So I find myself with a new chapter in my recent journey owning a 1972 Cessna 150. I thought I'd throw it out and see what kind of wisdom is shared. This forum has given me a wealth of information and direction so far, and for that I am thankful.

THE PROBLEM: Engine goes to overhaul shop and as the tech tears it down he discovers accessory case is scored (metal has been through it) and crank is out of limits. That's just for starters. He has not gone through it all yet. So I am going to see what else is wrong..but the 17K base price of the Overhaul plus replacement of the crank with a used one and accessory case....is adding up. I am almost within reach of a new airpower engine listing at 24K.

OPTIONS: So I can buy a new engine at 24K. I can just scrap the old engine and part out my airframe, which i only have 5K into anyways and hunt for a used C-150 with a mid time engine selling for just as much as a new engine costs me.

What to do? Any thoughts?

Biggest factor would be airframe hrs, damage history, airframe condition, paint quality. Worth putting a new engine in a cherry airframe.


Other option - Find a midtime engine from a wrecker and put it in.

The few times I rebuilt something cost me more than finding the mid time you suggest.

I have had good luck using up mid timers. And they can be insured for more than they are worth.

What I learned from experience was that anything put into an airplane after purchase was dead weight and 100 percent loss unless used up.

Working airplanes (1,000 hours per year) are a different story.

Sounds like you have some history with the plane which is cool, depends how attached to it you are I guess and how much more you want to put into it than what you'll get back when or if you sell it. I agree with the other guys though if it were me I'd look for a good mid time if the numbers worked or sell it off if they didn't and you're not too attached to it.

Aren't you in the market for a bigger plane? I would definitely try to find a mid timer to use up. I doubt you'll get the cost of a new engine back out if it if/when you sell.

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Try texasairsalvage.com they always have allot of used engines with photos and prices.

Good luck.


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In the old days, after a crash, crop duster mechanics would dial the flange and check the oil pump and mag gears and bolt the engine on another airframe. I have flown behind some that worked, and behind some that didn't.

A buddy of mine was hunting a mid-time used O-200 for an upgrade to his Luscombe last year,
and discovered that they're not so easy to find these days.

He finally found and bought one for a reasonable price from Canada,
but when it arrived it turned out to be a POS.
He ended up buying one that had been overhauled.

Considering the little you have in it,
sounds like you might be better off to just sell your airframe and/or part it out.
You can sell the serviceable parts from the engine also.
Then go buy a decent 150 and go flying.

Unless the airframe you have is pretty cherry,
AND you plan on keeping it for a long time to fly the investment value out of it,
IMHO it doesn't pencil out to do the high-dollar engine.
You probably wouldn't be able to sell it for what you'd have in it.

Like Hotrod said, O200s aren't as easy to come by as they used to be though they can occasionally be found.

If your set on keeping the airplane I'd look into doing a IRAN on your current engine. O200 cranks aren't that expensive, a used accessory cover should be available, etc.

Make sure you know what "out of limits" means. Out of new limits? Out I've service limits? Maybe your crank can be ground and used with +10 bearings.