Most impressive ... and quite a comprehensive overview of an engine , something I rarely see . I have an extremely low time Lycoming 320 ( 10 hrs ) that sat pickled for years but is now in my plane ( first plane I ever owned ) and I noticed that all the parts I could see on the Titan have a much more precise finished look ...Casting and machining and material selection seem to be much more precise and updated . Your engine is 180 HP mine is 160 , they're dimensionally identical and yours is 20 lbs lighter
The weight & performance is astounding for our aircraft. Vans himself repeatedly says that our planes fly the best when they are light, this is one easy way to do that without sacrificing power.
Awesome. Seems like a brilliant option considering you get many of the thunderbolt features standard plus some of Continentals own (great) improvements, better warranty, and 20 more ponies all for the same (or less) than the cost of a standard lycoming 320.
Yup. When I started looking into engines this was a no-brainer. The features were excellent and the price was great. I couldn’t believe it as Titan has the reputation of being the top-of-the-line choice that their price was so competitive.
Great video!! If you have time, would you mind talking about why you made the specific choices on the ignition system and fuel system? Also, I’d love to hear why you chose to go with a fixed pitch prop versus a constant speed. Thanks!
I have watched almost all your videos and I would like to one day build an RV9A like yours. I’ve looked at your videos “How-to: Following RV Build Plans” with great interest. The Van’s plans seem to be very detailed and easy to follow…assuming you read and understand them. But what about the engine install? Does Titan provide instructions on how to install it with all the caballing, hoses, coolers, wiring, etc. I would find this part of the build very intimidating. What did you use to guild you while installing your engine? Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed them. Vans has a set of firewall forward plans that details the hoses, etc. if you are thinking of building, consider purchasing the usb plans from vans. I think it’s $20 and you can then look over them all. Keep in mind that the -9A has the previous generation of plans which don’t have the diagrams in the same page as the text, so not as easy to follow as the -10
Hi Guil. This is an old but goody. 🙂 I’m considering a similar setup for my 9A. What prop and pitch did you use and would you change anything if you had it to do over?
Thanks for this video! I'm seriously considering building an RV-9A. I love your setup. This motor is very appealing. How much change, if any, was there with the FWF (mount, wiring, etc.) for this install? I'm a couple hours south of Madison (No. Illinois). Would you be open to allowing me to see your plane at some point (given the pandemic and schedules)?
First time I've heard of it running smoother. Honestly I don't know what smoother would be like, this thing just purrs along. Loosing 6hp sounds like a bad bargain to a possibly smoother sounding engine.
I tried getting a Continental engine for my RV-10 and they wouldn’t sell me one in 2021. Told me to ask Vans to start repping them. Told me they won’t sell to the public directly, so I have more questions for how he got this than about the engine itself. They apparently have an issue with Vans partnership with Lycoming. Not sure why they attend Airventure.
Hi Anthony, This is an IO-340 for an RV-9A. Continental is not currently making an IO-540 which would go in an RV-10. They will happily sell you any of their 4-cylinder engines but as of right now they don't have an available 6-cylinder for us. Feel free to reach out to me directly if I can help!
Gil, is that stock Van's FF kit baffling for the -320 or -360 family, or did you have to mod it/build yourself? I've read the tapered fins don't fit Vans kit? Fantastic engine, Great video!
So what is the engine weight, as it came out of box? It's a bit strange talking about the engine being balanced, but then he mentions the rods are balanced within 3 grams of each other. Balancing all components is standard for engine building in all regards. Not sure why they emphasize that they do it on this. Does that mean they don't balance their regular engines?
259lb Engine parts and rotating assemblies are balanced to specific limits. The 3 grams JB mentions is the limit they weigh to for these engines, which is tighter than usual.
@@BuildFlyGo Just that in the automotive engine building industry, at least performance components are balanced to 1 gram or less. Although a automotive engine revs higher, I still would have thought aircraft would have tighter tolerances.
@@BuildFlyGo The power is a bit down also. It's about 1.1kw/kg, if it was liquid cooled, an automotive engine would yield about 1.5kw/kg. Why choose this engine over a better automotive engine?
