potential oil cooler mount.  This would solve the oil spillage problem when changing filters on a hot engine due to the upside down orientation of the filter.  To avoid this problem let the engine drain down overnight, the oil filter is empty in the morning.  Which brings up another issue.  If the engine has not run for a while, the oil pump has to fill the filter before any oil gets to the bearings.  A good argument for a pre-oiler.

To avoid abrading the cowl from the underside, make sure to use flat head screws at the back end of the side covers.  There is almost zero clearance between the plenum and the cowling.  A more permanent fix would be to reduce the height of the plenum slightly during construction although that may not be that easy due to the intake runners on that engine.  When locating the nut plates for the side covers and the alternator air plenum be very aware of the location of the intake runners.  They are made of VERRY thin aluminum, also be sure to use short screws in those locations.  J&B Weld is great for fixing those abrasions/holes.

Fred Anderka
C-GHOL, XL-RG