R985 radial engine Pratt Whitney

[SETOYOTA]

While not an airplane I thought this may be the best place for this.

This has been a side project I’ve been working for while. A friend of mine is a full time picker for his occupation and from time to time I’ll tag along . Last fall on one of the trips I came across some radial engine parts after digging through multiple buildings on the property I had most of a r985 radial engine . Now what to do. Build up a display engine of course to go with the prop I already had finished.

I didn’t take any pics of the before but all cylinders were bead blasted and slightly polished then the fins painted.

 

[SETOYOTA]

I had no internals for the motor . No connecting rods, pistons or crank shaft. and no rear case which was actually a plus. A whole light lighter. Had to come up with a way to mount on a stand. A few pieces of 1/4 inch plate and a 2 inch steel pipe did the trick.

 

[SETOYOTA]

Here is the pipe cut down. Shaft welded to a round plate bolted to the front case to mimick a crank shaft. Turned on a lathe to match the crank shaft dimensions.(A friend did this for me) The pipe is also welded to the back of the plate and passes through to the engine stand where it is also bolted to plate on the stand

 

[joeblack5]

Wow pretty darn cool. I love radial engines.

later J

 

[SETOYOTA]

Test fit the prop. And start putting the cylinder jugs on

 

[marchplumber]

Way KEWL!!

 

[SETOYOTA]

I made the plug wires using old m37 and m151 leads . They screwed to the r985 spark plugs The base screws had to be drilled out to fit the r985 wiring manifold. Added the push rods and it started to look like a motor

 

[SETOYOTA]

All finished. Now I have a real WWII aircraft engine in the house and the wife actually likes it. Mostly made from discarded parts

 

[Tracer]

All finished. Now I have a real WWII aircraft engine in the house and the wife actually likes it. Mostly made from discarded parts

That looks great. A nice conversation piece for the man cave. If you come across any more scrap cylinder and head assembly's, they make nice reading lamps.

 

[SETOYOTA]

I’ve got 3 more. And was planning to make a lamp. Have 2 for a r985 and 1 for a r1800

 

[Scar59]

All finished. Now I have a real WWII aircraft engine in the house and the wife actually likes it. Mostly made from discarded parts

That came out nice. a little piece of history. I overhauled one in A&P school in 1979.

 

[68t]

WOW, looks great

 

[Barrman]

You did a great job on that. I agree with everyone else. Radial air cooled engines are the top of the art world for me. Nothing is better.

 

[tobyS]

I’ve got 3 more. And was planning to make a lamp. Have 2 for a r985 and 1 for a r1800

Is the 1800 what would have been in a B-17? My dad would like a lamp made from one like he flew in. Wanna sell one?

 

[tobyS]

You did a great job on that. I agree with everyone else. Radial air cooled engines are the top of the art world for me. Nothing is better.

For a while I followed Zoche Aero diesel. I saw the radial, highly turbocharged, 2 cycle DIESEL at Oshkosh many moons ago and it seemed like the radial was coming back. I see they still are making them:

http://www.zoche.de/

https://www.google.com/search?q=zoc...zJvfHbAhWIna0KHV9DBpsQsAQIcg&biw=1280&bih=875

 

[Flyingvan911]

Nice! Radials were used as tank engines for a little while.

 

[kubotaman]

Nice! Radials were used as tank engines for a little while.

Yep, M3 Stuart, M3 Lee, and M4/M4A1 Sherman.

 

[Tracer]

Here is a Continental R975 radial engine in a 1944 Buick M18 Tank Destroyer. Tight fit!

 

[Tinstar]

That is awesome!
Looks great.

Happy to see the parts saved instead of going to the scrap pile.


Big Radials are the best sounding engines ever!!

 

[Tinstar]

View attachment 732685 Here is a Continental R975 radial engine in a 1944 Buick M18 Tank Destroyer. Tight fit!

Now that is a maintenance nightmare.......