>Has anybody tried Subaru power and was it successful?? >What kind of horsepower and performance did you get ??? >Does the extra weight over aircooled engines affect overall performance? >Gavin ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
There are a number of Subaru installs flying in lots of different types of aircraft and for the most part they seem to perform o.k. The number of KR's flying with Sub's that I've seen is limited. The one that comes to mind is Les Palmer from Dallas. He has a single place stretched KR that is heavy (850lbs empty) so it's probably not the best example. I was not impressed with the performance he was getting and I guess he wasn't either. He finally installed the larger Subaru ( EJ-22 ? ) to get the performance he wanted. I'm sure there are other builders flying Sub's that are happy with them. Engine builders claim 100 hp but I'm not convinced. My UNEDUCATED GUESS would say somewhere between 80 and 100 hp and I'm sure they are like any other engine where getting the right prop is critical. Yes, the extra weight will hurt performance regardless where if comes from. When I first heard of the Subaru's I was quite excited. That excitement has vanished over the years. To me the complexity of the install doesn't buy you much. You have electronic ignition ,cooling systems, and cowls with unique airflow patterns to engineer to name a few. If you expect your finished KR to be light the VW's should work just fine. For more "kick" you could go with a Type IV with PSRU. The cheapest HP you could probably install is the Corvair. The most proven would be the 0-200 or a small Lyco, like the 0-235. Remember, this is all strictly my OPINION based on the 14 or so years exposure to the KR and having attended every Gathering since 1990. I'm sure others have different opinions Larry Flesne
