OSH Deals on New Cylinders?

[RWoodard]

I’m not an OSH attender, but I’ve heard that deals can occasionally be had on new cylinder assemblies.

I recently purchased most the parts (with yellow tags where appropriate) to build an IO540C4B5 engine. The only big parts I still need are 6 cylinders. I have the old cylinders so there’s always an option to refurbish them, but a local engine shop suggested I just buy new cylinder assemblies…. And check at OSH because “sometimes they’re selling for less than even our cost.”

Has anyone at OSH come across any of these deals?

 

[Aden Rich]

I’m not an OSH attender, but I’ve heard that deals can occasionally be had on new cylinder assemblies.

I recently purchased most the parts (with yellow tags where appropriate) to build an IO540C4B5 engine. The only big parts I still need are 6 cylinders. I have the old cylinders so there’s always an option to refurbish them, but a local engine shop suggested I just buy new cylinder assemblies…. And check at OSH because “sometimes they’re selling for less than even our cost.”

Has anyone at OSH come across any of these deals?

I would look into getting your cylinders overhauled. There are several reasons for this. 1: New cylinders are hard to come by. I've been looking for O-320 cylinders all over the place. Pretty much hitting up all the major suppliers and even soliciting some folks I know that can get batches of them at times. No one seems to have what I need. They might have one but not enough to make a set and not enough in one MFG. The only supplier I've gotten some info on enough cylinders to do a complete set is Colorado air parts. And those where Superior cylinders. I asked about the out of roundness and washboarding and was told I could get the cylinders and then have a facility take them apart and true them up and then put them back together. Now you go from 1200 per cylinder to 2K per cylinder. And those are new cylinders!!!!!
2: Your old cylinders might be of higher quality metal and craftmanship than new cylinders. Continental Prime seems to be the best cylinder right now, then Lyc and Superior last. So if you cylinders are in good shape and don't have cracks, you can always put new valves, seats and guides in them and run them another 2000 hours. It just depends on the make and cylinder wall composition. I have a set of ECI Titan cylnider that are Cermanil and they cannot be bored over, so If they are still in tolerance, I can get them overhauled. Nitrided cylinders can be bored over. Through hardened cylinders can be bored over. So I would go get a good faith estimate from a reputable repair shop. If your valves and seats are good and you don't need new guides, you may be able to get your cylinders overhauled for a decent price, like 800-1000 per versus 2200-2400 per cylinders if you buy new ones. I personally feel better with a good set of 1st run cylinders being overhauled than buying new and not knowing what I am getting. Lots of racers have this preference as well.