HCI 180 5 cyl rotary engines

[WiscoJeeper]

Hi RWF,

I cleaned up an old storage unit, and there was a PILE of aircraft parts. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep them all, but I did manage to snag two HCI Model 180 engines. I am not into planes, and was going to use them for wall art/coffee table or something like that. Before I did, I wanted to make sure someone wasn't looking for parts or needed them to complete a restoration. The are low serial numbers, one is S# 008.... I am not sure if all the parts are there, but I have the heads and valves and I think the intakes.

Can anyone shed some light on these, maybe a rough value?

 

[Aerofoam]

I vaguely remember these.

HCI

Information about the brand HCI

www.aeroenginesaz.com

Looks like you are missing the heads...

 

[WiscoJeeper]

 

[okikuma]

To my understanding, the HCI radial engines are plans built engines based on VW pistons and cylinders. One purchased a set of plans and milled out their own radial engine case, cylinder heads, crank, and piston rods. The original flat head design had trouble with effective cylinder head cooling so subsequent designs had a more traditional overhead valve design.

My suggestion is keep one radial engine for the living room coffee table and use the other as a fun radial engine demonstrator for airshows and fairs.

Wayne