Larry Gruner

Step-by-step instructions from someone who has done it successfully

What to look for, what to walk away from, as fast as you can, and what to consider buying to rebuild or put into service. New paint is not rebuilt! It's on the inside that counts. The rules of searching for an SA-200 Pipeliner Understand that it is the "Age of Incompetence." Nobody seems to know anything about anything. Do not take any statement from a seller on face value, what do they really know about the machine? ------------------Myths: ----------------- a. The whole machine has been...

We do not rebuild Continental F-series engines. When you restore something, you only have to replace worn parts. When you remanufacture a machine, you restore it to its original specifications. If you do your job correctly, you will improve the original machine. New improved machine techniques, materials, and new oils all lead to longer life. The old F-163 has been a mystery to me. I have seen 60-year-old engines slobbering oil and carboned up (you should have 115 to 125 pounds of...