V. Childs wrote: > > Hi Douglas, did you consider a Saturn car engine for you project? I over > 250,000 mi on 2 Saturn engines with only replacing the starter and > generator. gene > > Douglas Stierman wrote: > > > Hello all, > > > > I am considering building my "basket case" Ercoupe with a Subaru > > Engine. I know that I will have to de-certify the airplane into the > > Experimental category and that's fine with me. I don't have any dreams of > > obtaining/developing an STC or ever re-certifing the plane. I simply want > > to build my 'coupe the way I want without alot of hassle. Since I am not > > an A & P, I figure this is the way to do it. I am also considering > > covering the wings with 6061T6 and using AVEX Rivets for the covering. > > Zenair actually has a certified plane which uses these materials as well > > as their Zodiac kit planes. I figure that I can get a coupe which might > > have never flied again back up in the air without breaking my budget in > > A&P labor and FAA paperwork. Also, I'd be able to do my own work...and > > engine overhauls on the Soob would only be ~$1,000. I had originally > > planned on constructing an exp. plane, but I think that this "hybrid > > 'coupe" project will take less time(already mostly contructed) and cost a > > bit less while still allowing me to do all the work myself and take a few > > liberties without radical;ly changing the design or requiring costly STCs. > > > > Does anyone know the procedure for de-certifing the plane? I > > assume once I start work on it, I'll have to log my work as required for a > > homebuilt. I plan on sticking mostly to Fred's design except for the > > Engine/Prop(Subaru with 3 blade carbon fiber prop) and the Instrument > > panel/Seats/and baggage compartment. None of my mods should affect the > > weight & balance. Most of the stuff has STCd equvalants in certified > > 'coupes. > > > > I know that I'll probably get a lot of discouraging replies from > > 'coupe purists who will warn me about de-certifing and spoiling my re-sale > > value. But ....what is the resale value of a $3500 basket case with no > > engine or prop? It would probably cost me $20K to get this thing flying > > again as a certified, but for around $10K I could have an experimental > > 'coupe AND do my own work on it PLUS $1000 engine overhauls. If I decide > > to go foward with this, I'll start a web page documenting my work. Any > > information and ENCOURAGEMENT are invited, discouraging remarks or advice > > against will be read, but probably not heeded. > > > > Thanks for reading this... > > > > Doug Stierman > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
How about a Cadillac Engine? I just rolled over 496,100 on mine, but I'll admit I did a "top-end" on it at about 360K. I think it might thow out your weight and balance figures though. Bob Saville
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