About 15 years ago, a local FedEx pilot and competent builder built a 2/3 scale
Spitfire and used the 4 cyl Blanton / Ford engine/ Turbo and actually flew the airplane
two or three times. At about 2 hours total time, the engine had a destructive block
failure during taxi. The builder donated the airplane to a museum and went on to build
a full sized replica of a Bristol fighter, and recently completed a RV8.  His name is
Ed Storo and if you would like to get a testimony directly from him, I would be glad to
locate his phone #. I
personally think you would put your life at serious risk to fly this combo even one
time. You need to pick an engine that will give you much better odds. Please do not
take the comments on this forum as personally critical - it appears you have made a
decision based on some inaccurate information from someone.     Herb Sanders

Thanks for the support Bill and Herb. It is a fine line sometimes between information and
personal insults or personal attacks. Please AI don't take anything
I say as a personal attacks or insults.

Looks like Mr. Blanton's Voodoo engineering strikes again from the grave
no less :-)>  Will he ever RIP?  Scary!

Paul Lamar

Yes, I'd very much like to talk to him!

No, pure information is never personally derogatory.  I asked for you
guys input and thank you very much for it, positive or negative.
Because my conclusions may be incorrect doesn't mean I think I'm being
attacked.  I very much welcome the responses.  If I can find out why
these things break, or what methodology makes this unsound, I can make a
better informed opinion as to whether continue or switch engines now.
Money is a HUGE concern, but safety always has the overriding vote 8-).

Full load static ground engine tests (with the prop) should indicate
whether problems like Mr. Storo had will occur in this one quite early
in the game.

AI Nut

AI stated he would like to hear from Ed Storo. He has moved to Oregon and I spoke with him
briefly a couple of days ago - his failure on the Blanton Ford 4 cyl turbo ended with the rod
sticking out of the side of the engine case. This engine was bought as a unit incl PSR from Mr
Blanton. Ed's e-mail address is <ersf2b@oregoncoast.com.
Ed, the forum would probably be interested in your experience and comments on the Ford engine.
Thanks, Herb Sanders

 
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