I happened to google up this old (and resuscitated once already) thread because I recently saw a '53 180 listed for sale that still has the A engine. I remember once years ago meeting a older gentleman from BC who'd owned his early 180 for about 30 years. I asked which engine it had and he told me an A, when I asked why he'd never upgraded, he looked at me like I was crazy.

BTW from the Western Skyways website http://www.westernskyways.com/o-470/

"Remanufactured or Overhauled Continental Aircraft Engines: O-470-A, O-470-B, O-470-E, O-470-G, O-470-J, O-470-K, O-470-L, O-470-M, O-470-P, O-470-R, O-470-S, O-470-U"

I had given some thought to replacing my "A" engine with a "K" for no other purpose than for the resale / value of the airplane. There is nothing wrong with my engine, which is only half time and a recent top end. I found a core "K", and began scratching around for overhaul costs. Our Canadian dollar is still weak, which doesn't help, but by the time I buy the core, new engine mount, and overhaul I'll have $40,000 into it, plus labour. Of course if I were going that far, it might as well stop at PPonk and turn it into a -50. As much as I'd love to have that bolted on up front, the cost cannot be justified,.....yet. If my "A" starts giving me trouble, then by all means.

I have heard and read some negative opinions about the A/J's, but anything I've learned from those who have actual experience with them is a different story. Respect the temps and treat them like they were supposed to be treated.

I flew my 53 with an A engine for a few hours today. Love it. Learned to fly in a 55 with a J in it 40 years ago, loved it. When mine craps out I will up grade to a different engine, but hopefully I'll get several years of flying out of this engine.

When a previous owner upgraded mine form an A to a factory-reman K, back about 1993, they took the engine-mount legs off the A engine and bolted them onto the K, modified the stock exhaust to 4 bolt flanges, & replaced the baffling with that off a K installation. Other than that, nothing other than the usual stuff you do at overhaul/replacement time: replace hoses, blast / paint engine mount, overhaul accessories, etc. They also upgraded to a C203 prop from (I believe) a Mac 2A36C.

fiftynineSC wrote:Had a J in my 55 model. Ran fine, no maintenance issues during the time I had it. Only thing was the horizontally mounted cooler; it would heat the oil up on a long climb in the summer.....

I've seen a number of J's with the vertically-mounted oil cooler. Happened to meet a guy yesterday wih a nice 470A-powered Stinson, it had a vertical cooler also. Don't know what it takes to do it but there is that option. Maybe something as simple as turning the oil cooler 90 degrees?

I had the same experience, noticed a lot of verticals when I had mine. It's been a while but I seemed to remember there was an adaptor plate(?). I doubt it was an STC or anything...lots of non-Cessna installed o-470's had various coolers. My have been a direct bolt on. I know it can be done...probably a great deal since oil temp was the only detractor for me. And when I say detractor take that with a grain of salt. It was only a problem in long, slow climbs in 100 degree texas heat.

hotrod180 wrote:

fiftynineSC wrote:Had a J in my 55 model. Ran fine, no maintenance issues during the time I had it. Only thing was the horizontally mounted cooler; it would heat the oil up on a long climb in the summer.....

I've seen a number of J's with the vertically-mounted oil cooler. Happened to meet a guy yesterday wih a nice 470A-powered Stinson, it had a vertical cooler also. Don't know what it takes to do it but there is that option. Maybe something as simple as turning the oil cooler 90 degrees?

All of the 0-470's have the same provisions on the case for the oil cooler.. If you look at the K and on oil coolers they all have an adaptor plate to rotate the cooler to vertical. All you need to do for the A-J is install the correct studs and the adapter plate. Just did this on the -J we installed in the Stinson in accordance with the STC for the large oil cooler.

Brian.