A place where restoration project-type threads can go to avoid falling off the main page in the WIX hangar. Feel free to start threads on Restoration projects and/or warbird maintenance here. Named in memoriam for Gary Austin, a good friend of the site and known as RetroAviation here. He will be sorely missed.
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Fri Apr 17, 2009 10:09 pm

Dave, any news on the engine test in Idaho?

Sat Apr 18, 2009 12:08 am

Yes it's true and very good news!! The engine performed as expected and was just beautiful to see, watch and hear. It's late and I'm tired, just got back. I'll post more this weekend.
Dave

Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:12 pm

Well, here are some of the pics from the engine test!

This is the Anderson Aeromotive Shop in Grangeville Idaho.
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This is the test wagon with the new engine in tow.
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The engine is mounted on the test stand with a Sky Raider mount.
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Isn't it beautiful!! That prop is off a Howard 500. It makes alot of wind!!
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This is Dan on startup! I got to run it too!! :D

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This is the instrument panel where we both monitored the temps, pressures, flow rates and RPM.

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Makin' noise!!
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We checked the oil screen about every hour of running and it just kept getting cleaner and cleaner. After running 15 hours, they did a compression check.
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This is Ray!
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Dan's pulling the prop through for Ray to bring the pistons up to TDC for the compression tests.
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One of the really cool things up here is that most all the tooling and equipment is old but made for this stuff and working. This is Jerry, testing the coils and mags.
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Finally a pair of Rays horses, Pratt and Whitney!!
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This is a portion of the parts for the next engine that have been cleaned, inspected and preped for assembly for Dan.

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Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:48 pm

Fantastic :D

Congratulation for all the people involved...

Thanks for the pics.

Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:57 pm

COOLNESS!!! :supz:

SN

Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:43 pm

A huge thanks. Very nice photos. Just good stuff.

Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:13 am

Some questions.
15 hours, was that all consecutive? Same day.
Do they run it in that tunnel, and must be for cooling?
How many gallons of fuel for the test?
Are they on the airport?
It looks like Seattle weather wet.
So Dan does all the assembly or is it a team effort?
I bet it was loud with those short stacks, did it run at night? if so wish you would have got some pic's.
Hope you guys have them do the rest, well cept for the one at Abbot.
I bet they even have a real warranty.

Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:05 am

My God man! Don't you sleep? So many questions, so little time!
15 hours was over a 4 day period. Yes it ran in the tunnel and the fuel consumption is based on what power setting we were running at. We ran at 1000 rpm,1200,1400,1600,1800,2000, 2400 and finally at 2850 with 51 inches to prove the blower. Fuel flow ran between 200 pph @ 1200rpm to 1800 pph @ 2850! Not on an Airport. Dan does most all the 3350 assy.

Dave

Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:16 am

Congrats on the engine run. Hope the rest go as well :)

Fifi

Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:43 am

Yeah Baby!

Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:43 pm

On the set of engines done by Garys favorite place, did they do that extensive of a test? We are guessing not, I bet they only ran a few hours if that. Well at least FiFi will have some quality engines now.

PPH ?? Pints Per Hour?

25 and 225 gallons per hour then.
Last edited by engguy on Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:33 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:13 pm

engguy wrote:On the set of engines done by Garys favorite place, did they do that extensive of a test? We are guessing not I bet they only ran a few hours if that.


Most shops don't run engines that long. Typically, it's four hours or so, give or take a little. Precision ran the old junk engine 8 hours, although I'd requested 15+. I don't know what Dave has requested, but the 15 hours that was run on the new engine is a good start.

Gary

Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:40 am

Would the different propeller being used, change resonate points? You know restricted rpm areas? And what about the props used on FiFi, being compatable with the different dash engines as far as any restricted rpm region? Also out of curiosity was the crankshaft reground?

Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:47 am

Dave, Very informative post and photos, After the engines are insalled on Fifi will you be using BMEP gauges and an engine analizer to mointer the health of those engines? Thanks Carl

Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:08 pm

Do Fi Fi's bombays open? In flight?
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