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Lycoming vs Continental

C

crabby

Well-known member
I'm going to be putting a new boat together, I have never ran an aircraft motor, can I get some feedback on whether I should be looking at continental or lycoming, which one will withstand the test of time.I have been watching a lot of the rides and it seems to me I see more lycomings than continentals, probably going to go with a six cylinder also any input would really be appreciated
 
They are both darn fine engines, they have both already stood the test of time. Its pretty much the same as the Ford/Chevy debate, people will swear by one or the other.
I have run both and like both. I am running lycoming at the present... reason? I think they are a little easier to repair in the field.

Grant
 
They are both great!!!!

Continentals seem to be slightly less expensive than Lycomings.

You can get 300hp Continental for about $8,000 or a 350hp for about $9,000 I think from JC. My numbers may be slightly off.

I think a 300hp Lycoming will run about $9,000 or so depending who you get it from.

They are both excellent motors though, in my opinion.

Adam
 
are you talking zero time as brand new from lycoming, or zero time rebuild. i have an aircraft book and a brand new engine from lycoming starts around 45,000 io 0540. and as bps said rebuild zero time will run you 9,000 and up depending what you get. and like everyone else said its a chevy ford thing so what ever you choose i think you'll be happy
 
The only aircraft engines that I've ever owned have been Lycomings. So, I'm certainly no authority on Continental. As Grant said, they've both stood the test of time. That being said, I've always figured that there was a reason why you see alot more Lycomings being run than Continentals, even though they're more expensive. Over the years I've heard it said several times that a Continental won't stand up to the kind of abuse that a Lycoming will. But, I have a friend that's been running a Continental for years and has never had any major problems. Just oil leaks. My guess is that it has alot to do with who rebuilt the motor.
 
How about Lyconental's....

Races_2.jpg


Hey Crabby,
Either way you go, a solid motor is a solid motor.

Brewster says he beats his Continentals like rented mules, and they just keep on truck'in. Been doing it for years.

I believe that one.
I'd say pick wich one will be easiest to get parts for in your area.
You in Sanford?
Your close enough to Lycoming and Continental motor-men either way.

BTW,
I broke down the other day.
Pulling my boat out of the woods, the ignition module in my truck started crapping out with-out warning.

Along comes a guy dragging an car motor boat, and let me buy the one off of his airboat motor!

Thanks dude!

Who says Car-motor boats ain't no good for noth'in!
Great guy he was.
That would'nt change no matter what engine he run.
 
I had this discussion with Jr. Jurnigan a few years ago. Brother Jurnigan told me that one of the big advantages that the Connys have over Lycomings was that their camshaft was below the cylinder line instead of above it like Lycoming.

He said that for that reason (because the cam ran in more oil) it was rare to see a high time Continental with the cam and lifters worn out, but not uncommon at all to see it in a Lycoming.

Idleing a Lycoming is harder on them because they rely on splash lubrication to the cam and lifters, so someone who plans to do a lot of frogging, for example, might get better service with a Continental engine.

olf
 
Country-Boy, don't read something into my post that I didn't intend.

If I was building a boat that spent most of it's time on plane (which is how I ride) I'd probably want an IO540. But if huntin and froggin was what I did most of the time then a Continental might be a better choice.

Like Thunder likes to say, there's no 'best' at everything. You've got to decide how you want to use the boat and then choose accordingly.

olf
 
no, i wasnt reading too much into your post, i was laughing at the post above yours. i made the comment about continentals being made to run and lycomings being made to sell- yet i just blew my continental up a few weekends ago and Grant was calling me out on that. Just got a kick out of his comment "try a lycoming next time"
 
Don't take offense, I was just having a little fun at your expence.....they are both good engines.....they do run longer with oil in them :lol:
 
None taken- if you cant laugh at your own misfortunes, then you're taking life too seriously- besides, i had a great time blowing it up!! haha. now i'm in the process of rebuilding it, which, knock on wood, has gone smooth so far. not too much damage- couple new rings, new barrings, and re-turn the cam. from the looks of things right now, it wont be as expensive as i was anticipating
 
....... runs his Continentals like rented mules !

My god I gotta remember that lline !

My experience with aircraft engines is limited to one Conny and 2 Lycomings, all 4 cylinders but if I was worried about ideling and oil flow I would give them a Slick 50 treatment and forget about it. Worked like majick on my boys lil 90 GPU boat. You can imagine how a 14 year old runs a boat when dad aint around........ makes rented mules look like pristine thoroughbreads. LOL !

Oops....14 YOs cant run boats now..........Better they get in trouble on the streets.

Scotty :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
I'm a car motor guy teetering on the idea of an aircraft motor(closet A/C guy) but one of those motors leaks alotof oil.But I don't know the differance other than Chevy or Cadillac.

PS It isn't Lycoming.
 
I think they both are as good as the builder and the operator . I have had both and i would buy either one to suit my needs
 
there's another saying about continentals for ya- "if its not leaking oil, its not running right"... and if it doesnt have any oil, then its blown, haha (found that one out!)
 
Hey Country boy,
Lycomings never leak oil.
They do like to occasionally mark thier territory though!

If you happen to see a spot of oil on my deck, well that's what it from. 8)
 
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