"Chris Gumm" wrote in message
...
I'm putting together some numbers for a homebuilt kit. I'm looking at the
RV-7a, Glasair SII RG and Glasair III. Both of the web sites mention
Lycoming engines but from going though the AOPA Pilot mag, there seams to
be a lot more choices. Are the other engine manufactures any good? Is
Lycoming the only way to go? All the aircraft that I've flown have had
Lycoming engines.

I'm sure you'll get varying opinions on the quality of "other" engines. The
real question you need to ask is whether the kit you're interested in
supports engines other than Lycoming. As an RV builder, I can tell you that
if you substitute anything other than a Lycoming, it'll add hundreds of
hours to your project. Instead of buying off the shelf cables, exhausts,
cowlings, engine mounts, etc., you'll need to build your own. Some of that
stuff is beyond the ability of most homebuilders, and even if you have the
skill to fabricate those items from scratch, it will still add a serious
amount of effort to your project. Beyond that, your airplane will be
somewhat of a freak and probably won't have the resale value that a "normal"
example would have.

KB