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Last updated 8/3/11

I built a Tailwind in 1999 and used a Olds V8 engine. This web site is to document my build process and details others have asked about.

The plans I got from Steve Wittman are serial number 999 and the plane was test flown in Sept of 1999. Hence the tail number.

This second photo shows the finish plane in about 08 under going a conditional inspection.

The engine is an aluminum Olds 215 V8.. stroked to 265ci. A Buick 300ci crank will fit with only minor mod. I did a normal rebuild with all new technology stuff. IE. hyperutectic pistons. It is mounted inverted, no big deal here, some new oil drain holes. There is a simple aluminum strap mounted just above the lifters to keep them from falling out in case of a rocker failure or some thing. OIL pump, it is mounted externally by the factory so that is easy to deal with. An almost flat cover will replace the pan. I built a new oil tank out of the right valve cover and drained the left one into it. A line from the oil pump goes down to the tank. Yes it pulls oil up just fine... NO, there isn't a problem with oil in the cyl. It puffs a little smoke on start up and never has had a hydraulic lock. And I have never had a spark plug fowl..

Direct drive, a normal bell housing is used. A prop shaft extension runes through the hole in the bell housing which has an adapter with a ball bearing mounted in it. The prop end of the shaft is made with a tapper and key way to fit older style prop hub. The other end of the prop shaft bolts to the crank... the prop loads are carried by the ball bearing mounted in the bell housing hole... All of this is in Steve Wittmans engine conversion plans.

Ignition system. Two MSD UAL-6 ( I think, need to check that number) computers, MSD duel pickup distributor, duel coils.. I use only one system a time.. the coils are routed through a splitter to the distributor.. very dependable..

Engine mount is a Wittman design. Two long tubes from the top of the firewall to the front of the engine where it connects to the engine. Another from there to the back of the engine and connects again. From there down to the lower fire wall mount. Plus some extra bracing. CARBURETOR, The first one I used was a Holley two barrel modified to work as an up draft, worked great but no mixture control. Switched to an AERO-carb which works well and has a nice mixture control.

Another engine to look at is in the Land Rover. They bought the casting from GM years ago and over the years made a bigger and better engine.. four bolt mains, stronger block, more cubic inches, and so on... I would use one if I was going to do it again. It should modify the same way as the Olds...