Superior Air Parts
Superior Air Parts
For more than three decades in our continuing quest to design and develop the ultimate value in piston engine aircraft parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines, Superior Air Parts, Inc., has become a major force in the general aviation market. By focusing on a few simple goals we have become the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of aftermarket aircraft engine replacement parts:
- Design, develop, certify and manufacture improved aircraft replacement parts using the latest engineering technologies, most rigorous developing and testing methods and world class manufacturing tools and techniques.
- Establish a distribution network that sets new industry standards in customer service by maintaining an inventory and personnel with the product knowledge that will deliver added value to every customer for every one of our 2,000 different aftermarket part numbers.
- Demonstrate confidence in our product designs and manufacturing by backing them with the best warranty in the business.
- Today, Superior Air Parts, Inc. produces innovative designs and pioneers the use of advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to significantly improve the durability of aircraft parts and lower the operating costs for our customers.
- Tri-Metal Bearings
Main and rod bearings have been improved as well, using modern tri-metal bearing material. They are 40% stronger than conventional aluminum bearings. Superior’s state-of-the-art bearing technology holds up to the most demanding applications.
Camshafts
The camshaft is the “Brain” of the Engine and designed for better cruise economy, lower valve-train loads, and smoother idle and power operation. The camshaft intake and exhaust valve lobes have been computer optimized. Lower valve-train loads reduce camshaft and lifter spalling and decrease valve-train and guide wear and friction. Precisely timed camshaft lobe valve events enhance economy and overall performance. Idle and power vibration characteristics are also computer optimized to passenger car standards to reduce pilot fatigue and component wear.
The new camshafts are crafted to Superior’s exacting specifications exclusively by the Thielert Company of Hamburg Germany. Along with the camshafts they manufacturer to Superior’s design specifications, the company also produces high quality engine components like camshafts and crankshafts to motor sports customers including leading GT, Formula 1 and Indy Racing League Teams. Utilizing the purest base metals, the camshafts are precision milled using the most advanced CNC machines, which allow them to achieve the highest quality and tolerances.
Crankcases
Improved crankcase has reinforced cylinder decks, balanced oil system and thrust face lubrication.
Superior’s crankcase is made from aerospace grade AA C355-T71 stabilized structural aluminum alloy per AMS 4214. The reinforced crankcase cylinder deck greatly reduces deck-to-deck cracking. Unlike competitive crankcases, Superior’s balanced oil system lubricates the crankshaft and camshaft from either side of the crankcase. This reduces oil pressure fluctuations and equalizes oil flow through the entire engine, including the lifters. Pressurized oil lubricates the crankcase thrust face, reducing friction on the loaded surface of the case where the crank pulls the case forward. These features are only found with a new Superior crankcase.
Crankshafts
Proprietary ESR steel crankshaft
Utilizing a brand new proprietary production process and totally new steel compound, Superior ’s engineers have created the ESR crankshaft – the most technically advanced crankshaft available for the four-cylinder engine market. Superior ’s proprietary Electro Slag Remelt (ESR) process removes many more metal impurities than the VAR process. Superior ’s ESR process combined with the new higher alloy content steel creates a crankshaft that is stronger and will resist many of the problems found in crankshafts produced through older technology processes. The new ESR crankshafts are exclusively crafted for Superior Air Parts by Thielert Aircraft Engines, of Hamburg , Germany . Superior is making the new ESR crankshafts available as direct replacements for applicable Lycoming four-cylinder engine crankshafts.
Piston and Connecting Rods
Dynamically balanced connecting rods and piston
Superior’s connecting rods are available in matched-weight sets that are statically and dynamically balanced. These rods are made from precision forged high-strength aerospace grade SAE 8740 forgings per AMS 6325. Consistent precision machining of these forgings and installation as matched-weight sets yield a statically and dynamically (CG and moment of inertias are the same) balanced set of connecting rods for reduced vibration and wear. Also available from Superior are matched-weight piston sets. These sets are matched to within 2 grams. The combination of Superior’s matched-weight connecting rods and pistons will provide you with the most dynamically balanced engine available.
Sumps
Cold Air Induction Sump – All aluminum sump, all aluminum casting 3 lbs. lighter than updraft sump. Forward facing cold air induction aerobatic ready.
Cast up draft, certified updfraft cast oil sump with an improved, high flow induction system
The sump is made from aerospace grade AA C355-T71 stabilized structural aluminum alloy per AMS 4214. A smoother intake manifold and plenum system reduces aerodynamic drag for better breathing of all four cylinders, while at the same time a plenum turbulator improves air-fuel mixing. Tuned intake tubes balance the intake air runner length to further improve engine breathing. Polished stainless-steel intake tubes eliminate rusting from the elements.
Valves
Superior’s valves are crafted by the same legendary manufacturer that machines valves used in the world’s premier racing engines found in Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Mercedes. Particular attention is paid to the choice of steels and processes used to control the structure of the various materials – not only on the Millennium Engine’s reciprocating parts, but also its other major components.
Millennium Cylinders
Through hardened, strength steel- Each barrel offers uniform-hardness all the way through the steel walls, allowing the barrel to withstand extreme cylinder temperatures and pressures and to wear evenly.
Millennium barrels consistently reach TBO, and are designed to last even beyond TBO for several overhaul cycles.
Nitrided-vs-Through-hardened Cylinder Barrels -Nitriding is tough, but for only for the first .025 inch of thickness. It is an uneven coating at best which often quickly and unevenly wears away under extreme temperatures and pressures from piston rings wearing against the cylinder wall.
Nitriding’s uneven wear, and the resulting uneven thickness of the barrel wall often prevent the cylinder from making it to TBO.
