I've been driving my Chevy Vortec engine around for 7 years in my
Silverado. Yes, it's a V-8, but it's the same thing, just a couple
more cylinders. I've got 80,000 miles on it now and I just drove it
back from Yosemite National Park today. Over the weekend I put
another 775 miles on it according to my new Garmin 296 in it's
"Automobile" mode. That engine has never missed a tick.

I have to refer back to something Bill Harrold said about 8 years ago
when Paul Lamar was in here swinging about auto conversions. Bill
said, "Well, guys like Lamar are touting massive failures but I drive
to Los Angeles all the time and I don't see Chevy S-10 trucks
polluting the sides of the roadways. And don't tell me that the wind
loads on these trucks isn't so high that many people drive them with
the peddal to the metal either."

Bill Harold's words are true. That run from Vegas to L.A. can be
brutal. I know of many occasions that I've run my Vortec engine in my
truck from Baker to Victorville with the throttle all the way open,
i.e. a manifold pressure near 28 inches for long periods of time.
Now, that's demanding full torque. If there were a problem, GM would
have found it after manufacturing literally millions of these vortec
engines.




If I was building an RV, I'd certainly give this option a serious look.
I do wish there was more data available on this engine as compared to
a similar Lycoming. If you read through the web site, you can find most
of the information such as weight, power, torque, etc, however, it isn't
in a nice tabular comparison that would be much more useful. I also
didn't see fuel consumption anywhere, but may have just missed it. It
would also be nice to see W&B info comparing the Lyc to the Chevy.

What you ought to do is come here and take a FREE ride in that
airplane with Jess. Almost everyone who has done that buys one and
builds it. Hell, it's just a bolt on at this point.


I've got a 4.3L Vortec in my 1994 Chevy pickup and it has been pretty
reliable now for 10 years and 85,000 miles. The only serious problem I
had with the engine was at about the 5,200 mile point. It dropped a
cylinder on my way to work one morning and was making an awful clatter.
I called the dealer as it was still under warranty and I figured
they'd want to tow it in to avoid further damage. They asked if I could
drive it. I said "yes", but had to run it hard to keep it up to
cruising speed. They said to just drive it in then. They found that
the intake valve pushrod had come apart and welded itself to the rocker
arm. I don't recall the details now, but I believe it was an aluminum
pushrod and had a steel ball spin welded to it. The ball came loose and
the aluminum pushrod fused itself to the rocker arm. They replaced
that, changed the oil in the engine and it has run fine since. The only
other problems I've had are oil leaks. Simply can't stop this engine
from leaking somewhere. I've replaced the main seals (front and rear),
oil filter adapter gasket, intake manifold gasket, and one other gasket
that I can't remember now.

The engine has never left me stranded so I think I'd be OK flying behind
one.


Matt

I may take that thing to Arlington on Wednesday. If you are around,
you might see us there.

BWB