Lycoming doesn’t offer a 340, so all their options would be heavier and put out less HP. I also found the folks at Titan/Conti were very accessible when I had questions (not saying Lyc isn’t) and very open to building the exact engine I wanted. I would 1000% recommend them.
I got really excited about this engine after seeing this video, but alas, Continental decided to get out of the 6-cylinder business entirely. So, no Titan engine for the RV-10, for now. JB did tell me that Continental would consider making a Titan 540 using a Lycoming case, which might be interesting...
Your aware "aviation grade " plugs are designed to fire on magneto's with a smaller gap because magnetos do not have the punch of modern CD ... Once he switched to CD the aviation type plugs are now not remotely recommended ... they are now a lesser or unusable choice that happen to be 10 times the price
@@markdoan1472 that’s all true. I was just wondering about cost. My recent experience is with sailboats. You can have two identical products but if one is labeled “marine” it seems to atleast double the price
@@BuildFlyGo I am finishing the RV-10 empennage, about to order the QB wings and fuselage and looking into avionics and power plant. Plan on a full Garmin System but was considering other than Lycoming for the power plant. Thinking that the future may warrant an engine that can burn regular gas. Your videos along with other builders have been very helpful in working through my build. If you go with titan do you still get the firewall forward stuff or do you do individual parts?
@@markwelch3338 Yup, you still get the same FW FWD kit from Vans and everything fits where it's supposed to. Titan/Continental will be happy to set up one of their engines to burn regular gas, it's all about compression really. Call JB and he can help you out 251-438-3411
The amount of work that would require to design a new engine mount, cowl, cooling system, etc would be beyond what I’m looking to put in to a kit aircraft. I could easily spend as much time doing that as it toon to build the entire plane with a conventional engine :)
@@BuildFlyGo i understand that you can buy the complete firewall forward kit and UL power engines are conventional ones with basically the same upgrades you chose to get in standard. Fadec, Fuel injection and dual coils per cylinder.
@@tonusoodla4868 Would be interested to see details on this. I don't see a fw fwd kit available on their website. There is a mention of it being available for the RV-12 but none of the larger RVs.
Most impressive ... and quite a comprehensive overview of an engine , something I rarely see . I have an extremely low time Lycoming 320 ( 10 hrs ) that sat pickled for years but is now in my plane ( first plane I ever owned ) and I noticed that all the parts I could see on the Titan have a much more precise finished look ...Casting and machining and material selection seem to be much more precise and updated . Your engine is 180 HP mine is 160 , they're dimensionally identical and yours is 20 lbs lighter
Nice video. Thanks for putting it together. The 340 is a top candidate for my RV 7A. 180 hp , light weight, and nice options,
The weight & performance is astounding for our aircraft. Vans himself repeatedly says that our planes fly the best when they are light, this is one easy way to do that without sacrificing power.
Awesome. Seems like a brilliant option considering you get many of the thunderbolt features standard plus some of Continentals own (great) improvements, better warranty, and 20 more ponies all for the same (or less) than the cost of a standard lycoming 320.
Yup. When I started looking into engines this was a no-brainer. The features were excellent and the price was great. I couldn’t believe it as Titan has the reputation of being the top-of-the-line choice that their price was so competitive.
Good info Gil. You firewall forward is as clean as I’ve seen. To Brazil...that should qualify for the long cross country requirement.
JB from Continental is a legend - super helpful.
Thank you Gill. That was the best video I have seen from you yet. Very well done.
Thank you for this video. It was a very well filmed, narrated, and most definitely informative. Beautiful airplane!
man, that engine compartment looks brand new!!
It is brand new!
Such a great and informative Video... thanks a lot! This has caused me to pause on my possible investment in an IO-320 for my RV9A.
Mine is on order. I can’t wait.
Thanks for posting. That is one of the most sanitary engine installations I've ever seen!
I’ve never heard it called sanitary before :)
It's beautiful! Almost as beautiful as the 360! :)
But lighter ;)
Like 50 lbs lighter with similar power
Hard to beat an O-360
Great video!! If you have time, would you mind talking about why you made the specific choices on the ignition system and fuel system? Also, I’d love to hear why you chose to go with a fixed pitch prop versus a constant speed. Thanks!
