Cam-Ground Pistons

[larrysmith1016]

The Continental Overhaul Manual says to place pistons on rods with the numbers inside the pistons facing the front of the engine. But these pistons have numbers that point either up or down, not toward the front of the engine.

How about it, engine builders? What kind of problem am I into here?

Thanks in advance. I have an engine on the stand with the pistons on the rods, waiting to have the rings squeezed and the cylinders installed. I'm assuming that these pistons are also cam-ground. I have built over 20 engines and can't remember this issue ever coming up.

We have had the crankcase to Divco, the accessory case to Drake Air, and the crankshaft, cam, connecting rods, and lifter bodies to Aircraft Specialties in Tulsa for rebuilding and yellow tags. We don't want to screw up.

By the way, if you have your crank ground to .020" under, make sure you have the crankcase machined for thrust washers on the front crankshaft journal. We sent the case off first before we had the crank ground, and had to send the case back afterwards to have it machined when we found it required special main bearings.

Thanks, Taylorcrafters.

[perryv1]

Re: Cam-Ground Pistons

When I did the 0-200 conversion,I removed a crankshaft that was turned .020 but didn't have an issue with with the case having been machined,did I miss something?
PV

[flyguy]

Re: Cam-Ground Pistons

Larry, isn't there a way to contact TCM (is that right?), Continental online and ask them? I remember seeing a site where the Continental rep was answering some questions, or promised to respond, something like that.
Darryl

[Pearson]

Re: Cam-Ground Pistons

Try Harry Fenton at [email protected].

[larrysmith1016]

Re: Cam-Ground Pistons

Thanks, men. I have a call in right now and am waiting on a reply.

On the C-85 conversion with the O-200 crank and rods, I think the owner is in the clear on that one.

I see in the Continental manual for the A-65-8 (and A-75, A-80) that there are two different kinds of main bearing treatment, and that one of them is a front main with thrust washers (or thrust bearings, as some people call them) and the other is the standard main with collars or flanges on either end.

I just tore down a C-85 and it had the crankshaft and case with no thrust washers. I'll have to take a look at the case and see if it will accept thrust washers or need to be machined at Divco. And did you know that Divco is owned by the Cherokee Nation? I just saw that on one of my invoices. They do beautiful work.