Thinking about building a reasonable 4-seater. Any recommendations?

Rcmutz said:
In the time it takes to build an E-AB, you could get your AnP, buy a legacy airplane, maintain it yourself, and use the AnP license to moonlight and earn the money for all the avionics you wish to put in your legacy plane.
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Or buy an already built experimental and be able to do the condition inspection on any experimental instead of just one. I like that idea.
 
donjohnston said:
I can get a starter for an IO550 at AutoZone???

I had no idea! :dunno:
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Starters are definitely more challenging than alternators. I can source alternators in the $30 range for 4 cyl lycomings, but so far I've been unsuccessful at cobbling together an inexpensive starter. I'd be interested to hear what tractor supply has to offer.
 
AV8R_87 said:
Nobody mentioned a specific engine type, but for that particular model I'm sure we could find something that works at Tractor Supply.
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Okay.

So where is there an AutoZone that has an alternator, starter and fuel pump for my E-AB aircraft?
 
Once youre tired of unobtainium parts for certified aircraft engines, you can embrace auto conversions and then get all of your consumables at Autozone etc.
 
moparrob66 said:
Once youre tired of unobtainium parts for certified aircraft engines, you can embrace auto conversions and then get all of your consumables at Autozone etc.
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How's that working out for you?

Nauga,
and his vanilla O-320.
 
I'll let you know once its flying so you can say "Told you so!"
 
donjohnston said:
Okay.

So where is there an AutoZone that has an alternator, starter and fuel pump for my E-AB aircraft?
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Go to their website, enter your zip code and you'll find one within 10 miles.
As my hangar neighbor who owns an RV-4 figured out when he took his failed alternator there and they were able to find a perfect replacement for a fifth of the cost.
If your original starter becomes unobtanium (or is priced as if made out of gold), I'm sure an adapter plate can be made to fit an off the shelf automotive unit, even if the original tractor starter that Lycoming selected isn't available anymore in the automotive world.
We're not talking here about finding a custom 200A starter-generator for a PT6 turboshaft, I do expect that part to have been an off the shelf unit back in the day.
And if your E-AB has an auto engine conversion, it's that much easier to find spares at your local auto parts store.
 
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