I think I have a video on that? I'll look and make one if I don't :)
@@BuildFlyGo So far I've missed that video, if you find it would you mind sharing the link or description? Thanks!
The FP is great on the -9. Light, minimal maintenance, cheap, and I have it pitched just right for 90% of the flying I do. Don’t plan on changing.
I have watched almost all your videos and I would like to one day build an RV9A like yours.
I’ve looked at your videos “How-to: Following RV Build Plans” with great interest. The Van’s plans seem to be very detailed and easy to follow…assuming you read and understand them.
But what about the engine install? Does Titan provide instructions on how to install it with all the caballing, hoses, coolers, wiring, etc. I would find this part of the build very intimidating. What did you use to guild you while installing your engine?
Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed them. Vans has a set of firewall forward plans that details the hoses, etc. if you are thinking of building, consider purchasing the usb plans from vans. I think it’s $20 and you can then look over them all. Keep in mind that the -9A has the previous generation of plans which don’t have the diagrams in the same page as the text, so not as easy to follow as the -10
Hi Guil. This is an old but goody. 🙂 I’m considering a similar setup for my 9A. What prop and pitch did you use and would you change anything if you had it to do over?
Thanks for this video! I'm seriously considering building an RV-9A. I love your setup. This motor is very appealing. How much change, if any, was there with the FWF (mount, wiring, etc.) for this install? I'm a couple hours south of Madison (No. Illinois). Would you be open to allowing me to see your plane at some point (given the pandemic and schedules)?
Basically none. It’s set up just like a normal lycoming style engine so the fw forward is the same.
And yes, happy to meet and chat airplanes, once the virus situation is sorted out.
I hear another one of the benefits for the lower compression version is it runs smoother and you only lose 6 hp.
First time I've heard of it running smoother. Honestly I don't know what smoother would be like, this thing just purrs along. Loosing 6hp sounds like a bad bargain to a possibly smoother sounding engine.
More details are available at Continental Aerospace.
Visit www.continental.aero/titan/experimental-kit-engines.aspx
I tried getting a Continental engine for my RV-10 and they wouldn’t sell me one in 2021. Told me to ask Vans to start repping them. Told me they won’t sell to the public directly, so I have more questions for how he got this than about the engine itself. They apparently have an issue with Vans partnership with Lycoming. Not sure why they attend Airventure.
Hi Anthony, This is an IO-340 for an RV-9A. Continental is not currently making an IO-540 which would go in an RV-10. They will happily sell you any of their 4-cylinder engines but as of right now they don't have an available 6-cylinder for us. Feel free to reach out to me directly if I can help!
the valves and ports are HUGE! piston looks big too, what cid is it? hp? rpm? ty
Gil, is that stock Van's FF kit baffling for the -320 or -360 family, or did you have to mod it/build yourself? I've read the tapered fins don't fit Vans kit? Fantastic engine, Great video!
Stock baffling. The engine includes the inter-cylinder baffle so you don't need to fab one up.
At 65% power at altitude, what is your fuel burn/hr?
So what is the engine weight, as it came out of box? It's a bit strange talking about the engine being balanced, but then he mentions the rods are balanced within 3 grams of each other. Balancing all components is standard for engine building in all regards. Not sure why they emphasize that they do it on this. Does that mean they don't balance their regular engines?
259lb
Engine parts and rotating assemblies are balanced to specific limits. The 3 grams JB mentions is the limit they weigh to for these engines, which is tighter than usual.
@@BuildFlyGo Just that in the automotive engine building industry, at least performance components are balanced to 1 gram or less. Although a automotive engine revs higher, I still would have thought aircraft would have tighter tolerances.
@@BuildFlyGo The power is a bit down also. It's about 1.1kw/kg, if it was liquid cooled, an automotive engine would yield about 1.5kw/kg. Why choose this engine over a better automotive engine?
Hey, Guil. What was the primary reason you decided not to go with any of the Lycomings that Van's recommends for their airplanes?
