Old engines, future?

[Ernie]

So I would love to have a Waco RNF. Warner engine. Fewer and fewer parts, fewer and fewer places willing to overhaul. The Wrights are getting close to the same place and a host of other engines, are worse off. What's going to happen in the future. Will these airplanes only fly with a machinist standing by? Internal parts can (maybe) be made by automotive shops. Crankshafts? Cylinders? Mags?

What is the future for these jewels of the past?

Ernie

[rosiejerryrosie]

Boat anchors?

[Adam Smith]

Here's a website that can give you some hope:http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/proje...-build-history If it's possible to build a WW1 rotary from scratch, I think pretty much anything is technically possible. The cost is another matter. Plentiful, cheap supplies of military spares will be a thing of the past.

[JimRice85]

That same concern is what has kept me out of a Monocoupe. I want one with a radial, not a horizontally opposed.

[DanChief]

I'm learning to be creative and have a good, patient, understanding A&P/IA to work with.

I have a Lycoming )-145-B2 in my Chief, and some parts are rare. There are several engines sitting in hangars which may yield some parts. Some can be manufactured -- there's still adequate technical data.

[Tom Downey]

I had no problems getting all the parts I needed to overhaul my Warner 165

[uavmx]

And I agree completely! Trouble I have is so many of the younger A&P guys don't understand about the antiques. All the old guys are retired and are burned out. I'm searching now for someone to rebuild certified engine that understands these are worth saving at a reasonable price. W

Here we go again, old folks generalizing about the youth!! First off there aren't many young A&P's because the industry doesn't make it worth joining, but that's another subject. :-)

Secondly, they are antiques for a reason and it's not something people come by on a regular basis. How can you learn about them having never been around them. I don't think you would have a hard time finding an A&P to go down a path with you. Is that what you are thinking of? Starting an engine shop focusing on antique engines?

And what's a "reasonable cost" because anything IO is $20-30k to have a shop rebuild, considering the amount of machining equipment you would need to build the one off parts, and the FAA approval to sell those parts (don't know how hard that is to get, or how expensive).

In A&P school and I had an oppurtunity to rebuild a radial engine....it's a PAIN IN THE ASS, much harder then anything Opposed. It was cool, and it was an extra curricular thing that a couple off us students did on our own time. Granted, we didn't have all the tools we probably would have made it easier, we had to adapt and overcome....


where are you located?

[oowiee]

My statement was kinda tongue in cheek. There just seems not to be guys here willing to work on antiques. I'm in Ar. and it's been a long time since I've messed with aircraft etc. so you can imagine my surprise with todays prices. I had a C-100 rebuilt in the late 60's for $500. lol

[Tom Downey]

My statement was kinda tongue in cheek. There just seems not to be guys here willing to work on antiques. I'm in Ar. and it's been a long time since I've messed with aircraft etc. so you can imagine my surprise with todays prices. I had a C-100 rebuilt in the late 60's for $500. lol

The last overhaul on my Warner 165 was $785.00 this time I have less than $600 total in parts. dissemble, inspect, clean, and reassemble with a new oil feed bushing, two new mag drive gear bushings, two new mag drive gears, new gaskets, 12 new master rod bushings, 6 new articulating rod pins, and 1 new master rod insert bearing lapped to size.

[Tom Downey]

Here we go again, old folks generalizing about the youth!! First off there aren't many young A&P's because the industry doesn't make it worth joining, but that's another subject. :-)

Secondly, they are antiques for a reason and it's not something people come by on a regular basis. How can you learn about them having never been around them. I don't think you would have a hard time finding an A&P to go down a path with you. Is that what you are thinking of? Starting an engine shop focusing on antique engines?

And what's a "reasonable cost" because anything IO is $20-30k to have a shop rebuild, considering the amount of machining equipment you would need to build the one off parts, and the FAA approval to sell those parts (don't know how hard that is to get, or how expensive).

In A&P school and I had an oppurtunity to rebuild a radial engine....it's a PAIN IN THE ASS, much harder then anything Opposed. It was cool, and it was an extra curricular thing that a couple off us students did on our own time. Granted, we didn't have all the tools we probably would have made it easier, we had to adapt and overcome....


where are you located?

I have none of the equipment to do any machining that is required to be done yet I do complete overhauls, But I can ship to many shops that do..