Out with the old 1

The Mk V, unlike earlier 27's, doesn't have a removable cover over the engine space. Access is tight.

"I had a couple of diesel mechanics give me a quote in the spring. They wanted to cut a hole in the cockpit to lift it out. They also suggested cutting part of the stairway area away to get the engine out. Boy, am I glad I didn’t listen to them."

Brian's friend Robin designed an ingenious steel lifting bar and had it fabricated at his work (cost $100). This enabled the group to wiggle one engine out and another in with no fibreglass surgery and no stressed backs.

"We started very slowly to make sure we would not be hitting anything on the way out. We had to do a little twisting here and there as it exited but it went smoother than I had anticipated since the engine measures 17 inches wide and the entry to the engine compartment (via the removable stairs) is 16 inches wide. We had to take only one of the engine mounts off and loosen the alternator in order to get the engine out. It took less than two minutes to get the engine out of engine compartment and into the cockpit."