Dude, you just answered your own question on finding an engine. Just think, an R-1830 bolted on the front of your RV-8! Might need a bit of ballast in the back, then extend the gear legs a bit to make some room...

So are you gonna tell us where this treasure trove is or just leave us hanging? Pleeeeeease? I just love airplane junk yards, whether it's prowling around Tucson or ASOD near Dallas. On my way up to OSH I stopped in at White Industries, a huge salvage operation just E of Kansas City. It's just amazing the stuff they have in there, including a couple of ships I've flown years ago.

Concerning the O-290G; virtually every single internal part carries the same part number as the "aircraft" version. Though the engine has single ignition, the cylinders are the same as aircraft parts. The conversion to dual ignition involves removing the block off plate on the accessory case and removing the screw in plugs on the heads - then add the ignition of your choice. In fact, the engine is so close to a "certified" model, there are procedures available to "convert" the case and the engine becomes a legal replacement for some factory built applications.

This engine was a solid aircraft engine in the 60's and powered many homebuilts (and yes, the T-18 was designed around the engine). That said, it's a "orphan" now, and internal parts are impossible or very expensive to find these days (price a set of 290 rings sometime!). Unless overhauled and nearly free, you are better off with the 320.

I have one, but I intend to machine the case for O-320 cylinders (someday).

Tradewinds
 

The yard is in San Antonio TX and its called Tradewinds Aircraft Supply. they are very friendly and let me crawl through everything lots of vintage stuff.

http://www.yellowpages.com/info-2199...upply-Inc/maps

R-1320
 

I don't know John....1320 might be a little small. they had some R-2800s around that would be great. Its just a bolt on replacement for the O-360 right?:D

O290 GPU
 

The O290 GPU has a O235 crank and cam. The O290D has a O320 crank. You can use Sealed Power # 2c 6620 rings (STD).

Bob

For $400, I don't know that I wouldn't take one home. Doubt I'd put one in my airplane, but there's got to be something you could do with a Lycoming power cart. Will it run Christmas lights? How 'bout upgrade the Volkswagen with a O-290?

$400 is a good deal for anything greasy that makes noise - airplane or not.

Don't make me get my OH manual out. ;)

My -D2 does not use an O-320 crank or very many other current production parts. If they did, rebuilding the thing wouldn't be an issue.

You can line-bore them to accept the O-320 crank and cylinders but that is not the same. I looked into doing that but by the time you are finished buying the crank, rods, cylinders, pistons, etc, you might as well buy a new ECI kit.

Oh you will also have to an O-320 sump on it as the O-290 uses the O-235 sump which has the MA-3 carb opening.

Yes, the engines WERE used in a lot of experimentals back in the 60?s, but that was when parts were readily available. Today, ?not so much?.

One other difference, they all had manual lifters until you got up to the O-290-D2, which has hydraulic lifters. Unfortunately, they are not interchangeable. I don?t recall on the O-320 conversion if you can mill the hole to accept the hydraulic lifters or not.

It is a nice dream and it is still possible to do the conversion but you had better have a secret stash of old parts laying around.

Having lived with a 135 HP O-290-D2 for 250 hours, it is a great engine but now that it is damaged, I wish I had put an O-320 on it from the start.

Anyone have a rebuild manual for one of these? Hopefully PDF version.

Lycoming has them. You use the Lycoming direct drive manual w/ the O-290 parts supplement. The O-290 is very similar to the O-320 & O-360. Some versions do not have hydraulic valve lifters, including the O-290G.