Anyone know of these guys in Texas?? They are advertising a rebuild for an IO540 for 15 grand less than everyone else. They have been in Trade a Plance for years. Maybe everyone else uses new parts and these guys just check and certify but they do use all new parts for the cylinders, crankshaft, rods, and counterweght hardware. They machine all the rest of the stuff like rods cranks, cam etc., and bring to new tollerances. I am still waiting for a response concerning their warranty.
Let me know if any of you know anything about them.
Do not ever use a reground cam. They will not usually make TBO. It is not worth the 2 or 3 hundred you save.
If you asked Devine to quote you with new cam, and asked for everything else to be to new limits... the quote might be closer to others.
Make sure they include mags OH, the carb or fuel servo to be OH, and any other things that you might want like the prop governor OH, perhaps the starter and alternator... Many shops just include this stuff and the price is higher. Trust me though... you want the prop governor done... you want fresh mags... wire harness... fuel pump...
See what Devine includes in that low price. I'd be curious.
My mags, harness, starter, and plugs are new (within the last year). I plan on a new cam, hopefully the new STC'd one from firewall forward. They have the oil ports in the flat part of the lobes.
The prop gov is old and the alt is 2-3 years old so it couldn't hurt to replace or rebuild those.
Cylinders will be completely overhauled with 100% new parts, including: new pistons, intake and exhaust valves, valve guides, valve seats, keepers, roto-coils, rings, piston pins, rocker shafts, and rocker arm bushings. Pistons are installed in balanced sets. Engine crankcase will be inspected, repaired, and certified. Crankshaft will be inspected and certified. Connecting rods will be resized, rebushed, and certified. Cam will be reground and certified. Hydraulic units are flow tested and certified. All reciprocating parts are dynamically balanced. Engine will be reassembled with new internal hardware, main and rod bearings, rod bolts and nuts, crankshaft, counterweight, and camshaft attaching hardware, oil temp control valve, oil pressure relief spring, oil by-pass spring, gaskets and seals, ignition harness, spark plugs, magneto drive cushions, all locking tabs and washers, and engine mounts.
New cylinders are extra so I am going to check on the exchange price for my old ones.
If you're looking for a good overhaul at a fair price, check out Kline Aviation in Brooklyn, MI. Joe Kline is the owner, they are a small shop, do about 50 engnines a year, and have very fair prices. I had an O320 done by them a few years ago and never had a problem.
If your cylinders are first run, I'd consider taking to 10 over and using them. First runs are usually pretty good and have stood the test of time with heat cycles. Some new cylinders fail due to casting troubles and etc... first runs that made TBO are proven. Certainly do new guides and valves...
If they use my plugs and harness they deduct $300.00. I am waiting for the turn in of the cylinder parts and my cylinders, the cost of a new cam, and their cost on new cylinders, ECI, Superior, Lycoming, or???
Their warranty says 100% for 100 hrs/12 months then prorated from then on. I am waiting for an explination of the total warranty and where it is good.
Just to let your guys know, I picked up the aircraft a few weeks ago and the engine ran great! I flew it down today and needed two CHT probes replaced that were damaged during the rebuild and I also saw a very small oil leak. They stopped everything that they were doing and took care of my issues. The engine quit burning oil at 4-5 hours and at 15 hours, it is purring like a kitten. Bruce the owner is a very honest individaul and the crew is extremely polite. They are very busy with engines, apholstery and paint and offer very competitive prices as they have a very low overhead. I dont know how the warranty issues will work when away from the shop, but I can tell you that Bruce will make good if there are any issues.
I have recommended three friends of mine to the shop. I asked for some sort of commision for sending him the work and he wouldt budge, so no commission for me!
