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In December of 2008 I made the decision to switch engines. There were many factors that contributed to this decision, but the bottom line was that I wanted more performance, especially with a passenger. This isn't meant to imply that the AeroVee was inadequate, I just wanted more! Thinking back to a post on SonexTalk, someone once said the best reason to go with the Jabiru was that you'll never have "Big-Engine-Envy". Isn't that the truth!
So, I listed my AeroVee firewall forward package on Barnstormers, complete with engine mount, prop, and accessories, and started shopping for a used Jabiru 3300. The engine I ultimately bought was an earlier model 3300 with low-hours. It needed some work, but the price was right. I purchased a new engine mount, prop, cooling baffles and all new accessories. The cowling would need some surgery, but was still usable and would be retained.
Surprisingly enough, the new engine fit nearly perfectly, without a hitch! The engine mount fit right onto the firewall, and even used the same spacers. The prop hub was nearly perfectly in the same place, with the exception of being about 1/4 - 1/2 inch too far forward. The only thing that had to be removed was my air-oil separator, as the new engine mount interfered with it.
All told, the old firewall forward package was removed in about 4-6 hours, the new engine and mount were installed in 3-4 days, and the cowling modifications took about 2-3 weeks.
NOTE: photos link to full size image
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