Warbird Information Exchange

Slow day (not that many aren't any more) here at work & I thunk of something. Could Fifi have been re-engined with R-2800s? If so, how would the mods to fit them compared to the cost of building up 'custom' R-3350s? Surely the power available from an R-2800 is adequate. That would seem to have been pretty cost-effective with all the -2800s around. Not that I know what I'm talking about either, BTW. I just thought of all the radial engined a/c that engines are swapped out from one type to another & they seem to be fairly numerous from Stearmans to PB4Ys to Sea Furies, etc.

How about putting on some Bristol Centaurus 661s from a Blackburn Beverly? Kind of a turnabout from the Sea Fury conversions!

I had a lot of people ask about the 2800. My first reaction was H*LL NO! But then, I had to give them a reason why, other than me just thinking it's a bad idea. First, we'd have to find a huge surplus of 2800's that aren't as easy to come by as you might think. Their nosecases are particularly getting more rare (according to my engine guys). Second, we'd have to make all new engine mounts. Third, we'd have to make all new cowlings, or likely heavily modify the ones we've got. Fourth, we'd have to get new props.

This engine plan we're doing is not something that we just wrote down on a napkin at supper one night. Not that you're suggesting otherwise, but there has been, and continues to be, lots of thought put into how the best way to make this happen will be. So far, everything is working pretty well as far as our plan is concerned...other than taking longer than we'd hoped (which is to be expected).

Gary

Are there any internal parts that have to be fabricated for this change over?

Nope.