engine replacement

[Martin Di Lorenzo]

As far as I understand, you can overhaul your existing engine, or you can choose to replace it by a new one, right? Is it possible to exchange your old carbureted engine with a new injected one? As an example, can I exchange the original engine of a C-182 with a new injected Lycoming of the same power? I also read about HP upgrades, but this would be another issue, I presume.

[skid]

C182 uses an O470 Continental. Changing to a Lycoming would require an STC and would be very costly with little performance gain. Engines are usually supplied with some but not all accessories, and changing prop, governor, motor mount, exhaust, etc., would get very costly. Most of the time, there are few upgrades that cost less than buying something bigger to start with. One exception might be to replace 150 lycoming with 180 Lycoming. Very little changes are required and you might be able to get more for a good mid to high time engine from a homebuilder than the core charge is on exchanging it. A Cherokee 235 (Dakota) uses a 235 hp Lycoming, which is usually a very long life engnine. Load and speed are very similar to a 182 and they might be slighly cheaper to buy, if you don't mind a Cherokee. I think a factory overhauled Lycoming is the only good choice for a Lycoming. For a Continental, a factory remanufactured is a very good choice, but I have heard Continental has lowered their price on new engines. Of the better known rebuilders that do consistently good work, the price of an overhaul is usually right at a factory overhaul. A factory overhaul often includes new cylinders rather than chroming your old ones. I think steel cylinders are always better than chrome except for some airplanes that sit around alot. Chrome is less prone to corrosion in periods of nonuse. While there are many people that do quality engine rebuilds, downtime, price, and the known quality of a factory exchange make it an easy choice. Nothing is more disheartening than thinking your going to spend 12,000 only to get a bill for 20,000 when you could have got a factory motor for 15,000. And a factory motor is a plus for resale.