Here's a Ebay Bargain For You Stearman Gurus

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:11 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/1944-Sherman-Tank-Motor_W0QQitemZ290287523045QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item290287523045&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A3%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

RickH · **Posted:** Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:21 pm

There was a dusting company here on the south side of Houston that operated for many years. They flew off of a grass strip that lay under the approach end of 4-22 at Hobby airport. They flew highly modified Stearmans. After the dusting businaees closed and the aircraft sold, a gentleman by the name of Cliff McCloud took the place over. Cliff rebuilt run out Stearman Continentals out of brand new in the crate tank motors. He would take the motor apart clean the preservatives out of it put new bearings in with your original aircraft crank and, bingo, you had yourself an honest to gosh 0 time Stearman motor.

The crates reached to the ceiling and the rows were several deep as well as 10-12 long.

He moved to a grass strip outside of Beaumont and haven't heard from him since.

wacoykc · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:10 am

$5,000 is no deal for a runout 220!

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:28 am

How do they overcome the single mag of the tank engine?

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:12 pm

bdk wrote:

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

They are pretty cool tho.

Hawkeye · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:38 pm

bdk wrote:

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

We have a couple of those 220 Continental stuart tank engines at the Great War Flying Museum, one of which powers our full size Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter replica. When we got it it had all the reduction gear/fan assembly bits on it. It has had some problems, mostly relating to the conversion process of tank-to-aircraft engine, but the kinks have been ironed out by now.

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 12:53 pm

bdk wrote:

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

Sherman was definatly 9 cylinders!

The early Stuart and LVT's used by the marines were powered by the W-670. We had one in A&P school that was bought new in the crate, ran 6 hrs attached to a water pump in 46 in miami after a hurricane and sat in storage ever since until it was donated in 91 to the school. wonder if they still have it???

RMAllnutt · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:56 pm

bdk wrote:

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

Interesting information. However, the engine has a Continental data plate on it. Couldn't see a model number, but it was manufactured under license by Buhl in Detroit.

Cheers,
Richard

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:03 pm

RMAllnutt wrote:

bdk wrote:

Pretty sure that's a license built Wright R-975 (9 cylinder) as used in the Sherman. Count the number of cylinders!

The Stuart engine was patterned after the 220 Continental. It had higher compresion (cast) pistons compared to the aircraft engine and put out 250 HP. The splined output shaft on a tank engine is shorter than the aircraft splines although I've seen some Clevinger (L-5) duster conversions that did use the Stuart tank engine. Not sure about the R-975, but the Stuart tank cylinders are identical to the aircraft cylinders except the bosses are drilled for baffling studs on the tank cylinders.

Interesting information. However, the engine has a Continental data plate on it. Couldn't see a model number, but it was manufactured under license by Buhl in Detroit.

Cheers,
Richard

That is correct,

One of my fav youtubes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXLL5hxk ... re=related

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:11 pm

Another Tank Tid bit.

Did you know that Henry Ford was "upset" that a BRITTISH engine was to power a AMERICAN fighter the P-51. He quickly designed and built a prototype V-12 as his submission to a aircraft engine. His engine was turned down so he went back and dumped off 4 cylinder of his engine and submitted it again for tanks. It became the Ford GAA engine for American armor so that Radial engine production could concentrate on aircraft and not tanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-fuedil ... re=related

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

RMAllnutt wrote:

Interesting information. However, the engine has a Continental data plate on it. Couldn't see a model number, but it was manufactured under license by Buhl in Detroit.

Contnental R-975-C1
Bore = 5"
Stroke = 5-1/2"

The nomenclature on the data sheet for the engine is "Type: Radial, A.C."

The Stuart engine is a W-670-9A

Interesting that the designation system is the same for the aircraft and tank engines.

Maybe Cindy can chime in as the resident Sherman expert.

Wright did build R-1820s or heavy tank usage. My guess is that they didn't have the capacity to manufacture the smaller engine for tank usage and gave or sold it to Continental for the war effort.

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