Warbird Information Exchange

Holy cow! 12 or so years back, the last time I had contact with overhaulers for 1340s, it was just over $30K for a Younkin o/h for a 1340! Now they're 50% more & a 985 costs as much. Wow!

Gosh I remember when an R2800 overhaul was less than $30K.
I think they are in the $150,000 area now. Well if Fifi was $180,000 something then maybe even higher. Some places are more pricey than others.
A 4360 should be $260

You can thank the lawyers and insurance companies for that, the cost of parts has not increased that much because of it is WWII surplus.

Actually I think a lot of the service parts in the 1340s now are newly made. The surplus is running out!

An old friend is back under my care as T-6G 49-3171 has been purchased. I took care of this T-6 when it was owned by Ed Shipley.
Thanks for all of your input for engine rebuilders for the 1340.
To pick your brains further-
Is there any specific requests that you folks recommend that be incorporated into this overhaul?
We were planning on new pistons, wrist pins and valves. The engine already has a dress up kit. It had a new crank and cam put in it 1400 hrs ago. We'll see how they have done.
Any of you recommend having all the cylinders re-chromed even if they all don't need it? (ie #4 & #8 get replaced but #5 and #9 only require re-chroming. Should #1,2,3,6 and 7 be re-chromed anyway so they all match?)
How about Custom Crankshaft Balancing?
Air Wolf vs SkyTractor oil filters- Any input on why one might be better than the other?
Who do you use for 12D-40 prop overhauls?
Thanks for your help.
Rich

_________________
Rich Palmer

Remember an Injured Youth
benstear.org
#64- Stay Strong and Keep the Faith

BOOM BOOM, ROUND ROUND, PROPELLER GO

Don't Be A Dilbert!

Ahh, good ole 49-3171. I logged my very first front seat time in that airplane when Bill Melamed owned it back in 1989. Good old bird.

My two cents is that you should go with the Airwolf filter. It is more compact, and supposedly the filtering and throughput capability of the HP6A filter is greater than the Fram 3393 of the Air Tractor. I think the installation looks nicer as well.

We use H&S out of Pontiac for our 12D40 prop overhauls and have been very happy. I have seen some not so pretty things from some other overhaul shops that don't do a lot of them, so be careful.

So thats what happened to it.
That would have been shortly after the engine had to be overhauled along with oil tank changed.
Wonder what happened? I know what the results were.
That was back in the day that everyone painted there warbirds with the same Imron Siver.
Rich

_________________
Rich Palmer

Remember an Injured Youth
benstear.org
#64- Stay Strong and Keep the Faith

BOOM BOOM, ROUND ROUND, PROPELLER GO

Don't Be A Dilbert!

An R2800 runs about $65000 or so for OH, includes mags and harness.

I am not sure why the engine was changed...that was probably done before I met Melamed.

Not only was that back in the day that all warbirds were painted Imron Silver, they apparently used the entire spectrum of color for the interior lines, etc : Doesn't that one have baby blue hydraulic lines?

Yes, baby blue hyd lines with a gray interior and wrinkle finish instrument panels.
Rich

_________________
Rich Palmer

Remember an Injured Youth
benstear.org
#64- Stay Strong and Keep the Faith

BOOM BOOM, ROUND ROUND, PROPELLER GO

Don't Be A Dilbert!

For filtering, I prefer the Sky tractor, spin on filters. They are large enough and have plenty of filter media, and it is easy to get new filters at any semi-truck supply house.

For cylinders, why get rechromed when you can get new cylinders ?

After the engine is broke in, I would balance the prop. You will know when the engine is ready.

Rich,

If Covington is doing the engine, then have the "wedge cut" R-985 style rings installed. This allows use of less than 25" MAP for cruise without the danger of "ring flutter". A friend had the "wedge cut" rings installed on his Aero overhauled R-1340 as was very pleased with it. I have NuChrome Cylinders on my Tulsa overhauled engine and have been very pleased with the nearly nil oil consumption for 750 hours. If it's a Covington overhaul, have all the cylinders channel chromed at the same time so you'll know what you're dealing with on a fresh OH.

Personally, I prefer the Sky Tractor oil filter, I installed one on our T-6G about 750 hours ago and I have been very pleased with it. I believe the Sky Tractor filter was the first one STC'd for the T-6 and it's designed for tough crop duster operation. I have also used them on racing T-6's and they have given no problems under very harsh operating conditions. I installed an Air Wolf system on a friend's T-6G and was none too impressed with the unit. However, I must say Air Wolf's flat motor filter kits are top notch.

As respects prop shops, H&S has done props for a racing buddy of mine and I was very impressed with the quality of their work. I've personally used Karl Byam down here in the DFW area for years. Thought I have never used them, San Antonio Propeller has an excellent Hamilton Standard reputation. Let me know if you need more information.

Carl Best
Plano, TX

Like this-

Rich

_________________
Rich Palmer

Remember an Injured Youth
benstear.org
#64- Stay Strong and Keep the Faith

BOOM BOOM, ROUND ROUND, PROPELLER GO

Don't Be A Dilbert!

Ahh..the good ole days That is just how I remember her. She was sure a nice airplane, even with the color scheme