WIX Archives

Re: Help required!

Posted by Bruce Gordon on Tue Jun 03, 2003 04:54:27 PM

In reply top Help required! posted by Tom on Tue Jun 03, 2003 04:49:26 PM

: Just called in on one of my mates this evening and he and
: his brother are restoring a Merlin 32, reputed to be from
: a Seafire which crashed into the Clyde estuary in 1944. It
: is in superb condition as it went into mud and there is v
: ery little corrosion, virtually none internally, for insta
: nce I saw one of the cams which had been cleaned up and it
: was in much better condition than some 're-conditioned' c
: ams I'd had the displeasure of helping to fit and then rem
: ove again when they started to wear BADLY! (it was due to
: bad re-conditioning practises and nothing else). The two b
: rothers know that it maybe came from a Seafire or possibly
: a Barracuda and I know that they were quite numerous in t
: hat area at the time but I was wondering if Mr McNeil or a
: ny others could shed any light on the possible aircraft it
: came from. It will be restored to runnable condition but
: will only be used at low revs and nothing too strenuous fo
: r the old thing as it is one of only a few 32s known to re
: main complete anywhere, hope to get some pics soon.
:
: Tom ;)

Tom

If you have the engine number, then write to RRHT at Derby, who will be able to tell you what it was fitted to. As you rightly say, these engines were early Seafire/Barracuda only. RRHT dont usually have the serial numbe rof the aeroplane, but they will know when it was delivered, and to where.

Also look for Spitfire specific parts; you know what to look for. If it was from a dig, you would expect the front and rear engine bearer feet to be still attached. Also the hydraulic pump on the stbd side cylinder head will be a giveaway!

Cheers


Bruce

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