Engine in storage for years...

Gurundu the Rat · Post by **Gurundu the Rat** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 1:45 pm

I came across this Continental O-300 engine that has been sitting on a workbench for about 15 to 20 years. It has no oil in it but is in a temperature controlled environment. Looks ok on the outside but I have not seen the inside. There are no logs and the data plate is unreadable. Is there any way this engine can be overhauled and re-certified 0 time? Can certain parts like the crankshaft still be used if found to be airworthy by an AME? Am I wasting my time with this engine even if I can get it for free? I currently operate a cessna 170 with the same model engine so I am hoping to get spare parts off it if I can't get it overhauled.
Your thoughts are appreciated if you know a bit about making old engines airworthy. Thanks.

GTR

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:51 pm

You could send it out for overhaul but get a quote after teardown to make sure its worth rebuilding. It may have been abandoned because it was BER

hangarline · Post by **hangarline** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:33 am

Talk to an engine shop, but my opinion is that it's going to give you more grief than what it's worth.

nite_owl · Post by **nite_owl** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:37 am

What you have there is a free parts supply!!! You don't know the history any more than you know the history of a cylinder fresh from an overhaul facility. Logs after all go with the case. Should you need a part or parts and the one on your operating engine is shot, then take the one off your parts supply and have it overhauled,then installed. As for general condition of your find, pull a cylinder and have a look inside. What you see is what you get. As your C170 gets older your parts supply is slowly drying up. When did Continental last build a 300? I say pickle it and put it in a nice dry spot in the basement until you need it.

Gurundu the Rat · Post by **Gurundu the Rat** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:43 am

I don't know when continental stopped building them. All I know is the crankshafts are getting harder to find and getting really expensive. I will remove a cylinder and take a look, but will probably need to split the case to see the crank.