Msing48 wrote:Others have posted some good responses but I'll add a few of my own:
I have had the 3300 in my Sonex for about 1-1/2 years and don't regret the upgrade at all. I was pretty happy with the AeroVee but the extra 40hp makes for a big smile every time I fly it. Mine is a T/W version and I reused the landing gear legs. I did flip and re-drill the legs. I decided to change instrumentation (from old Stratomaster XL to Discovery Lite) and I had to relocate my battery and RDAC to accomodate the new engine mount so I just stripped everything off of the firewall and started over. I bought and fit a new cowling since the old one was slightly shorter (fore and aft). I could have done some fiberglass work to make the old one fit but splurged on the new one.
Initially, I had some minor temperature problems (CHT and oil temp) but some careful sealing of the oil cooler tunnel baffle solved the oil temp problem. Robert Barber helped with the cylinder head baffling (OK, he did almost all of it) and once the engine components broke in I have had no CHT problems at all.
In summary, I have absolutely no regrets. However, look closely at the Camit before you buy the Jabiru. I visited with the Camit reps at Airventure and liked what they had to say. It is essentially the same engine but with some possible improvements.
andrewp wrote:Mine has a climb prop and is an old hydraulic lifter. Personally I love it. One up I get 1200-1500 fpm. My cruise is limited by my prop choice, but it goes at a comfortable 140mph, 6gph approximately. Others would do better and I am sure the later versions of the jab do better. Compared to a continental o-470 or something, they are little pieces of jewellry and need to be treated as such though. You need to manage temps on them (as you do on the -o-470!)
You need to actually go for a fly in one with a 3300 to make a sensible decision, but given you understand the expense and all that, it really makes the airplane huge fun to fly. Getting the baffling right is work because it is a lot of engine for a little space. Most people end up having to shield their fuel lines etc or get rid of the gascolator. You do lose the ability to overhaul it for small numbers that you get with an aerovee. Jabirus are not perfect either they have their mechanical issues. You might want to hang out of the jabiru forum.
Let's put it into context: Our sonex sits in a hangar. Our old 182 that we have been slowly fixing up sits on the ramp (which is wrong, but that tells you how much we love our sonex).
If you have a corvair in it (? - not sure if that is right or if I am confusing you with someone else), you might want to see what you can do with it before throwing the baby out with the bathwater and only you will know what makes you happy... YMMV!
Cheers,
Andrew
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