In Alaska, have a 185 mid time want to get it overhauled during winter. Who’s used who in Alaska? Last engine I did was with my IA as a field overhaul but I don’t have as much free time now to do that. Considering a factory engine since I can just swap it and move on unless there’s a good shop to use up here.

alaskan9974 wrote:In Alaska, have a 185 mid time want to get it overhauled during winter. Who’s used who in Alaska? Last engine I did was with my IA as a field overhaul but I don’t have as much free time now to do that. Considering a factory engine since I can just swap it and move on unless there’s a good shop to use up here.

I had three engines overhauled at BJ Custom Engines in Palmer while it was owned by Bob Lutz. Bob retired and the business was sold to the Walkers as I recall. If the reputation has remained to support the same quality work as when Bob had it, I would use them with no hesitation. Ask around for current experience with the shop.

TR

I would consider a factory engine. It is typically similarly priced as a good quality overhaul, and there is no risk of them rejecting parts and charing even more (say the crankshaft or case is bad for some reason) and minimal down time.

Ross4289 wrote:I would consider a factory engine. It is typically similarly priced as a good quality overhaul, and there is no risk of them rejecting parts and charing even more (say the crankshaft or case is bad for some reason) and minimal down time.

I've been investigating engine options also for my 470K.
Air Power's quote for a "factory-rebuilt (zero time)" engine is a bit more than the overhaul prices I've gotten.
But their "if your core is operable (and returned complete) you're guaranteed full credit" policy makes up for that.
Getting dinged for a bad crank or whatever by an overhaul shop could easily cost more than Air Power's higher price.

Lead time is about the same-- 6 to 8 months,
but it's an exchange, vs being down 6 to 8 months while your engine is at the overhaul shop.

FWIW my existing engine was TCM "factory rebuilt / zero timed" in 1993,
it's only had three cylinders off, and it is well past TBO and still running great.

TR wrote:

alaskan9974 wrote:In Alaska, have a 185 mid time want to get it overhauled during winter. Who’s used who in Alaska? Last engine I did was with my IA as a field overhaul but I don’t have as much free time now to do that. Considering a factory engine since I can just swap it and move on unless there’s a good shop to use up here.

I had three engines overhauled at BJ Custom Engines in Palmer while it was owned by Bob Lutz. Bob retired and the business was sold to the Walkers as I recall. If the reputation has remained to support the same quality work as when Bob had it, I would use them with no hesitation. Ask around for current experience with the shop.

TR

I talked to Custom yesterday, I am leaning towards using them with about 4 month turn around.

I have a quote from air power on a factory motor but they told me 6-8 months.

Mine was factory in 2014 and on the last cylinder change we found a few pitted lifters that we swapped for new, I don’t want to risk making metal and ruining the crank so I figure it’s probably time to pull it for OH.