Lycoming O-360-A4A Build
February 6th, 2022, 09:51 AM
#1
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Join Date: Jan 2021
Posts: 16
Lycoming O-360-A4A Build
I know, not an Olds.... Enough of derailing Dr Dan's 478 build post.
Lots and lots of pictures in the link below. Took me 8 months of every spare moment of my days. 23,000 miles on the DD just driving to the airport and back, 160 miles round trip.
New cylinders, pistons, rings, wrist pins come as a kit from Lycoming. New Lycoming cam and lifter/plunger set. New engine mounts and hardware. New cooling baffles. Overhauled crank (Rick Romans). Engine case had 8 cracks in it (= Common), so those cracks were welded with an FAA approved process, then case was decked. Divco did the case work. Magnetos got a 500 hour inspection. Carb was overhauled. Engine mount exchanged for an improved unit with slightly thicker tubing. Removed the old speedo cable mechanical tach. Overhauled the front strut. All fasteners that were not replaced got Cadmium plated and baked. Yes I'm a Certified FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, Pilot, and also a Propeller Repairman at the place I've worked for the last 36 years.
Everything non-structural got powder coated, I left the cylinders grey as painted from Lycoming. Everything else was treated to prevent corrosion and then primed & painted with MIL Spec paints.
I replaced the old cylinders, as they were all cracked near the spark plug holes going to the exhaust valve (1400 hours). The case and rotating assembly had 3600 hours on it, #3 rod bearing started de-bonding babbitt from the steel bearing shell. I found metal in the oil filter during an oil change and following the OEM tech data which narrowed it down to chrome from a ring or bearing material. Cylinders came off 1st and since I found nothing wrong with the rings, started removing rods and found the problem. Case was fretted pretty bad and leaking oil, So I tore it down and overhauled the engine, actually everything from the firewall forward got inspected, overhauled and/or replaced.
Its 360 cubes. 180hp. 2700 rpm at Take off. I have about 70 hours on it now. Running great!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QJPZqBSvXGGFzig97
Lots and lots of pictures in the link below. Took me 8 months of every spare moment of my days. 23,000 miles on the DD just driving to the airport and back, 160 miles round trip.
New cylinders, pistons, rings, wrist pins come as a kit from Lycoming. New Lycoming cam and lifter/plunger set. New engine mounts and hardware. New cooling baffles. Overhauled crank (Rick Romans). Engine case had 8 cracks in it (= Common), so those cracks were welded with an FAA approved process, then case was decked. Divco did the case work. Magnetos got a 500 hour inspection. Carb was overhauled. Engine mount exchanged for an improved unit with slightly thicker tubing. Removed the old speedo cable mechanical tach. Overhauled the front strut. All fasteners that were not replaced got Cadmium plated and baked. Yes I'm a Certified FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, Pilot, and also a Propeller Repairman at the place I've worked for the last 36 years.
Everything non-structural got powder coated, I left the cylinders grey as painted from Lycoming. Everything else was treated to prevent corrosion and then primed & painted with MIL Spec paints.
I replaced the old cylinders, as they were all cracked near the spark plug holes going to the exhaust valve (1400 hours). The case and rotating assembly had 3600 hours on it, #3 rod bearing started de-bonding babbitt from the steel bearing shell. I found metal in the oil filter during an oil change and following the OEM tech data which narrowed it down to chrome from a ring or bearing material. Cylinders came off 1st and since I found nothing wrong with the rings, started removing rods and found the problem. Case was fretted pretty bad and leaking oil, So I tore it down and overhauled the engine, actually everything from the firewall forward got inspected, overhauled and/or replaced.
Its 360 cubes. 180hp. 2700 rpm at Take off. I have about 70 hours on it now. Running great!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/QJPZqBSvXGGFzig97
February 6th, 2022, 10:12 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 696
The 360 and 320 Lycomings are as tough as they come--2000 hour TBOs as I recall. I have seen some go to 3000 hours. I would need a regular oil analysis in order to do that.
The price of Factory Remans have gotten so expensive relative to what I first experienced. I have a friend with a Seneca and the turbo 360 Continentals. Even though it has the Robertson STOL modification, no one wants it because the engines are north of 2000 hours on what I recall are 1400-1500 TBO mills. At one time we could buy a pair of pickled remans for 30K. We wish we had done that now. It is bad news when the cost of the engine and prop overhauls cost as much as the entire twin engine aircraft would bring.
The price of Factory Remans have gotten so expensive relative to what I first experienced. I have a friend with a Seneca and the turbo 360 Continentals. Even though it has the Robertson STOL modification, no one wants it because the engines are north of 2000 hours on what I recall are 1400-1500 TBO mills. At one time we could buy a pair of pickled remans for 30K. We wish we had done that now. It is bad news when the cost of the engine and prop overhauls cost as much as the entire twin engine aircraft would bring.
Last edited by Tri-Carb; February 6th, 2022 at 10:19 AM.
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