Lycoming doesn’t offer a 340, so all their options would be heavier and put out less HP. I also found the folks at Titan/Conti were very accessible when I had questions (not saying Lyc isn’t) and very open to building the exact engine I wanted. I would 1000% recommend them.
Great video. Given this experience, are you considering the Titan X540 for your RV10?
It would be a great engine for the -10 for sure!
I got really excited about this engine after seeing this video, but alas, Continental decided to get out of the 6-cylinder business entirely. So, no Titan engine for the RV-10, for now. JB did tell me that Continental would consider making a Titan 540 using a Lycoming case, which might be interesting...
Hmm... I’ll poke him on that. I wish they had a stroked 540/570?
Nice job! What cruise speed TAS(KTS) are you getting at 65% and 75% power? Looking a -9s.
I see LoP at 65% showing 150kts TAS at 8k DA. I rarely open it up to 75% so I can pull that up for you in the next flight.
@Sky Allies I’ll try to remember to get you those numbers tomorrow :)
Hi there. What is the spark plug number you are using there?
It's the one mentioned in the p-mag manual. They update it from time to time so make sure to use the one they recommend at the time you need it.
I want to put one in a Cherokee 140
Give Continental/Titan a call to see if they have an STC for it!
Nice! Wondering how the air box seal fits to the cowl, could it get sucked in?
It’s just the normal vans airbox used in the other ~10,000 RVs :)
Pressure in the plenum is higher, not lower. The baffles are correctly tilted in, so the air pressure tightens the seal.
Correct, pressure in plenum is higher than past the cylinders. Did I say it backwards? :)
I see now that the cowling has a sort of blunt end that fit inside the baffling, so no way it could fold inside. Thanks.
Very interesting thanks! Just curious what would “aviation grade” spark plugs run?
I want to say regular aircraft spark plugs are around $25 each. I pay $2.50 each for auto plugs.
Your aware "aviation grade " plugs are designed to fire on magneto's with a smaller gap because magnetos do not have the punch of modern CD ... Once he switched to CD the aviation type plugs are now not remotely recommended ... they are now a lesser or unusable choice that happen to be 10 times the price
I believe Sam is just curious about the price difference :)
@@markdoan1472 that’s all true. I was just wondering about cost. My recent experience is with sailboats. You can have two identical products but if one is labeled “marine” it seems to atleast double the price
Does Titan doe a build school like some of the other engine companies?
They used to let you watch. I don’t believe they do anymore.
Question... Will u be selling the 7 once the 10 is flying ?
Probably not. I'll be looking for a partner in the -10.
What engine and configuration are you planning on using on your RV-10 build?
Most likely the Titan IO-540. Their IO-340 has been nothing but flawless and I expect the 540 to be the same.
@@BuildFlyGo I am finishing the RV-10 empennage, about to order the QB wings and fuselage and looking into avionics and power plant. Plan on a full Garmin System but was considering other than Lycoming for the power plant. Thinking that the future may warrant an engine that can burn regular gas. Your videos along with other builders have been very helpful in working through my build. If you go with titan do you still get the firewall forward stuff or do you do individual parts?
@@markwelch3338 Yup, you still get the same FW FWD kit from Vans and everything fits where it's supposed to. Titan/Continental will be happy to set up one of their engines to burn regular gas, it's all about compression really. Call JB and he can help you out 251-438-3411
You have a experimental aircraft, why not to use a UL Power engine? 200hp 520is for exaple...
The amount of work that would require to design a new engine mount, cowl, cooling system, etc would be beyond what I’m looking to put in to a kit aircraft. I could easily spend as much time doing that as it toon to build the entire plane with a conventional engine :)
@@BuildFlyGo i understand that you can buy the complete firewall forward kit and UL power engines are conventional ones with basically the same upgrades you chose to get in standard. Fadec, Fuel injection and dual coils per cylinder.
@@tonusoodla4868 Would be interested to see details on this. I don't see a fw fwd kit available on their website. There is a mention of it being available for the RV-12 but none of the larger RVs.
Shouldn’t it be BuildGoFly? 😁
Build, Fly, Go somewhere ;)