Okay I know that sounds like a really silly idea, but hear me out.

What if you took a 13b and basically just mounted it 90º clockwise of how it normally sits, like this:



I know that there's clearly some large hurdles like how to mount it, how the oiling system might be effected without any gravity to help it out, and if the trans itself would need to be rotated as well.

But it seems much more ideal as far as intake and exhaust routing, since it basically turns it into a more traditional intake on the right exhaust on the left set up. Plus it allows for almost perfectly straight flows into the manifolds. Maybe center of gravity is better too?

Has anyone ever heard of someone mounting an engine is any other orientations? Maybe for aviation use?

 

The oil return passage cast into the center/end irons points down for gravity. Placing it to the side would severely effect oil drain from the rotors, one would think.

 

And you would look REALLY silly crawling under your car to change spark plugs, and being under your hood to drain the oil

Have you looked at the new RX patent pictures? They are kind've doing what your asking, the intake and exhaust are flipping sides, and positions from the traditional 13B. The intake is going to be on the drivers bottom, and the exhaust is drivers top of the engine

 

People have done "plugs up" before. Look into that.

 

Yep, this is SOP for aircraft guys. "Plugs up" has disadvantages with respect to manifolding but the oil drains the correct direction and oil won't foul the spark plugs if oil drools past the seals while sitting.



In my mind, plugs down makes more sense because one could easily fabricate an external oil pan that the old feedpipe could drain into, and extend the oil pump inlet downward to suit, or just run a dry sump pump... But I'm not an aircraft guy.

Either way, it's been done both ways, and many pages of argument one way or the other have been posted online.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I had no idea there was a term for it! Lots of good search information out there.

I did take a look at the new concept engine design, very neat stuff! Maybe it'll make it to the run someday.

Is there any certain reason why the aircraft guys don't mount their engines in the standard upright position aside from packaging?

 

From reading the plugsup website, its entirely for packaging. The common PSRUs have the propellor inline with the engine (planetary gearset) and the prop centerline HAS to be in a certain place if you want the plane to fly correctly. Putting the prop in the right place is the largest priority, after that you can figure out how to make the engine happy.

In that respect, plugs up makes a lot more sense because that is the only way you'd be able to get the prop high enough, plenty of room underneath for manifolding.