Waiex engine, 3,000 cc / 120HP Corvair of Gordon Turner. 

Builders

The fifth engine to run at Corvair Finishing school #2 was Gordon Turner’s 3,000 cc engine, slated to power his Waiex airframe (The Vee tailed Sonex.)  The Engine is a first class power plant featuring everything in the FlyCorvair / SPA Panther Catalogs, including an SPA billet, made in the USA crankshaft.

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Although the project started as a regular build and an core motor, Gordon, who is an international corporate pilot,  opted to convert this to an “Engine in a Box” complete kit engine. He selected this path after considering his available time vs the value in one of the Kits. If you would like to find out more about engine options, Call Rachel directly on the SPA hot line at 904 626 7777. (Her extension is #1)

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Above, Gordon’s engine on the run stand. For the break in we don’t use an oil cooler because we want the oil to come up to full operating temp quickly, to boil off any entrained water and evaporate solvents from things like assembly fluids the factory puts in lifters. Given the option of breaking in an engine on 140 vs 240 degree oil, absolutely pick the latter. The Sonex and the Waiex both use the #2601-R reverse Gold oil filter housing shown, To clear the fuel filler neck on these airframes. The oil like to the 5th bearing is connected to the case by a special fitting that Dan makes. Standard Gold oil filter housings do not need this, they use a #2802 block off plate.

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Above, the 3,000 cc Corvair at power, during the break in run.  It ran flawlessly during the run and accumulated a little over an hour. WE check a number of post run details closely, and the engine passed them all, this flying colors. Rather than take the engine with him, Gordon elected to have it shipped to his home, a task easily accomplished by the SPA team.

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-ww.

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