Neil A. Kruiswyk wrote:

Todd,

    In my case, I needed the extra 1.5" higher thrust line that plugs up
gave me (spark plugs were in the equation).  The Lancair cowl is probably
the smallest of the aircraft using a rotary to date.  I had the width but
not the height.

    Making a new oil pan is pretty easy work and most builders build a new
pan anyways either for motor mount considerations, different shape required
or just to give you more capacity.  IMHO the motor mount is no more
complicated than oil pan down configuration.  Either way you have to design
and build a new motor mount.  Bleeding the water jacket on plugs up is no
problem either.  There is a threaded hole in the bell housing end plate that
goes in to the water jacket.  Just run a 1/4" line from that back to the
header tank (which must be the highest point of the system, See pic
attached.)

    IMHO There are side benefits to plugs up.  The exhaust ports are now on
the bottom of the block so this keeps the heat a little further away from
everything else.  It's also a very short run to exit the cowl.  The
alternator can stay where it was because it now goes out sideways rather
than up.  Plugs up give you more room to play with the intake manifold and
carb/injection system because it is now on the side rather than on the top.
Also little or no change is required to the water pump inlet and outlet.  In
my case and in Jim M's case, we are both using the electronic ignition
distributor so plugs up is a must.  Paul make a valid point that if the
fully electronic ignition system were used, this wouldn't be an issue.  I
may change some day.

    Ok Jim and Ed...  what did I miss?

Neil

Neils-new-left-side.jpg


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