Author: "p40whk" <iflyrv6@...> Time: Sun Sep 1, 2002 12:13 pm PDT Link
I have been searching high and low for a good deal on an engine and am considering the option
of overhauling one myself. I am an A&P with access to all the tooling but cannot find a source for
an overhaul kit (or parts).
I'm trying to determine if buying a core and doing the overhaul myself will save me anything or if
the cost difference is not worth my time. I have been able to find many cores at good prices but
have not been able to find a decent mid time engine.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Jeff Schaber
RV6 wings
N620RV (reserved)
Author: Danny King <wdking@...> Time: Sun Sep 1, 2002 6:35 pm PDT Link
Jeff,
I bought a so called 600 hour engine from Wentworth Salvage. I had him
send me the logbook, and I called the shop that did the last overhaul,
It all looked good so I said ship the engine. (Big Mistake) The engine
that arrived turned out to be a different engine than the one in the
logbook supplied by Mr. Wentworth. It had rusted steel cylinders
instead of the new chrome ones the logbook talked about. It was a mess!
It was a nightmare!
After many phone calls and plenty of worry later, he made it right by
paying for 2/3 of the overhaul while I paid for the other 1/3. The
engine was suppose to be a 600 hour engine, i.e. a 1/3 used up engine
(based on a 2000 hour TBO). Mr Wentworth told me it was ready to hang
and fly. Right!!
The overhaul process took a year to complete, some nasty phone calls, a
threatened law suit, and many sleepless nights. In the end, I saved
around 13,000 over the price of a brand new Lycoming IO360A1A from Van.
But, if I had it to do over again, I'd order that new engine and figure
some way to pay for it. Trust me on this one: Engine logbooks are a
complete fantasy!!!!!!! Unless you know the airplane and pilot and all
of the engines history, you will be taking a huge gamble. The only way
to tell what you really have is to tear the engine down and inspect
every part!
To disassemble and reassemble the Lycosuras following the engine manual
is not rocket science. I'd rather do that any day than assenble another
pair of RV-8 gearboxes! In the end, my engine turned out fine, and I
was able to customize it with 10:1 pistons for a little more power.
But, Vans engines are new, not zero since major overhaul. They come
with a guarantee from Lycoming. So think about it, and put a new engine
in your new airplane.
Danny King
Beautiful Doll 80434
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Author: "Gary A. Sobek" <GASobek@...> Time: Tue Sep 3, 2002 5:21 am PDT Link
Jeff:
El Reno (800) 521-0333 is a good source for mail order engine, mag, and carb parts. They use to have
a free parts/price list that they would mail out to you.
Gary A. Sobek
RV-6, N157GS, O-320 Hartzell
SoCAL; 1,180+ flying hours
p40whk wrote:
> I have been searching high and low for a good deal on an engine and am considering the option
> of overhauling one myself. I am an A&P with access to all the tooling but cannot find a source for
> an overhaul kit (or parts).
>
> I'm trying to determine if buying a core and doing the overhaul myself will save me anything or if
> the cost difference is not worth my time. I have been able to find many cores at good prices but
> have not been able to find a decent mid time engine.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Jeff Schaber
> RV6 wings
> N620RV (reserved)