Let's Not Hear That Whining About How 'Everything's Old Design!'

Engine Components, Inc. (ECi) is announcing their new product line - TITAN™ Cylinder Assemblies.
Based on ECi’s highly successful Classic Cast™ line of cylinder assemblies, the TITAN cylinder incorporates state-of-the-art design, metallurgical and manufacturing improvements over traditional cylinder design. As the name implies, the all new TITAN brand of FAA-PMA cylinders from ECi stand head and shoulders above most competing cylinders currently available in the market.
To make these cylinders the best that could be built, ECi engineers were given the freedom to re-examine every feature of the Classic Cast aluminum alloy cylinder head. Structural cross-sections, airflow (internal and external) and molten metal chill rates were questioned and improvements were made as necessary. A worldwide literature search was conducted to determine the optimum aluminum alloy for the casting. The cylinder barrel was viewed as part of a system in conjunction with the mating piston rings. Break-in reliability as well as corrosion and premature-wear issues were revisited so that all of the best features of the Classic Cast cylinders were carried over to the TITAN brand. Manufacturing methods were carefully studied to improve product consistency and reduce unnecessary costs.
All General Aviation airplane owners, engine shops, and enthusiasts worldwide face significant economic challenges brought about by higher operating costs and increased government regulations. ECi understands these concerns. Ed Salmeron, President of Engine Components, Inc., reveals, “Owners and operators of GA aircraft throughout the world are continually asking why new technology doesn’t come to GA. Why can’t we have more choices and more durable products at an affordable price? TITAN cylinder assemblies address all of these issues and questions and much more.”

Lots of New Tech Incorporated

After 18 months of design review and retooling, the TITAN cylinder assemblies were subjected to hundreds of hours of testing in ECi’s calibrated test cell and comfortably passed all testing which was designed to exceed FAA and OEM requirements.
The new TITAN brand cylinder assemblies are much more than a random assortment of new parts. The list of features and benefits is impressive:-- RR350 Aluminum Alloy: has better elevated temperature properties than the traditional aluminum alloy that dominates the current market.

• Fin Width and Spacing: optimum cylinder head cooling prolongs cylinder life.
• Shell Molded Casting: a manufacturing process that produces dimensional accuracy and improved metallurgical properties.
• Casting Surface Texture: efficient cylinder head cooling - minimizes valve sticking and cylinder head cracking.
• Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP): eliminates sub-surface pores in cylinder head castings - improves resistance to cracking.
• Calibrated Intake Port: use of a calibrated flow bench during manufacturing is standard procedure for all TITAN cylinders - assures engine performance.
• Increased Critical Wall Thickness: the right amount of metal in the right place - no better cylinder is on the market today.
• Nickel+Carbide Coated Bore: warranted against premature wear and corrosion for 5 years - no other cylinder bore carries a warranty of this magnitude.
• Plateau Bore Finish: a 2-step honing procedure creating a finish of plateaus and subsurface valleys essential to ring break-in - lubrication of the ECi plasma compression ring and bore interface system.
• Plasma Coated Top Compression Ring: scuff resistant and self-lubricating - easy break-in, longer ring life, less bore wear.
• Valve Guide “Ballizing”: precision finished valve guides - reduces unscheduled maintenance costs.
• “Serdi”™ Cut Valve Seats - proper guide to seat concentricity and geometry ensure proper valve seat heat dissipation and minimize valve guide wear.
• Injector Boss Bushing – For TCM 470/520/550 replacement cylinders, prevents major structural cracks from developing and facilitates injector removal and installation during inspections.

Goodbye to the Good Old Classic Cast

As each TITAN cylinder type is introduced into the market, the Classic Cast cylinder head for that cylinder type will no longer be produced although existing castings will be supported by ECi to the full extent of the warranty existing when the Classic Cast cylinder was purchased.
They have a neat booklet, too, that tells you more than you probably knew to ask. It's booklet #200, entitled What You Should Know About TITAN Cylinder Assemblies, by ECi.

FMI: http://www.eci2fly.com