My last post of the desire of more hp led me to the Amphicar
website. I had read where the 1500 Spitfire engine would bolt right
in. Further investigation indicates that the 1500 has a cooling
problem. Right now my temp stays pretty much in the center except
when pulling long hills or asking for too much power on the water
which converts gas to noise with no speed increase. I guess that
I'm pretty lucky in that respect when it comes to cooling from
listening to the whoas of others with serious problems in that
area. We have had triple digit temps in the NW this summer and the
thought of adding an electric cooling fan has never crossed my
mind. Whose to say that my temp gage or sending unit isn't fubar.
I could be sailing in bliss whilst I burn up my motor.
It sounds as if I should leave well enough alone and to avoid steep
ramps. I would be interested in hearing from others who have or
have tried the Spitfire engine. My experience with putting larger
engines in airplanes has led mostly to disappointment. Either the
performance improvement was too little gain for the expense, or the
flight characteristics went from good to something of a lesser
value. Not always. But mostly.
One thought: I have never driven my Amphi with the top up. Could
the top create a boundry layer or a reverse flow of turulent air
that inhibits the intake of cooling air? I could vision a dead area
over the loovers where there would be no ram air effect in cruise.
It would be like running your car with a load on the engine but not
moving. Anyone remember riding in the back of a pickup truck and
finding that one spot where the wind doesn't blow at all? Just a
thought.
glenn
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