My 60 year old engine finally gave up! Need advice....

[7ACDriver]

Since I don't fly in the winter, I decided to pull the jugs off my A-65 to check overall condition of crank and cam and noticed one of the connecting rod was loose . So here I am at a crossroad: rebuild the old engine or install a C-85.

For those who have installed an 85 hp, what's involved?
STC : $ ??
aux gas tank?
Do I get electrics


Some that have done this went back to a 65 hp after a while...?

Any advice, comments or suggestions?

[Paul Agaliotis]

Hugh,
Since you have all of the cylinders off, change the rod bearings and go flying. When you say loose do you mean between the rod and crankshaft? If so make sure you aren't detecting some side clearance in the rods. As the cranks are re-ground the side clearance increases at the rod journals.
To overhaul the 65 will cost about 6K. The 85 is just about the same price and you will need a new prop, engine baffles, H/W exhaust, magnetos and tach. If you don't have a wing tank or two your range will be about 1 1/2 hrs.
Paul

[7ACDriver]

Hi Paul,
Nice to hear from you!
My engine has 1560 smoh and was running strong but tbo is approaching...and it is 60 years old. Pretty amazing when you think of it.
My initial idea was to put new bearings but then I measured the crank. On cylinder position 1 & 2 the crank was 10 under and on position 3 & 4 the crank was standard. Don't know if that was common back then to regrind only half the crank?
I have to remove the engine and bring it to an overhaul shop to get the final diagnostic...Would be nice to install new bearings and go fly!

[Paul Agaliotis]

Hugh,
I haven't seen cranks that were ground to different dimensions on journals. Being a Major Repair I would guess they all would have to fit a specific diameter.
I would disassemble the engine if it were mine and found this situation. There was a listing that joea posted about some Chief parts for sale. I believe he had an engine also.
Paul

[Red(neck) Barron]

I can't speak to the work or money involved in the comparison between the rebuild or change out but I can say that I bought a Champ with a 90 in it and Holy Buckets; what a airplane it is! In my book there is no subsitute for horsepower and I don't care if we are talking planes or lawn mowers or anything in between.

[7ACDriver]

Larry,

Don't tease me with that 90 hp. They are hard to come by. I heard they are even a better performer than the 0-200!

Did yours come with the 90 hp or you had it put in?

[Red(neck) Barron]

Mine already had the 90 in it. In it's long history it has spent time spraying crops and bobbing on the water. It was the ag work that got it the mighty 90 early in it's life. I don't know that it would be any better than an O-200 although I've embarrased a lot of 150 drivers in all phases of flight. One even called me a helicopter. For as great a plane as a Champ is, they are a whole nuther somethn' on steroids with the extra HP.