New Corvette engine in the 801

Has anybody ever accomplished this? If so, what is the performance like? And how was the handling?

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Permalink Reply by Jesse Hartman on September 29, 2011 at 8:13pm

Hi.  You could check out the Ben Hass 801.  He uses an all aluminum nascar ford 302 engine that is detuned to 350 hp.

Permalink Reply by Mark Haskell on July 23, 2013 at 10:23am

I know of an RV-10 with a zr-1 Corvette engine here in Texas.

Permalink Reply by Bob Pustell on July 23, 2013 at 8:30pm

My gut reaction is "too much engine"......... The plane was designed around a 180 HP Lycoming. Many homebuilts end up with waaayyyyyy more engine (both weight and power output) than the designer had in mind, and most of them end up being too heavy, CG out of limits forward, difficult to fly and very expensive/difficult to build by the time you work around all the problems you create for yourself with huge engines. Chris Heinz is very easy going compared to most aircraft designers, he gives a weight and power range that the airframe can handle and wishes you luck. If you use the engine he had in mind, you can get engine installation parts from his companies. If you use another engine, his companies will help you as much as they can. If you put anything into a Van's RV other than the engine Van designed it around, the company does not want to talk to you very much.

After that rant, I should ask -- Does the Vette engine (with associated reduction drive, radiator, coolant, etc etc etc) fit into Chris H's weight and power "window" for the 801? If it does not, I would recommend against it. My two cents.

Permalink Reply by Ben Haas on July 23, 2013 at 10:50pm

Ok...... I will chime in here... <G>..

 

First off,,, The 801 will handle excess horsepower....  My set up is 437 lbs FFW so it is within Zeniths recommended weight.. I am double the HP requirement... I am coming up on 500 hours and still have not made the lead story in the evening news... <G>

 

All kidding aside... My plane is WAY overpowered, but I like overpowered stuff... It would probably hurt or kill less experienced nut cases... 

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Permalink Reply by Mark Maltais on July 24, 2013 at 11:40pm

DAMN!!!!   Every time I see your setup Ben I drool!!!

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