Hi guys,
Im just curious if one was to swap a Norland for a Pponk what about need to be changed? The Norland is a IO 470 with a carb and high compression pistons. Does anyone know if this is the same carb, exhaust that would be used on a O470L PPonk?

The reason for the swap would be because my "friend" wants the lower compression pistons to be able to mix in mo gas sometimes. Both engines arent certified for Mogas, but it seems like Pponk would be a safer route and he has heard of plenty of other people running the same.

Additionally there might be a few extra hp to gain but it is probably not so noticeable.

Would it be an easy swap if one was to find a ready-to-go Pponk? Could always sell the 3 year old Norland too.

As always, thank you in advance for all of the responses and insight. This forum is an incredible source of information.

Its easily dooable... Pretty much you are just talking about buying outright a Ponk motor and STC. To answer your questions, you wouldnt be keeping much in the overhaul... If I remember right, the Norland uses a IO-470-D,-E,-F,-H,-M,-N or -S. The only one of those that can be used for a Ponk build is the S. If you had an "S," you'd have have the motor built by the approved shop to "turn" it into a Ponk. There is no real magic other than some machining, but your local builder cant do it. If you dont have an S, than you are just buying a motor outright or finding a 520D/F and having it built up.

The reason to upgrade these motors is to gain HP, and HP needs better gogo juice. If you want to run Mo, why not just turn the 470 back to a stock O-470? OH the cylinders with LC pistons and buy a stock carb? Seems to me that spending all that $$ to then run the wrong gas is a bit of a wacky idea.

I'm converting my second engine to Pponk. It is an O470U(slow turning Norland) It should not be a big deal to convert. The crankcase would have to be machined for the TSIO 520 cylinders and the carb modified to Pponk spec's. Not sure about connecting rods and counterweights.The baffling and exhaust should work. I have to say that I am impressed with whatever they do to the carb, it makes my Pponk sound like a turbine and it is so much smoother than when it was set for the 470K. Thought it was just bore the jet out to flow more fuel but......

Yeah, the Norland only has 300 hours on it and was completed in 2016, so it definitely has some value. I think it would be better to just sell the engine to someone and buy already built ponk. Doesnt make sense to tear apart a good motor.

Ive just heard and seen of many pponks running on mogas and they're running just fine. And although not written on any paper, I believe they were running their engines on Mogas while doing testing for the stc. I agree with you. The idea is a little weird but in Costa Rica, you can only buy 100LL at the two international airports, both 30-40 minute flight away. So it would be pretty helpful for someone to be able to top off with a little MoGas every once in a while.

Thanks for the response. Good to know I wouldnt have to change too much if I were to put a 470-50 on there.

First off, at 8.6:1 compression, the Norland *will* run just fine on 91. If that's the only consideration, just don't worry about it. The O-360A1A Lyc is rated for 91 Oct and 8.5:1.

That said, different crank, so it's going to be a whole different animal. If you don't already have a VAR crank, thats going to be expensive. As others have said, sell then buy. Almost no props are common between the two conversions either unless you have one field approved. Norland conversion is NOT the same crank damper configuration as the O-470-U unfortunately.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah.. If I did it, I was actually planning on just selling complete the Norland engine and carb. I just wasnt sure if there was anything else big that I was missing to do the swap. I would potentially buy a core 470L or 520 and just have it built up with the pponk. And I have a deposit already down on an MT prop.

Then sell the 350 hour Norland done in 2017. Anyone want it?

I wasn't aware on the 91 octane and that compression. Most things I has read were saying high compression= 100ll, low compression= mogas is possible. Thanks for the insight.

ington6 wrote:Thanks for the reply. Yeah.. If I did it, I was actually planning on just selling complete the Norland engine and carb. I just wasnt sure if there was anything else big that I was missing to do the swap. I would potentially buy a core 470L or 520 and just have it built up with the pponk. And I have a deposit already down on an MT prop.

Then sell the 350 hour Norland done in 2017. Anyone want it?

I wasn't aware on the 91 octane and that compression. Most things I has read were saying high compression= 100ll, low compression= mogas is possible. Thanks for the insight.

Yes there is an stc for auto fuel with 8.5. I would bet 8.6 would run just fine on 91 as well.
I would possibly be interested in the engine if you decide to go that route.

I should mention that one of the reasons I would do it is because Im exporting the aircraft and would want to do it before exporting. Then Id have to pay import taxes on the engine and any parts if I did it later. After it leaves I cant have an FAA AP or IA sign off on any work. So it makes sense for me to get all my mods finished in the US, then begin the paperwork.