AMS 6382 Steel Cylinder Barrels - This manufacturing specification goes beyond specifying the chemical content of the 6382 aerospace steel. While 6382 is an excellent material, using the AMS 6382 specification ensures complete control of all critical manufacturing processes from the grain size of the steel to the elimination of microimpurities and defects in the alloy.
Experience has proven that Millennium Barrels perform as expected. They wear more evenly, than nitrided barrels, offer increased cylinder life, less downtime and lower per hour operating costs.
Advanced Cylinder Barrel Choke - Millennium Cylinder Barrels are choked from ten to thirteen thousandths of an inch to allow the rings and pistons to work properly at normal operating temperatures.
Proper barrel choking works best to improve cylinder performance and prevent rings and pistons from prematurely wearing out.
Millennium Cylinders use more advanced alloys that yield 20-per-cent greater strength than aerospace industry standards for air-cooled cylinder heads.
Their advance head casting process reduces safety worries about the thousands of tiny voids found in ordinary sand-cast competitive heads. Voids are microscopic pockets of air that trap heat and promote fatigue cracking. Cracking, in turn, causes premature cylinder failure, which may even reduce your engine’s life span.
Millennium Cylinder surfaces are aerodynamically smoother to cut wind resistance and draw away heat from the cylinder core to ensure your engine runs cooler and more efficiently.
Cylinder port wall thicknesses have been increased to greatly reduce premature warpage and cracking.
Every Millennium head casting is identical, unlike ordinary sand-cast heads. That makes exhaust and intake ports, which are responsible for volumetric efficiency in equalizing power pulses from each cylinder, matched for maximum output, better performance and better engine fuel efficiency.
Millennium castings meet more stringent porosity and shrinkage requirements than ordinary cylinder heads. They offer a longer-life cylinder head, less prone to crack than rival competitive heads.
The Millennium’s computer generated cylinder head fin configuration offers more consistent fin thickness and spacing for more uniform heat transfer, and fewer “hot spots”.
Coupled with a precision balanced rotating assembly, this cylinder leaves behind ordinary standards for performance and extended cylinder life.
For Continental Engines
Features Unique to All Models for Continental Engines
- Improved Casting Integrity
- Castings meet stringent porosity and shrinkage requirements.
- Promotes a longer-life cylinder head, less prone to cracking.
- Computer Generated Cylinder Head Fin Configuration .
- More consistent fin thickness and spacing.
- Means more uniform heat transfer and fewer “hot spots”, compared to standard factory cylinders.
New Materials
Advanced alloys yield 20% greater strength than aerospace industry standards for air-cooled cylinder heads.
Increases cylinder longevity.
Through hardened 6382 Steel Cylinder Barrel
Through hardened 6382 Steel Cylinder Barrel. These barrels may be ground oversize and fitted with oversized pistons.
Choked barrel
Optimal barrel choke allows rings and pistons to work properly at normal operating .
Improves performance and reduces ring and piston wear.
Features Unique to Continental A-65, C-75/85/90 & O-200/300 Engines
Improved Exhaust Port and Guide Boss
Exhaust Guide Boss extends to completely surround the exhaust guide.
Heat is conducted away from the guide to reduce valve sticking and wear.
Exhaust port wall thickness has been increased to reduce premature warping and cracking.
New Ni-Resist Valve Guide
Ni-resist exhaust valve guide and chrome-plated valve stem.
A high performance improvement that reduces valve sticking and wear.
Rocker Shaft Bushings
Factory installed bushings.
Provide a superior bearing surface and simplify the repair process.
Features Unique to Continental 470/520/550 Engines
New and Improved Rosan Inserts for Exhaust Studs (520 & 550 models)
Improves exhaust union reliability.
Stronger Injector Boss
Increased thickness has been added to the injector boss area.
Helps reduce cracking.
Strengthened Rocker Boss Area
Thickened web size reduces cracking.
Increased Port Wall Thickness and Enlarged Spark Plug Boss .
Exhaust wall thickness has been increased to reduce premature warping and resist cracking.
Improved Port Design
7% better volumetric efficiency
Smoother port walls reduce drag
For Lycoming Engines
Features Unique to All Models for Lycoming Engines
- Improved Casting Integrity
- Castings meet stringent porosity and shrinkage requirements.
- Promotes a longer-life cylinder head, less prone to cracking.
- Computer Generated Cylinder Head Fin Configuration
- More consistent fin thickness and spacing.
- Means more uniform heat transfer and fewer “hot spots”, compared to standard competitors cylinders.
New Materials
Advanced alloys yield 20% greater strength than aerospace industry standards for air-cooled cylinder heads.
Increases cylinder longevity.
Through hardened 6382 Steel Cylinder Barrel
Uniform hardness at any depth with more corrosion resistance.
These barrels may be ground oversize and fitted with oversized pistons.
Choked barrel
Optimal barrel choke allows rings and pistons to work properly at normal operating temperatures.
Improves performance and reduces ring and piston wear.
Features Unique to Lycoming 320/360/540 Parallel Head Engines
Increased Wall Thickness and Enlarged Spark Plug Boss
Exhaust wall thickness has been increased and spark plug boss has been enlarged to reduce premature warping and cracking.
First Production Investment-Cast Aircraft Cylinder for Improved Integrity
The Millennium parallel head 320/360/540 cylinder castings have a smoother finish for better cooling and improved volumetric efficiency in the ports.
Casting Integrity
Smoother surface finish allows better heat transfer.
Dimensional consistency improves durability.
A denser raw material with fewer inherent voids and cavities resists cracking.
Improved Port Design
6% better volumetric efficiency
Smoother port walls reduce drag
Features Unique to Lycoming 540 Upexhaust Engines
Increased Thickness in Combustion Chamber Walls & Exhaust Port
Translates into a longer-life cylinder head, less prone to cracking.