Original Posted By: "Larry Vetter"
For what it's worth this is a little info from a source on another list that justmight help someone salvage an old Continental.this is not my story and hopefullythe writer will not mind me posting his experiences as he sent it to anotherlist I belong to. RaymondThe A65 is easily overhauled. I get my engine work done by any reputable automotivemachine shop with a friendly foreman or machinist. I have used automotiverings with success although Continental rings are still available at a decentprice.Let me take you through the first A65 I overhauled about 30 years ago for a CorbinBaby Ace I was building.I obtained it in a basket. It had been removed from a flying aircraft that wasbeing up-engined to an 85. The log books indicated under 400 hours since overhaulbut was obviously incorrect. Although it had standard inserts the connectingrod journals on the crank were worn past the .010 grind for which Continentalsupplied inserts at that time. The mains cleaned up at .010 under size.I wentthrough the Federal Mogul insert catalog and found a rod insert identical inevery way but width. It was a simple jobs to make a fixture from an old rodand turn them in the lathe to the correct dimensions. The jugs were hopeless butI found a set that would clean up within service limits. I needed 4 exhaustguides as they were worn. Also the valves had previously been ground paper thinon the edges. In the automotive field valves are available with oversize stems.A little research showed that a 230 Chev exhaust valve would do the jobif the stems were shortened.This only took a few minutes in the lathe. The guides had been reamed at the machineshop to fit the oversize stems, thus the guides did not have to be replaced.I did nothing to the mags or carb.I flew it for around a 100 hours and pulled it for an 0200 Continental that cameavailable. I flew the aircraft for a few years with this engine and then hada wreck. Damage was extensive and I had another airplane flying so I pulled the100 hp engine and piled the remains in the shed. 3 or 4 years passed and Iwas at loose ends for a project so I pulled the pile into the shop and rebuiltit. As I recall the only part not damaged was the tail wheel and spring. Anyhowit went back into the air with the old A65 and I flew it for several years,sold it. Took it back on a trade and then flew it until I hung up my helmet atage 73. It was quickly sold again and the fellow now owning it is still flyingwith the old engine and it still requires no repairs.Although the A65 is not a high time between overhauls it is very reliable and easilyfixed. Not many fellows installing one in a homebuilt will fly it to overhaulbecause at the average of 50-60 hours a year that is quite some time...Read this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________