Warbird Information Exchange

I think the first 3350 conversion was done in 1987 by Larry Burton for the Blind Man's Bluff racing project. I don't know much about what came later. I know Nelson was building up engine mounts quite early on, but I think he was using Burton's configuration. I think Ezell was selling engine mounts to other builders too.

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

Couple more...

Sorry should have remembered the 3350 was a Curtis Wright R series engine, seems Centauras and belly landing go together? I believe that one of the two suffered and engine issue at Duxford on the Sat and the last I heard was still hangared waiting for a diagnosis (possible cylinder prob?)

First aftermarket engine swap was Frank Sanders' Dreadnought and the second was Jim Mott's Sea Fury which had a later Centaurus from a Beverly IIRC. 3350s came later.

Mott's old plane has since been converted to a 3350.

Where does "CottonMouth" , the ex Jerry Janes T.20 Seafury fit in the first of the 3350 conversions ? She's the one going back to Centaurus power at Meier Motors.

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

I am relying on a rapidly fading memory here and could be way off base but I thought George Baker's "Sky Fury" was the first 3350 conversion and "Cottonmouth" was the second. I'm sure somebody with more knowledge will confirm or deny.

Larry Burton (built Blind Man's Bluff) told me that he didn't want to go the 4360 route and Ralph Payne suggested the 3350-26WD would be a good candidate. Larry found a source and bought a lot of them cheap. When he made the first engine mount, he realized he had to cut a section out of the main ring to provide room for the oil sump. The original mount might be around our hangar someplace. They used it for a mock up stand to mate the A-26 cowling to the engine. The 2nd one fit nicely and he continued producing them. My memory is that he sold some to Nelson, but I could be wrong there. My father bought one from a trade-a-plane ad in the late 80's for $5500. "Do you think I got the cart in front of the horse?" he said to me. With nothing to bolt to either end of it, the mount sat around the hangar for a number of years and I finally bolted a piece of plywood on the top so it would serve as a work bench. When dad bought N85SF from Bill Woods (1991), it came with a number of mounts. I would guess that the original mount purchased from Larry is still on a rack in our hangar.
Tom "TJ" Dwelle

Are there any sea furies flying with a Centaurus and a 4 bladed prop? don't think I've ever seen one.

I think Jim Mott's airplane was the only one ever so equipped and it was later swapped for a 3350.

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May all your bent wings be F2G Corsairs!