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engine upgrade to 0-320
I just pruchased another Taylorcraft, an F-21, serial number 002, with the 0-235 engine. I will be putting this on skies this winter, and really need a-lot of performance to get out of some of the soft-deep snow we sometimes land in. I found a 0 SMOH 0-320 E2A lycoming and am wondering if anyone has ever done this engine upgrade, or if there is an STC for it. I have checked, and the engine dimensions are almost identical, and the 150 hp is only 20 lbs heavier. Any comments appreciated. Cropduster
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
Why not just use bigger ski's?Originally posted by cropduster View Post
I am not an expert though. I did used to snowboard and a longer board made a big difference in the powder. Same thing with snow ski's, wider made a better platform for deep snow.
How about a laminated board (Plywood) attached to the bottom of the ski with 4 to 6 bolts. Could then be attached when needed.
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I have 2 different sets of skies. One set is your typical 8" wide with teflon bottoms. The other set are called snowshoe skies and are 14" wide. I have had both of these sets on various airplanes I have owned. The PA 22/20 and the M-4 Maule both sank up the the belly in deep snow conditions, not fun. The citabria was a little bit better, but still, I can see where there is no replacement for big HP.Comment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I guess i am a little lost? if its up to your belly wont the prop be digging thru the snow? and would that not be a prop strike?? I own a F-21 s/n 18 its on wheels and @ gross 1500lbs it will get off in about 300ft at 90 deg DA of 1500 ft and climb 900FPM not sure how much better 30 more HP would do.I have never done the ski thing so you know lots more than me on that.Comment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
We are white, with a solid cover of snow right now, but now quite enough to cover all the rocks and frozen dirt clumps in the fields yet, so I haven't had a chance to get this one on skies yet to see how it performs. Maybe i'm jumping the gun on more HP, and it will amaze me. As far as a prop strike in soft snow, it is kind of like water abrasion on a seaplane prop. It probably is't good for the prop, but it doesn't immediately hurt it any.Comment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
Please keep this post going I think I would also like to add 0320 power to my 83 F21A some of the reasons: more power, burn auto fuel, cheeper overhaul cost, slight gain in speed, shorter gross wieght take offs.
I may be way off base but would like anyones opinion that has flown one with 150 hp. Thanks, MikeComment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
Mike, I agree with you on the engine. It is not only a cheaper engine to overhaul, but I think it is a better engine all around. I owned a 1960 PA 22/20 for 6 years with the 0-320 in it and loved it. I also owned a 7-ECA Citabria for 3 years with the 0-235, and never had any maintance problems, but it didn't perform anything like the 150 HP. I also bought a set of baumann floats last week to put on my F-21 next summer, and could use the extra HP there also. CropdusterComment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I am not sure what the F-21 uses for a engine (model), but that E2A mat not bolt up to your mount and that would make for a bigger project. If it bolts up, that would be a lot easier to make the change. The 150 HP would be a big improvement. One time I landed on a packed runway and taxied off into the deep snow and went right up to the doors and could hardly open them. Took forever to get back up on the runway.Wolf Lake Aircraft ServicesComment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I know that both the 0235 and the 0320 i'm looking at have the dynafocal mount, but i'm not sure if it would bolt up either. If anyone out there has better knowledge on these engines we would like your expertise. cropdusterComment
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Can anyone tell me the difference between the 21A and 21B models other than flaps and the battery being on the firewall of the 21B? The model 22 has 180 hp engine, other then it being a nose dragger does anyone know if the tubing is the same size and how about the bolts that hold the mount to the airframe are they the same as the 0235? Somebody pipe in here!!!
MikeComment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I know the feeling of the deep snow. I have the 85 HP in my BC12D and skis with 12" teflon bottoms and I have sunk up to the doors. Then it is get out tramp a path and try to get off. And yes the prop does throw up some snow but I know the fields and there is no danger of a prop strike. A little extra HP would be nice at a time like that.Comment
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I went to the Lycoming web site and the dimensions of the two engines are within a 1/2 inch to an 1 inch at the most on both height and length.The width of the 0235 is 32" the height is 2.4" and the length 29.05" to 29.56". The width of the 0320 is 32.24" the height is 22.99" and the length 29.05" to 30.70". The weight of the 0235 is about 250 lbs. and the 0320 is 268-278 lbs.
The F-21 uses the 0-235 L model engine which has a dynafocal mount and many of the 0-320 engines also have the dynafocal mount, such as the D,E, and H designations. Although I think the E would be the best because of the 7:00 to 1 compression ratio, allowing you use automotive fuel. This is the engine that was most commonly found in the early 1960's Cherokee 140's. As you can see I have researched this a little.
cropduster
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I am suprised to see how many comments there are from guys and their airplanes in deep snow. I first reliezed how much power it took to move an airplane on snow 32 years ago when I purchased a snowplane with a 65 hp contiental on it. I bought it from our mailman, and he used to use it to deliver our mail in the winter when the snow got too deep. Now for those who don't know what a snowplane is, it is basicilly an airboat on skies but with an enclosed cockpit. Most had a canopy that slid like on a grumann. There were a lot of these in ND and Minn back in the 60's and 70's. Anyway, the 65 hp was not near enough power to move that thing some days. Our snow conditions can be sooo variable ,due to moisture level in the snow and temperatute. One day you can get a foot of snow and walk right over the top of it, hard as a rock. The next time it snows you can easily sink in a foot. All due to the environmental conditions at the time it snowed and after it snows. Keep the thread going, there are a lot of guys that don't know what operating in snow is like. cropduster
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
I never will need more power for the snow here is southern Alabama just want a small airplane with a big engine!!!!!!!!! I can already beat anything around here (ecept a lite 65 hp Taylorcraft) off the ground so there really is no need for a larger engine but what about owning and flying your own airplane makes any logical sense.
The dark blue TCraft from Alaska with flaps, Lyc, seaplane doors, and big tires is what I would wish mine to look like someday but it sure would be out of place here 10 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I can't stand those jacked up trucks with four wheel drive and monster tires that never go off road but that's what I like in an airplane so to each their own. Mike
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Re: engine upgrade to 0-320
My son has a 3/4 ton truck all jacked up with monster tires that hardly ever goes off the road, but I like the looks of it. I had an extreme truck and or car when I was in my 20's also. You know what they say, if you act your age, everybody can figure out how old you are. Well I am still having fun, and not acting my age.
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