For the Warbug lovers

[Matt Gunsch]

I just finished repairing a A-65 Continental that goes on a Interstate Cadet. The Cadet was involved in a takeoff accident when the elevator controls came disonnected and the plane crashed into a alfalfa field. The only damage was both main gear were folded back, a little damage to the lower cowl and the prop.
I tore the bottom end of the engine down to perform a prop strike inspection, the engine had been overhauled about 200hrs ago, so no work was done on the top end. The only damage from the prop strike was a minor bend to the flange and a cracked cam gear, however, I did find damage from a low or no oil problem. I had to have the crank and cam ground, new lifter bodies, new rod and main bearings, new rod bolts, new cam gear, and new cam and crank gear bolts.

Here is the crank and rods mounted up to my build stand


this is the crank case halves assembled and torqued,


and the finished engine ready to install


I would have like to have had the cylinders gone thru and to repaint the rear case and oil sump, but since I was not paying the bill, I had to go with what the customer wanted.

[SparrowV12]

my, what a small crank you have--- althought I will admit this isn't a 'standard' Merlin crank----

[Forgotten Field]

Matt,
How did you handle the bend in the flange- was it just an edge?
Who did the crank and cam, and how hard are the A-65 nowadays to get? A ustomer was telling me about finding his C-85 crank and cam bad. The guy did the O-200 STC on it and I am wondering how that works and can you run a wood prop with the flange?

Sparrow,
I hate to admit it, but my crank isn't as big as yours...

[Matt Gunsch]

I did not have any trouble finding parts, but then I did not need any big parts. The crank and cam were done by Aircraft Specialties in Tulsa, Ok. The crank was turned to .010 on both rods and mains, the case inspection and rework by Divco, also in Tulsa.
I can do the tear down, basic measuring, cleaning and reassembly here. I can also do Dye Penentrant and UV Dye pen inspections here at the house. I built the engine up in my workshop in back of the house.
All I have left to do is to go thru the magnetos, and I am waiting on points and drive gears for those.

[Matt Gunsch]

it is not the size of the crank that matters, it is how you use it.

[SparrowV12]

True, true--but the length of the stroke does count.

[Matt Gunsch]

well, it is alive, we started it for the first time yesterday. hope to have ground runs done and flying next weekend

[mustangdriver]

Congrats. Great looking bird there.

[Obergrafeter]

Great looking bird. The Interstate is as much fun as you can have on 65hp. TA says hi.