Improve performance of Continental O-300-D??

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Hi folks - I just purchased a 1964 172e with a newly overhauled
Continental O-300-D engine and was hoping to get some suggestions for
improving performance on it. Is this feasible with this engine? I knew
buying it that climb performance was quite a bit different than the
150HP Lycoming, but I wonder if there are modifications/enhancements
that people have tried that would provide any worthwhile gains in HP
(like maybe change exhaust perhaps)?

Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thx!!

[tony roberts]

None that I'm aware of.
I repitched my prop to climb for better high density altitude
performance. But to increase HP? Let me know if you find anything - I
haven't.

Tony


In article . com>,
wrote:

> Hi folks - I just purchased a 1964 172e with a newly overhauled
> Continental O-300-D engine and was hoping to get some suggestions for
> improving performance on it. Is this feasible with this engine? I knew
> buying it that climb performance was quite a bit different than the
> 150HP Lycoming, but I wonder if there are modifications/enhancements
> that people have tried that would provide any worthwhile gains in HP
> (like maybe change exhaust perhaps)?
>
> Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thx!!




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

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tony roberts > wrote:
: None that I'm aware of.
: I repitched my prop to climb for better high density altitude
: performance. But to increase HP? Let me know if you find anything - I
: haven't.

: Tony


Are there any high-compression STC's available? I haven't looked, but they're
by default 7.0:1 compression (great for autogas!). IIRC, the exhaust ports on the
O-[23]00's were poorly baffled so high-compression makes them run enough hotter to
have valve problems.

I think the Powerflow exhaust folks have an STC for the 172 as well as the
PA-28. I don't know if it's applicable to other than the O-320 Lycoming, though.

-Cory

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

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wrote:
> Hi folks - I just purchased a 1964 172e with a newly overhauled
> Continental O-300-D engine and was hoping to get some suggestions for
> improving performance on it. Is this feasible with this engine? I
knew
> buying it that climb performance was quite a bit different than the
> 150HP Lycoming, but I wonder if there are modifications/enhancements
> that people have tried that would provide any worthwhile gains in HP
> (like maybe change exhaust perhaps)?
>
> Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated.
>

Generally, the best thing you can do to enhance performance on an
O-300 is to overhaul it. Of course you've already done that, so the
answer would be "no", there are no HP enhancing mods available for that
engine. The Powerflow exhaust upgrade is only for Lycoming equipped
172s.

I learned on the 150hp Lyc. powered 172s, then bought a 145 hp
Continental powered 172. I didn't find the climb performance lacking
in the O-300 powered version. Although there are 5 less hp, the older
planes usually had a lower empty weight that compensated for that. My
guess would be that your 172 has a prop that is pitched to optimize
cruise. These can often be re-pitched for better climb performance by
a knowledgable prop shop.

John Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)

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Thx for all the comments. I hadn't considered a pitch change to the
prop. I'll have to look into it. I don't notice any cruise difference
between the plane and my old 150HP trainer. In fact, I believe I have a
few knots improvement. But the climb is very noticable.