Im looking at buying a C140 that has an O200. The price is decent and under any other circumstances I would buy the plane.
The issue or potential issue is the engine. It has 280 SMOH which is great. The down side is that the motor was was pulled from its original airframe in 1978 and Pickled. It has been sitting on a pallet up until a year ago.

Apparently the cylinders have been scoped and there was no corrosion. And the cam technically should be sitting in oil. Seals and gaskets maybe compromised.

Any words of wisdom or pointers?

Thanks,

Mike

I wouldn't believe them about the scoping unless they can show you pictures. Also, pulling a couple lifters and checking the cam isn't a big deal on. Continental. There isn't too much I'd be worried about on a small Continental just make sure your not paying a premium for a "low time" engine. Obviously it is way past its 12 year TBO.

When we cracked open the C85 that came with a project we did several years ago we found no corrosion or anything that would have prevented that engine from running for several hundred more hours. It had 1300hrs since new in 1947 and had been sitting in a farmers field near Portland, OR since 1981. It was 2004 when we tore it down.

Get a good price on the airplane. Yank the pull-start off and stick a B&C starter on the thing. Then fly it hard, change oil and clean screens on short intervals for a while, and see what it does.

Gump

Thanks for the info Whee. I know the seller and trust him. That being said I will still scope the cylinders myself to make sure.

Gump,

The pull starter will be removed if I decide to purchase.

I dont want to end up with a project right off the bat. I am starting a scratch build that is going to keep me busy and my wallet light. Im looking to pick up the plane as a flyer to build TW time.

Also check the ADs. There was one on our cylinders that made it cost prohibitive to use them...we just bought new cylinders and sold ours to some guys in South America.

Districtfab wrote:Gump,

The pull starter will be removed if I decide to purchase.

I dont want to end up with a project right off the bat. I am starting a scratch build that is going to keep me busy and my wallet light. Im looking to pick up the plane as a flyer to build TW time.

I had a C-120 many, many years ago that I yanked the C85 out of, and stuck an O-200 in similar to yours. That engine had been a pickled sitter in a hangar for years. It ended up being one of the best engines I ever ran behind. The B&C eliminated all the pull-start issues and weight, and I think (this is 30 years ago) I stuck an oil filter adapter on it too.

A climb prop on the front, new Scott 3200 on the tail, a set of 8.50s, and I flew that little plane all over the place for not much $$$$. I had it into all the Idaho strips, and I commuted up to my BC coast property near Bella Coola from Kalifornia in it a shitload of times. It was a nice flying little airplane. Keyword little.

Gump

Check the filter, do a leak down and borescope the cylinders, can't remove the lifters on an O-200 without splitting the case.. If all ok, buy it and fly it hard with regular oil changes! Put a full flow filter on it if not already fitted. They're a tough little engine and there's usually a number of part life ones on the market at good prices. They have their issues, but really no more than any other engine

I currently fly one that was most likely last overhauled in 1974, it's at 2,600 hours now and sat outside unused for 10 years before I bought it 5 years ago. It runs a treat