135 hp conversion

[ftcts]

I've heard of the "Alzworth Conversion" several times over the last few years, which supposedly allows you to put a 0-290 on a t-craft. Does anyone out there have any information on this and how I can get ahold of this STC? I looked through the FAA site (which never seems to show all of them anyway), and I looked through the Taylorcraft foundations STC listings. I can't find it.
Help.
Tom

[jgerard]

Re: 135 hp conversion

There is a guy in my neck of the woods for the next few weeks from AK that owns a bc12d with the 135hp. He just bought an L2M in CA and is having some work done localy before flying home. Upon his return to AK he said he will send me copies of all 37 approved mods he has on that airplane. I'll keep everyone up to date.

Jason
N43643

[ftcts]

Re: 135 hp conversion

Thanks Jason,
Today I drove through airport parking at PAFA and located a BC12 here in Fairbanks (Alaska) that has a 135 hp, extended baggage, seaplane glass doors, and fancy wing tips. I'm trying to get ahold of the owner, but having some difficulty. Could it be the same guy that is currently in your neck of the woods?
Tom

[jgerard]

Re: 135 hp conversion

posibly, his name is Richard (sory, no last name) is it blue and white?

Jason
N43643

[matsuthunder200]

Re: 135 hp conversion

tom. I do know that the alsworth conv. is held by mr alswoth and that there relatives live it port alsworth alaska. Ive been to port alsworth many times and it is truly a t-craft town you can only fly to port alsworth. I have found two phone no..John alsworth 907-781-2276 and Leon alswoth 907-781-2232 If you give them a call i think they woud know who to get ahold of.

[Carl Ellis]

Re: 135 hp conversion

I found this advertised at Trade-A-Plane. Sounds like a cheap O-290 to me. Too good to be true?

MO TAYLORCRAFT, 6FT SHORTENDED wing span, w/flaps, needs fabric work. Lycoming O290, 0 SMOH, no engine mount, $6K. Contact Tom (816) 550-7120.

[flylo]

Re: 135 hp conversion

It's already sold! I got all exited for nothing.Thats exactly the project I've been looking for,Eric

[ftcts]

Re: 135 hp conversion

I've called the numbers listed above, and others, but haven't connected yet. Although I think I'm getting closer by the day. More 135HP t-carts are coming out of the woodwork than I expected. So far, no one has come up with the actual STC or previous 337 to do it. This isn't the first time I've had to jump through flaming whoops for the FAA. I really need to start working in the experimental world.

I was actually flying with Leon Alsworth a couple years ago in his cub and I asked him about the 135 hp conversion on t-carts and he said that it was not as good as the 90 or 100 hp conversion, because it was too heavy. I can see that if you add all the electrics and extended baggage, etc. I currently have a project available to me that was put together very light. A friend of mine has a low-time O-290 lying around. I hope to add no more electrics and interior than is critical to stay around 800 lbs with the 135 hp installed. That should perform well. I do a lot of deep, soft snow landings in the winter. When the conditions are high friction from water mixed with the snow or from very deep snow, horsepower is the only way to get out without a comalong. Trust me.

I just need the make sure the paperwork to do the conversion actually exists (hopefully even read it) before I drop the $$ on the project.

[Carl Ellis]

Re: 135 hp conversion

If you want more horse power, I have a nice F-19 for sale.

[ftcts]

Re: 135 hp conversion

I made contact! Turns out the Alsworth conversion was a "one time" STC, not a multiple STC. From what I understand from the owner, this means that all the records associated with the STC are on file with the FAA, not with the owner. And the drawings and such are not as complete. He said that he has sold the rights to his STC several times over the years. Supposedly, the way it works is he writes a letter giving rights to a particular aircraft and application and that is submitted to the FAA in order to access the files from the "one time" STC.
There still may be other ways to do it, but I'm now on to the FAA to see if they will still do this in light of the current field approval environment.

[Peter Collin]

Re: 135 hp conversion

Carl.
Please tell me more about the F-19 that you have for sale.

Thanks
Peter

[Carl Ellis]

Re: 135 hp conversion

Peter -

I sent you a message through email. Let me know if you don't get it.

- Carl -

[mulwyk]

Re: 135 hp conversion

For what it's worth: I flew a J-3 in the 60's that had been converted to 135hp Lycoming for ag work. It had no cowl at all and a big lump of lead bolted to the tail for balance. That Cub (about the same weight as a Taylorcraft) was a real jaw dropper on takeoff. It would leave the ground even before the throttle was all the way ahead And you'd better keep your feet busy on the pedals.
But it acted nose heavy on landing. Did a nice wheel landing but would not three point, it would run out of elevator. I did try a power off stall in it at altitude. Just once. The nose dropped and STAYED down regardless of elevator input until I added power. At low altitude or with engine failure it could have been a bad situation.
I don't know if any of this applies to the Taylorcraft, but the T-Craft is a well designed, sweet flying plane with 65 hp. Proceed carefully, you wouldn't want to create a 135 hp monster.
Bob Gustafson

[Pinyon-nut]

Re: 135 hp conversion

This is a topic that really intrests me as I regularly fly my m-19 with c-85 here in the Colo rockies. At 895 lbs empty Some days I just can't get over that ridge called the continental divide. Busy saving my $ for the o200 crank and piston conversion.
My A&p has mentioned this o290 conversion to me a couple of times, but I've never been able to find out who had the stc before. Thanks.

Reguarding the last post, does anyone know what the weight of the o-290 is?

Ron

[matsuthunder200]

Re: 135 hp conversion

before i had my t-craft upgraded to the 90 hp cont. I flew 2 differnt t-crafts with the 0-290 upgrades one on floats and one on skes. I must say they were impressive but both owners said if they had to do it all over again they would of went with a 90 or 100hp cont, motors. The one on floats had a empty waight of 1000 lbs and he kept it as light as pos. The one on skes was 950. They both had two 6 gallon wing tanks in each wing. they burn about 8 gallons a hr. The stall speeds were higher and they both felt a little nose heavy. I thought about it for a couple of years finaly i wint with the 90 hp cont. If i had it to do over again i would still have my 90hp or mabe a 100. I have plenty of power on floats and skes . To me it was a trade off a little more power and faster with a 0-290 but more waight more fuel burn way less useful load higher stall speed way more money. Or.. light lots of power 5.5 gallons a hour. empy wt of 760 on skes. I did have the gross wt inc. to 1500 lbs so i have almost 800lb usefull load. As for deep snow i have never had any problems.