Engine Delivery Accuracy from Final Payment

[AircooledDreams]

I have a different take on this. I made my final payment last week after receiving my email from Vans that said "... your RV Engine is entering Lycoming production". My scheduled delivery date is mid-August so I know there is no way my engine is entering production now but I don't care. After waiting more than 3 years for my engine (and having my build stalled for a year), I'm very happy SOMETHING is happening. After all the delays I'll be surprised if I actually get my engine in August but any movement is a good sign and I'm thankful for it.

Waiting 3 years for an engine is disappointing for sure.

 

[Clayvt]

Just got a call from Vadim at continental. My engine has been done for about 2 weeks but as suggested earlier they are waiting on Pmags from hartzell. He said they are having a hard time getting them direct so he has just ordered them retail from Spruce.

Kind of concerned hartzell is not even getting them to OEM’s…

 

[Mark Dickens]

Funny that I just got an email from Vans pushing their Power Up emag sale and they say they are in stock...wth

 

[kbalch]

So, here's a question: I'm just getting started on my third RV build. The first time around, I bought the engine from Aerosport Power. The second time around, I got it from Van's. This time out, I can't decide what to do. Van's prices (while an outrageous increase over the last time) are still way better than I've been able to find in the secondary market. Lead times, however, are nuts. I can either get it in three or four months, but pay over $100K (for an IO-360-A1B6) - or pay "only" $63K, but wait 18 months. Holy cow!

I'm a fast builder and expect to have my standard -8 flying in under two years. That, of course, requires that every item necessary be on hand the moment I'm ready for it. My first inclination is to order the standard Lycoming from Van's and hope for the best, but hope isn't a plan. I'd get the Thunderbolt just for the time saved (even though I think it's largely a marketing gimmick), but it doesn't sound as though the 14 months they're quoting on Van's site is honest.

What should I do?

 

[Mark Dickens]

So, here's a question: I'm just getting started on my third RV build. The first time around, I bought the engine from Aerosport Power. The second time around, I got it from Van's. This time out, I can't decide what to do. Van's prices (while an outrageous increase over the last time) are still way better than I've been able to find in the secondary market. Lead times, however, are nuts. I can either get it in three or four months, but pay over $100K (for an IO-360-A1B6) - or pay "only" $63K, but wait 18 months. Holy cow!

I'm a fast builder and expect to have my standard -8 flying in under two years. That, of course, requires that every item necessary be on hand the moment I'm ready for it. My first inclination is to order the standard Lycoming from Van's and hope for the best, but hope isn't a plan. I'd get the Thunderbolt just for the time saved (even though I think it's largely a marketing gimmick), but it doesn't sound as though the 14 months they're quoting on Van's site is honest.

What should I do?

First, I'd be extremely skeptical of the 14 or 18 month claim. That has turned out to be total BS. Maybe the IO-360 is shorter than the IO-390, but given Vans performance on their promises, I wouldn't give them a cent for an engine. I'm not sure what the deal is between Lycoming and Vans as to priority, but I'm very skeptical that it's first come first served...and I wouldn't even consider a Thunderbolt. @Imagine47 has been waiting almost 4 years for his. It's almost as if they just don't like him ..14 months? Hah!

Me? I'd be at OSH hitting all the other vendors. An IO-360-A1B6 is not an uncommon engine in the overhaul market...ordering from Lycoming would be my last option

 

[AircooledDreams]

So, here's a question: I'm just getting started on my third RV build. The first time around, I bought the engine from Aerosport Power. The second time around, I got it from Van's. This time out, I can't decide what to do. Van's prices (while an outrageous increase over the last time) are still way better than I've been able to find in the secondary market. Lead times, however, are nuts. I can either get it in three or four months, but pay over $100K (for an IO-360-A1B6) - or pay "only" $63K, but wait 18 months. Holy cow!

I'm a fast builder and expect to have my standard -8 flying in under two years. That, of course, requires that every item necessary be on hand the moment I'm ready for it. My first inclination is to order the standard Lycoming from Van's and hope for the best, but hope isn't a plan. I'd get the Thunderbolt just for the time saved (even though I think it's largely a marketing gimmick), but it doesn't sound as though the 14 months they're quoting on Van's site is honest.

What should I do?

Have you given Continental's TITAN a shot? You would be at about $57k for a 195 HP engine. The deposit is $5000. Here is a link to the builder tool: https://continental.aero/titan-engine-builder/