I've built hot rods, custom motorcycles, know my way around a machine shop..but this...this is ART, an absolute masterpiece. Amazing amount of affection went into this. Beautifully done..
My dad was a radial engine inspector for Douglas Aircraft during most of WW-2. He got hundreds of engines for heavy bombers rebuilt and ready for combat again. I was too young to remember much of those days but I do remember the air being full of those 2 and 4 engine radial power plants flying overhead. The sound was riveting to me then and that has newer changed. God Bless our troops from then and also now.
In the mid-1960s I was a mechanic for a regional U.S. carrier. Most of the pilots at that time were WWII veterans and real characters. One of them told me that he had pretty much cornered the world market on serviceable parts and spares for the R-1340. I imagine his retirement was considerably enriched by his investment.
Aah, fond memories of a Whirlwind 3 with this beast in it. My hat is off to you with this beautiful piece of work. Thankyou. Bob, Royal Navy Air Mechanic.
Nice work. A follow up video showing HOW you restored each part, what brand of paint, even the grit of the sandblasting material. Most of us gear heads love the details and learning different techniques. Radials rule!!
Mouse steer you said it. When I was stationed in Louisiana back in the late 1960s, the air base had an A1 E and what a beautiful sound. I had CQ one night and I watched her fire up about 6 a.m. And that sound was just beautiful with the morning dew, no other morning sounds, just wow! Thanks to all who helped put this together and post.
A fascinating engine to say the very least. Thank you for taking the time to make this instructional video. Very well done and most educational. Andy 🇨🇦
It never ceases to amaze me how they were able to design and mass produce such precise equipment way before computers. That's some fantastic engineering.
@@jhaedtler yep they test various tests on how to make efficient engines and did various documentations on paper and writes down what could be better or atleast that's what i think
Rebuilt a lot of these in my youth for crop dusters. Lots of fun and learned a lot. Always wanted an agcat of my own with a 1340 on the nose, none of that turbine conversion shit
WOW!!!!! You are just AMAZING!!!! Here in the USA 🇺🇸 this P&W R1340 is worth about $150,000. The P&W R980 sells for around $100,000. 👍🏼 Between all three engines you own there you have WELL OVER $300,000 worth of engines there. 😉👍🏼 I LOVE YOUR WORK!!!
This turned out to be a work of art! I would have liked for you to have gone into the fuel system a little bit, along with the oiling and electrical system. John, thank you for taking the time to film this video. You have put a smile on my face, that's for sure! I have built 14 land speed record-breaking engines. If you ever want to see your engine break some records, all it would take is you reaching out. It would be my honor and a great learning experience for the kids in my physics class. They need to see the beauty and the "soul" of things that were built without CNCs.
You Guys are awesome!!!! I wish I was there!!!!!!! The work and detail....priceless!!!!!! Way beyond words!!!! Great work my friends. Fantastic Video!!!!!
The actual thought and innovation that went into this type of engine is in and of itself so interesting. Had the honor of touring the aviation museum in Ohio earlier in my life and came away very impressed with what was there.
So so much work put into that engine.amazing job,consider what look like when they started,I can't even imagine how hours of work that ,and the money it took too.,nice job guys.
What always amazes me is that someone came up with this in their head without the aid of computers or high tech assistance. All brain work and trial and error. Just amazing.
they made the Atomic bomb w/o the aid of a computer and only the most rudimentary computers in the Apollo 11 space craft. We have to have their engineering education. I have been trying to figure out how these radial engines work as far as their timing and camshafts go. There are a couple of good videos here on the workings of the radial engine but they seem so unbalanced.
There is an interesting story about the later P&W R 2800. The plain bearings required a third metal in the Babbit in order to survive the greater horsepower load. Can't think of the third metal but a little homework on Google should dig up the testing and research. Very bright,knowledgeable people digging deep,and the produced outstanding designs. The whole story of how Pratt and Whitney chose aviation engines after Wright,is worth digging out as well. Cheers.
Man now I feel embarrassed. I am already 18, and the only time I tried to rebuild an engine (a Chinese Honda clone single cylinder go kart motor) I ended up with a shat up pile of parts that is now all useless and that I can no longer put back together due to damaged and lost pieces...
