"Kent S. Brown" wrote:

I'm working with a friend on his RV-6 Aircraft. We have finished the tail, and are working on the
wings. We haven't bought the fuselage yet or the firewall forward. He's thinking of putting the
Mazda Rotary engine in it. I can't find if you guys make a fire wall forward kit for the RV-6, or
what the costs would be for all the pieces to hang the Mazda engine. We can buy a used O-320
Lycoming for around $4,000 and put as much into it to get it ready to run. 

I see where $3,500 will
get you a rebuilt Mazda, but dose that include anything else, like the reduction drive, engine
mount etc.? Lycoming and Continentals are designed to run a low rpm with high horse power.

Traditionally car engines are designed not to operate at 75% power for long periods of time. I
don't know how Mazda's hold up at that power output for long periods. I don't have any trouble
using a Mazda engine, I just don't know enough about it being used in aircraft over long period of
times, and what's available in kit form right now. I'll keep researching it until I know one way
or the other, any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kent S. Brown

The Mazda holds up fine as an aircraft engine. Better than an aircraft
engine in fact as it does not have any valves to burn.

All the pieces are slowly becoming available from various and assorted 
suppliers. You won't save much money over a rebuilt good used 
Lycoming if you can find one at that price and if you can over haul it 
your self. $4,000 sounds low for a good run out Lycoming. The factory gave 
me $6,500 for a run out Continental O-470 with a cracked crank
a couple of years ago. 

Good 13B Mazda engines can be had starting at $350 and up. Generally 
it cost less than $2000 to overhaul them.  It will cost another 
$4000 to $4500 for PSRU, EFI/IGN, intake manifold, motor mount and 
cooling system. Less if you build some of the parts yourself.

A Mazda 215 HP 13B firewall forward package is available from Power 
Sport for about $20,000.
 
Paul Lamar
 
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