ERCO I-L 116

In late 1938, the Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO) searched unsuccessfully for a suitable engine for its new "safe" airplane, the Ercoupe. ERCO hired Harold Morehouse, former engineer in charge of small engine design at Continental Motors, to design a new engine. He came up with the inverted, in-line I-L 116, which provided good pilot visibility and enhanced aircraft streamlining.

ERCO installed the I-L 116 in the prototype Ercoupe Model 310 in 1939. The engine performed well, but ERCO discontinued it when Continental introduced the A-65 engine in 1940, which generated comparable horsepower at half the cost. ERCO manufactured parts for six I-L 116s but built only three.

pecifications

pistonspecs

type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted inline aircraft piston engine
bore=
stroke=
displacement=116 in³ (1.9 L)
length=
diameter=
width=
height=
weight=158 lb (71.7 kg)
valvetrain=One intake and one exhaust valve per cylinder, pushrod-actuated.
supercharger=
turbocharger=
fuelsystem=Updraft carburetor
fueltype=73 octane avgas
oilsystem=Wet sump
coolingsystem=Air-cooled
power=65 hp (48.5 kW) at 3,500 RPM
specpower=0.56 hp/in³ (25.5 kW/L)
compression=
fuelcon=
specfuelcon=
oilcon=
power/weight=0.41 hp/lb (0.68 kW/kg)