Need help finding information on a WW II Continental Engine

[L-4Pilot]

We need help with two questions concerning the O-170 engine on our O-58A. The data plate is unreadable except for the engraved serial numbers and we are trying to locate photos of original data plates that have not had their finish worn off. All of the plates we have been able to find look just like ours. The plate is steel not aluminum and we cannot find a single person that has one that is readable or has actually ever seen one.

Secondly we need information on a 2nd date casting that has been found on the engine. The first casting is next to the case part number and is 1-2-42 indicating the date of manufacture of the case. The 2nd date is located between two cylinders and is 12-31-41, we believe this may be the date of the military contract but are not sure. We would appreciate an authoritative answer with regard to this question.

The Continental serial number is 3008148 (space) R, and the military serial # is 42-1411327. I have already contacted TCM and they have no record of this engine and their files do not go back this far.

Thanks for your help,

Steve

[shrike]

The older date is when the pattern was made, the newer date is the casting date. Even Continental found this confusing, and discontinued the practice.

TCM no longer supports the A-series engine, and keeps no data therefor. They have done this with a number of newer engine series as well, which can make dealing with them even more frustrating that usual.

The data plate would have been their regular commercial plate, which has a slot for customer serial number, in this case USAAF.They don't survive stripping, so lots of them are just blank pieces of metal with a serial number stamped in the corner. It wasn't until the 60's that TCM consistently used a plate with all of the information stamped or engraved.
Blank plates are still available NOS - pm me.

[L-4Pilot]

The older date is when the pattern was made, the newer date is the casting date. Even Continental found this confusing, and discontinued the practice.

TCM no longer supports the A-series engine, and keeps no data therefor. They have done this with a number of newer engine series as well, which can make dealing with them even more frustrating that usual.

The data plate would have been their regular commercial plate, which has a slot for customer serial number, in this case USAAF.They don't survive stripping, so lots of them are just blank pieces of metal with a serial number stamped in the corner. It wasn't until the 60's that TCM consistently used a plate with all of the information stamped or engraved.
Blank plates are still available NOS - pm me.

Thank you for that information, Continental was probably still manufacturing a few civilian engines in early 1942, would they have used the same steel plate as the military engine or the aluminum plate found on many pre-war engines. Were the plates hand or machine stamped and what font was used. Which designation was on the plate A-65 or O-170 and did the plate have the contract order number on it like some of the Lycoming plates. Did they use both the AAF serial number and the continental number or just the Continental #. We need all of that specific information in order to restore the current plate or fabricate an exact replica with FAA authorization.

Finally were the plates silk screened or enameled. I sure would like to find an original to answer all of those questions.

Thanks again for the answer on the 2nd casting date.

Best Regards,
Steve

[The Inspector]

Try AEHS @ www.enginehistory.org.

[L-4Pilot]

Try AEHS @ http://www.enginehistory.org.

Wow what a great site, nothing on the Continental O-170 but I sure enjoyed looking over the web page, thanks for sharing.

[The Inspector]

Try AEHS @ http://www.enginehistory.org.

Wow what a great site, nothing on the Continental O-170 but I sure enjoyed looking over the web page, thanks for sharing.

Have you tried contacting them? Yanevah know what they have but don't have room to display-