My Sad 337 Engine Story

[Flyer770]

Think I’d be pushing hard to find a pair of midtime engines, one at a time if need be. Parting a plane out is a lot of work and that’s okay if you want to invest the time and effort in getting a portion of your money back a piece at a time. Otherwise, start with Don at Commodore and expand to the other salvage houses if needed. I’ve picked up a pair of midtimes for $12,500 each and gotten good results. About to do the same again.

[kilr4d]

Originally Posted by Flyer770

Think I’d be pushing hard to find a pair of midtime engines, one at a time if need be. Parting a plane out is a lot of work and that’s okay if you want to invest the time and effort in getting a portion of your money back a piece at a time. Otherwise, start with Don at Commodore and expand to the other salvage houses if needed. I’ve picked up a pair of midtimes for $12,500 each and gotten good results. About to do the same again.

Yup. Good point...the fact is it only needs one engine at this time.

Tom, start with the usual players. Here's the BIG list of aircraft salvage yards:

http://www.colonial.com.mx/salvage.pdf

And of course Don:

Don Nieser
Commodore Aerospace Corp
6221 Commodore Lane
Oklahoma City OK 73162
405-503-4686
niesser.02.337parts@juno.com

[N337RT]

Originally Posted by Flyer770

Think I’d be pushing hard to find a pair of midtime engines, one at a time if need be. Parting a plane out is a lot of work and that’s okay if you want to invest the time and effort in getting a portion of your money back a piece at a time. Otherwise, start with Don at Commodore and expand to the other salvage houses if needed. I’ve picked up a pair of midtimes for $12,500 each and gotten good results. About to do the same again.

^^ agreed, especially if space is an issue. Personally I’m a sucker for spare parts as it always seems to take almost a spare airplane to maintain another one at times!

[Flyer770]

Originally Posted by N337RT

^^ agreed, especially if space is an issue. Personally I’m a sucker for spare parts as it always seems to take almost a spare airplane to maintain another one at times!

Especially with how expensive spares are. Still, with OP’s plane, because IIRC it’s a very low time airframe in great condition, it would be worth getting the engines replaced and then using the old ones to overhaul. Heck, replace the rear with a midtime, overhaul the removed engine and put it on the front when the front engine goes, then eventually overhaul the removed front when the midtime rear becomes a high time.

[tomcomet]

Originally Posted by Flyer770

Especially with how expensive spares are. Still, with OP’s plane, because IIRC it’s a very low time airframe in great condition, it would be worth getting the engines replaced and then using the old ones to overhaul. Heck, replace the rear with a midtime, overhaul the removed engine and put it on the front when the front engine goes, then eventually overhaul the removed front when the midtime rear becomes a high time.

I like this in concept but I am told overhaul is NOT an option for me due to the non VAR crankshafts. By the time a brand new crankshaft is factored in factory remans become a more viable option at $42,000USD plus, plus, plus... Yikes!!!

[Flyer770]

Originally Posted by tomcomet

I like this in concept but I am told overhaul is NOT an option for me due to the non VAR crankshafts. By the time a brand new crankshaft is factored in factory remans become a more viable option at $42,000USD plus, plus, plus... Yikes!!!

Same plan, just with a factory reman instead of overhaul. Any issues with the front engine yet?

[tomcomet]

Originally Posted by Flyer770

Same plan, just with a factory reman instead of overhaul. Any issues with the front engine yet?

The front engine has the exact same history and symptoms so it is almost certainly in identical shape. The rear engine was running great apart from running hot (like all 337s except for John Kennedy's) and that pesky cracked cylinder that leaked oil. We are currently AOG due to badly pitted cam lobes. Terrible news really...

[YankeeClipper]

Just how expensive are those VAR cranks?

Also, are there not overhaulers like Western, Corona, etc that would be less expensive than TCM? Or are those just not suitable alternatives?

[LightSpeed]

Hi Tom,
I agree with the thought of finding a 337G. with current annual and salvage the engines, plus lots extra parts! Yours is a sound machine w no belly
Landings, you have boots and new power pack, let’s find one we
Can help you get it home.

[Skywalker]

Tom
i think its very ;wise decision, remember if these planes were build today, would cost, 1.2 million USD , and i think new engines will give this plane new .life; and still it would be the best priced aircraft to own, ( compare it with new Beech craft G-58 ,huge price tag ,long field performance and hassel of asymmetric thrust )
Dennis