Below are pictures of a complete 2,850 from our shop. We assembled it as a serious upgrade to a pre-existing 2700 that was built a long time ago. The engine has a standard size, factory nitrided GM 8409 crank and a Gen 1 Weseman bearing. The engine now has one of our P/N 2850CC Piston/rod/cylinder sets.
Engine from the front quarter view. Gen 1 Weseman bearings have the same billet housing as the Gen #2s. We selected the Gen 1 because it was a “bolt on” installation to the factory nitrided crank. Visible are all the parts of the starter system(P/N 2400), the Short gold prop hub(P/N 2501B), powdercoated valve covers (P/N 1900PCBK) and the electronic/points distributor (P/N 3301E/P).
Above, a good view of a really simple oil system. This is a basic Group 2700 Oil system built around a 12-plate GM cooler. The gold oil filter housing (P/N2601S) has the oil filter mounted on it with a nipple (P/N 2601). Because it has a Weseman bearing, this engine has one of our High Volume oil pumps (visible on the case in the photo). We sell this pump assembled on a remanufactured case, exchange, as P/N 2000HV. Years ago, many builders were interested in engines with rear starters. What those engines required was complicated oil systems with remote mounted filters and often remote coolers. Such a system would have 5 hoses compared to this engine having one. The Wicked Cleanex, Dan’s plane before the Panther, flew for many years on an engine just like the one above. (The only difference was it having a 2601R Reverse oil housing.) It is very had to argue against simplicity, especially when it is flight proven.
Above is the engine during its break-in run in our front yard. It fired up in 4 seconds of cranking and ran perfectly smooth through an initial 45 minute break in. Tomorrow, another hour or so of running before an oil change and inspection. -ww